The Labor enquirer., 1886-03-13
THE woMEN's EXCHANGE.
A Little Establishment Where the Rot
ten Dollar Cuts no Figure In
Business Transactions.

A Little EstabIfshment Where the Rot
ten Dollar Cuts NO Figure In
Business Transactions.
Editor Labor Enquirer
| suppose that you sometimes give a
thought from your busy life to wonder
how that Exchange" is progressing. I
will try to give you few items, tho 1
fought to be timed or the "few" may
grow into many, and your columns are,
as you say, overburdened with long ar
ticles. though all are good-which cannot
be said of every lengthy article. You
know George Ellio's Bob Jakin Tin
'1The Mill on the Floss") confessed that
when he got to thinking about matters
and things and this queer world in gen.
eral it "peared like his yed was full of
maggits;" which is probably what ails
Joe Murray and lot of 'us" eranks who
are turning society "all round about
and making people who have all the
money and rights they want sigh for the
good old times"
But to the Exchange" The idea
briefly is to help women to exchange
their goods on commercial basis which
is neither robbery or charity but a just
convenience all around. MANY women
who have declared it splendid idea,"
and they are coming to see me next
week." have not been near, while others
mostly old settlers who have "pio-
neered" with me who have seemed less
enthusiastic than I could wish, have
proved their willingness to try the ex-
pertinent by placing their goods with
me to sell. The most of the goods thus
far have sold for cash as women have
not vet learned the principle of Eek
change" and at first think they have
nothing to sell themselves, but generally
think of something they could spare or
which is really in the way" but OF
which they had known no means of dis
posing. The articles which thus far
have been sold through the exchange
are butter, eggs, honey, pickles. catsup,
chill sauce, horse radish, boarding. art
work, mutton, coal, rent, etc. The food
! is all from first hands and fresh, and
: therefore brings a higher price than or
binary as, in these days of oleo and
adulterations honesty is beginning to
be recognized as having commercial
value.
Butter, for instance, just fresh from the
hands of the experienced butter maker
in the country brings 40 cents and long
suffering, oft-yictimized housekeepers OF
' the city gladly buy it at that price while
market quotations show that the integ
rity in it brings from 10 to 25 cents a
pound. Eggs are coming down every
day" I am told, and are down to IS and
, 20 cents dozen" said man, and yet al
the exchange" they sell for 25 cents
: The fact is people cannot stop to "can,
die" the eggs, and when the ''ham and
egg" season begins, housekeepers want
to know that their supplies have moi
stood In barrels or cases on the lower
3 streets for an indefinite time or tribute
has not been laid on the poor, over
D worked hens of Kansas before the
;, "blackade."
| Some ladies-no, women-that is the
better word and higher term-have
said: "I am glad to get horseradist
e that is not half potato and turnips.
can dilute it myself"
: One of my depositors has been sup
: plying me with bread, such good, home
d made bread, because the Second handed
man." as grandma calls him, took away
J. nv eook-stove because couldn't pay
g for it, but she is unable to- bake fol
n others and find quite demand fol
! good, homemade cookery among thost
g women who for various reasons nov
4 patronize men bakeries. Will not some
}, woman who loves to bake and is there
II fore success at 1t cooperate with us
l. Here PRAYERS are answered everv day.
n One depositor who left with me pro
+ ducts of her farm said she needed some
n chairs. A day or two afterwards II
n came little woman who had discovered
o the modest sign and who was going tt
t move away soon and wished to dispose
y of chairs, bureaus and dishes and wouid
!. take in exchange things she could carry
better.
eI The possible benefits of true co-opera
d tion are little understood. To me they
!. seem absolutely imitless, and wher
llaborers work for one another and moi
for the almighty dollar" of the Idlers
those now 80 securely entrenched be
hind their bulwarks Of com and bonds
win awaken some fine day to realize
a that the sweat Of the brow has become
n the coin of mankind and the Lawful
!. bonds are those of love and kindness
of equal rights and mutual obligation.
q Times up-mere anon.
nj ALBINA l. WAsHBuRN,
IL SIS Stout street.