Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-06
WORK FoR ho.szsN.
How Women i'm Reduced C1cum.
stances are Aided-An Account Of the
Operations of the WOman's Exchange.


How Women i'm Reduced Circum.
stances are Aided-An Account Of the
Operations of the WOman's Exchange.
One OF the fashionable charities this winter is
the Woman's Exchange, which is located on the
east side Of 18th street, just above H. Unlike
O good deal that is fashionable it is, however,
neither frivolous nor impractical 1t aims to
help women who need help to help themselves,
and 1t Is managed By women who are in positions
to know the genuine necessity for Just such
aid. There is nothing particularly novel about
the character Of this charity or the methods EN-
plOyed, as similar organizations have existed
for years in other cities, and this one is now In
its second year An opportunity is here afforded for
women who are in reduced circumstances, and
who feel the necessity Tor earning money of
finding market for the sale of articles OF their
handlwork. The exchange has rented rooms,
where Is exhibited for sale whatever the inge-
nuty and skill OF woman's brain and woman's
deft fingers can produce. What are regarded
as accomplishments merely In days OF pros
perity to adorn the home and to give pleasure
to friends are here transformed into source OF
revenue. The fancy work. or painting or any
decorative article is brought or sent to the eX-
change, where it is examined by q competent
committee Of ladies. and If it has any merit, it is
exposed for sale, and the money obtained from
the sale, after ten per cent Is deducted for the
exchange, is sent to the depositor. Inmany in
stances 1t is found that owing to either o lack of
skill or want of taste, the articles sent la have
nothing to recommend them to the public, and
they are sent back. For it has been the expert
ence Of
THE MANAGERS OF THE EXCHANGE
that people are not going to buy such
things. simply out of charity. If they can't
get as good an article and at as mod
orQfo a Ortra ho baJ in kl,o ,to
the public will not buy at ALL The man.
ayers, therefore. will not allow the space to be
occupied by articles OF this character and they
ind that they are not able to help people who
do inferior work. The activities OF the
exchange, however, are not limited to
decorative work. The department of pies,
cake, bread, preserves and candies exceeds in
the volume of business done that of the fancy
work. Everything in this department also passes
the criticism Of the eye and taste of committee,
and the inferior is rejected and the good is re-
talned. All the cakes are cut and tasted, and
then sold either as q whole or in portions. The
opportunity to get homemade cake and bread
with the knowledge that all the ingredients are
OF the very best is not usual one, and hence the
exchange drives brisk business. There is still
another important part OF this work and that is
the sewing room, where poor women are en-
ployed In making underclothes and dresses for
which orders have been received. The exchange,
OF course, furnishes the material and pays the
women SO much day. The same sensi-
Bile rule prevails here, that the work
must be good, and women who don't
know how to sew we'll are not given employ
ment. People will not accept badly-made gar
ments even with the knowledge that the money
paid for 1t has put bread into the mouth of some
poor and deserving woman. The managers
recognize this fact thoroughly, and realize that
they cannot help such people. Their necessities
must be relieved through some other agency.
An admirable feature of the exchange is the
common-sense business principles which char
acterlze its management, aud it is, perhaps, a
misnomer to call 1t charity, when 1t gives its
patrons the full market value OF their money.
CoMMoN-sESsE RULES.
Perhaps more distinct idea may be obtained
OF the methods employed by perusal of por-
tlon Of the printed rules which are as follows:
Any well-made article may be entered for sale at
the exchange, subject to the rules OF the exchange
committee.
ANY woman desiring to enter her work at the eX.
change, whose circumstances do not require the as.
slstance OF the exchange, must become sustaining
member, or enter her work through sustaining
sustaining members may senter their oton cork,
OF tne work OF one woman for one year by the pay
ment OF $500, or their own work and the work OF
one woman, or the work Of ta1o women for one
year, by the payment of S..
Conslgnors desiring TO withhold their name and
Ing or active members
Articles will not be received or sold for the bene-
Wax and feather flowers, hair and leather work,
splatter and splinter work and cardboard are too
pershable to be accepted.
Each article must have the price, and the name
and address OF consignor securely attached TO It
when presented at the exchange, and will be
numbered and offered for sale il approved by the
proper committee
All articles will be returned at the owners ex-
pense ana FISK, unsold at the end Of six months,
uniess conslgnors authorize them sold at the dis
All letters requesting information in relation
70 arucies sent TO the exchange should be ad-
dressed to the committee On fancy work, or CON-
mittee on cake, preserves, etc, according to
article sent) Wornans Exchange, si7 14th Street
nortnWest, enclosing stamp for reply.
THE LADIES IN CHARGE
The management is composed of the follow
ing ladies: Mrs. Wescott, president; Miss
Woods, vice president; Miss Spofford. secretary:
and Miss Ballantyne, treasurer Members of
committees: Miss Alley, Miss Ballantyne, Miss
Carter, Miss Childs, Miss Crittenden, Miss
Dawes, Miss Egleston, Miss Galaudet, Miss
Jewell, Miss Kennedy, Miss Lehman, Mrs.
O'Reilly, Miss Patterson, Miss Emily Pentand,
Miss Spofford, Miss Strong, Mrs. J. D. Strong ,
Miss Thompson, Miss Wescott. Miss Woods,
Miss Emery, Mrs. Wight, Miss Hodge. Two
OF the ladies' are present at the ex-
change each day, 80 that there Is
constant supervision and inspection. As an in
dication OF the interest which this work is ex-
citing 1t Is stated that there are more appIIca-
lions from ladies to serve on the committees
than there are vacancies, and that the list Of the
applicants Is kept as reserve force, which can
be called upon in an emergency. The managers
OF the exchange feel that they are able to do a
great deal Of good If their enterprise is only
sustained by the citizens Of the District both
by their patronage and their contributions. The
ten per cent of the amount of the sales is the
only source of income besides the dues Of mem
bers, while their monthly expenses are neces-
sarily quite large.
Popular Vote for President by States.
From the New York Times
All the states have now reported the results
of the popular vote for presidential electors on
the 9TH Of November last, and the results are
tabulated below. Where differences were found
to exist in the vote for electors in any state the
vote for the highest on each ticket is given in
all cases where the complete statement OF the
vote of the state has been received. The results
80