Arizona weekly citizen., 1885-02-28
EARNING THEIRLIVING.
SOME OF THE CURIOUS WAYS OF SELF
 SUPPORT IN NEW YORK.
Peculiar Industries Outside the Limit. of Ordinary Business-schemes of the Indigent Ingenious-Turning Hon
 est but Unusual Pennies.
Special Correspondence. I

man once said, In conversation sith me: There Is something in New York for every body to do if they can only wait patiently till they find it." Something more than pa- hence Is required while the hunt goes on Many fail, not for lack Of energy and pa- hence. but because they cannot solve the problem of food and shelter while they strive and wait for their chances Life in this city Is wonderful sharpener of the faculties The legitimate avenues of occupation are so crowded that tbs struggle to enter them and keep place therein smoothing short Of dead ly. This stimulates ingenuity in the direc- ton of finding something to do outside of the well-beaten track Fith results that re- fleet credit on the strugglers Desperation often inspires men and women to embark in some industry that no one else has ever sied. Like soms writers, Carlyle. for in- stance, they are obliged to create the taste they minister to
 Curious indeed, are many of the ways of earning living in this big busy city-ways that arc unknown, unheard of and surpris ing to those who live where the attrition of life is less dreadful and where the inventive faculties arc not put under such terrific pressure.
 There are professional letter-writers, usu- ally women, who let it be known, by a iudicious distribution of cards, or through the newspapers, that they will writs letters 'in strict confidence" for those who never took the trouble to acquire the art of pen h. charge is seventy-hve cents per letter. though in less opulent neighborhoodS it never rises above twenty-five cents Gus toners arc not over-numerous. but they struggle in occasionally and dictate remark able epistles to their immediate kindred or prospective life partnsrA They are not al- ways the children of poverty. either. know young girl. a teacher. who under took the lettsr writing business two even ings out of each week. "for ladies only" She lived in Harlem Her first customer was arrayed in s,alskin, silks and diamonds and said frankly, "I live in Brooklyn, and came to you to have this work done be- cause I thought you would not be likely to ever meet me again None of my friends dream that cannot writ0. You wouldn't think it yourself. would youF'
 Lessons are given in every art, accom- plishment and industry under ths sun. Hundreds. perhaps thousands. of women teach every possible kind of stitch that a needle can lend itself to. There are lace teachers, lace msnders embroiderers, knit tsrs and stitch inventors, and they arc al- ways overrun with pupils, the needle being the weapon to which more women turn when they begin to fight the wolf than any other. There arc teachers of deportment- women. ani their pupils are women. 1T they have a genius for elegant advertising and assume a great deal, which they are tolerably sure to do, they can command almost any price. Three dollars a lesson is the lowest figure at which you can climb n hrst-clas department ladder. Scholars roll up in their carriages and absorb department at every pore.
 Washing and mending lace is an industry by itself Foreign fingers are most expert at this, French usually, though sometimes the viennese take to it I know a French woman who makes and mends the finest fans, while her daughter reconstructs dam aged lace. Dealing only in the most e1- pensivs goods. and working as they do ex- clusively for the rich, they make fair live hhoot
 A number of women maintain themselves by operating purchasing agencies on their own account It Is slavish and thankless way of earning bread, but it has been the resource of more than one woman who found herself on her own hands. without sny other talent than that of buying dry goods with judgment Their remuneration is trifing and the work really difficult and tiresome. They usually charge their custo- mers ten per cent commission on the amount of their purchases. which makes very small pay for very hard work. Making pur- ehases does not mean, to them, simply going to first-claSs house and buying whatever they are in search of without hesitation II means hunting around for bargains. match ing shades, getting the most for the least money. In short, it takes experience, judg ment, patience, time and strength Somt purchasing agents get a commission iron the stores as well as from their patrons; bu the more conscientious ones can't do that because they have no fixed place for buyinl everything They go where they can do th' be [, and, of course, do not get or expect [ commission from the stores l know on, woman, once wealthy, who has supporteC herself for several years by this means Tn support is limited, to be sure. but it give her small room in a large boarding house and keeps her moiestly clothed In her day of nIenty she was noted for her excellen judgment in buying. and this was the Onl. requirement she possessed which became
 staff to her after riches took unto themSelve wings
 Among the advertisements for occupation I see, from both men and women. offers [ read to Invalids at c ruinously low rats pe hour Then there are women who own car riages who take female invalids out at a fil
 ure below tho regulation cab drivers. The
 are rich women and turn to this sort of thin
 partly to satisfy a craving to earn lttl money themselves, partly as a diversion and lastly because they persuade themselv'
 that they are doing something in the philaI
 thropic line. which they are not lnvalic
 seem 10 be tho peculiar prey of the emplol
 ment hunters of certain class, who pr
 ceed upon the assumption that an invali
 will stand almost anything and pay for
 besiies
 often sec the advertisements of p~rsoi
 "superchsrged with magnetism, efsrir
 themselves in the capacity of vivIfier
 They. too, have designs on invalids, and a
 ready and willing to exchange some of the
 superfuous magnetism for the coin of q
 realm
 Lecture writers" abound and bold
 proclaim to the world their willingness
 -rfss lectures on any subjso, for aHvto
 else to deliver "st prices within ths req
 Of the struggling Thsir continued tI.'
 ence gives rise to the suspicion that all VI
 speak from rostrums are not the authors
 their public utteranceS There are places
 the strictest privacy where political spea
 CTS are "drillse." A man who finds hi
 self in prominent position before he h
 learned the art of making speeches can
 him to one of these tutors and be drilled
 the sly. There are also other brilliant a
 not over-modest creatures who advert
 themselves as engaging conversatiC