The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-21

but If she doesn't show US some extraordinary
things in snowy luxury then I shall be disap-
pointed.
An exquisitely fashionable thing here in New
York is charity to the good gra:es of which
ordinary people" are not admitted; an institu-
tion for the relief of 'ladies" only, to the excu-
sion of women who are not 'ladies.n 1t has
opened elegant headquarters on Fifth avenue,
near the Astor residences, The words quoted
are used by the projectors of the enterprise to
indicate the boundaries of their benevolence. AS
one of the managers said to me; Ordinary peo-
pie have avenues for employment in which they
naturally find work. but reduced ladies at
great disadvantage in attempting to earn liv-
ing, and it is to assist these latter that this
cety is established" The writer had called to
learn how the line was drawn between "ladies,"
or 'gentlewomen in reduced circumstances"
and mot ladies'" to make use of the formula of
logic. Apparently it had never occurred to her
that there might be possibility of confounding
the classes; the question was so altogether novel
that it had to be put in several forms before she
comprehended its fundamental meaning. Then
it was demonstrated that servants were not Ia
dies, of course; (invincible argument):
| that ordinary women could not
be ladies, that is, women who had
been accustomed to work for living in shops
and factories; that women who had always been
poor (born in reduced circumstances, presuma-
blyl could not hope for aid in the exchange from
| all of which it seemed to follow that the real
| distinction between ladies' and mot ladies"
consisted in the respective habits of not earning
and earning living "But," to come to at last
| to the language Of the manager. ''the response
bility for determining who are proper subjects,
j. g., ladies, for assistance, rests with the mem
bers and managers of the exchange individually.
In such an association of such ladies it may be
granted, suppose, that no mistakes in the way
OF perfect discrimination are made That is, a.
lady may be depended on to recognize lady in
stinctively. The system is this: Each mana
ger buys one or more tickets at So apiece, each
ticket emitting three persons TO the privilege
of consgning articles to the exchange.
The manager then disposes of the ticket as
she sees fit; she may have among her acquaint-
| ances one more reduced ladies. to whom she
presents the ticket, or such gentlewomen may
be recommended to her by persons competent to
judge whether they are worthy or not. The
final holder of the ticket then has the privilege
of consigning goods to for sale. We have
several departments, you know-needlework of
all kinds painted work Of all kinds, embroidery,
bric-a-brac, old furniture, coffee and CAKE ETC.
reduced lady who has any Of these articles, or
makes any of them in the various departments,
and holds one of our tickets. can bring the goods
to US. We mark price and display them, and
when they are sold we turn the money over to
the consignOr, less 10 per cent, which we retain
to pay for the running expenses of the exchange.
In addition to the reduced ladies who hold tick
cts as gifts from the managers are many who
purchase their own privilege. 1t is to them a
business investment. like the buying of
space at fair, or of desk-room in an
office OF course we do not sell such
tickets broadcast The purchaser may be recon
mended and vouched for by some manager or
responsible lady known to as. And there is one
feature Of the exchange that perhaps ordinary
people would not appreciate-the identity of the
consignors is not disclosed to the customers.
Even the clerks and executive officers deal with
them through the initials only. So reduced
lady is compelled to suffer none of the annoying
publicity to which people are subjected elsewhere
in seeking employment or disposing of work"
The exchange occupies two floors of the build
ing on Fifth avenue. The first floor above the
street is devoted to the display and sale of needle
and art work It is very attractive in appear
ance-like department. In church fair where
artistic ladies have charge. Below is the room
for pastry, old furniture and bric-a-brac This
is as attractive as antique mahogany, ancient
blue chairs ard the freshest of nice cakes, pies
pickles and preserves can make it. A couple of
lunch tables are spread from noon until 8, this
being the latest improvement on the exchange. |
1t is designed to make it comfortable
meeting place for ladies, where they may
feel free to sit down o few minutes |
in conversation Among the articles in the
room was an old-fashoned mahogany side board |
bearing complete service of rare blue china
upon its shelves. The writer suggested that this
might have story back of it, some unfortunate
lady in reduced circumstances compelled to
part with an heirloom, perhaps, or presenting |
for sale one of the Injuries of her better times.
Il don't know" unused the lady manager; sit |
may be- I often wonder how some of the con-
signors come into possession of the articles they
bring here. It would seem strange that poor
people should spend their little money for such |
things; but there is constant demand for an
tique goods, so perhaps the reduced ladies buy
them at bargain business investment, and
place them here to be sold at profit"
sDo women who are not ladies ever try to con-
sign their goods to your
1--WE don't take consignments from SUCH"
"But do they try to deceive you}"
''Very seldom; they seem to know that we
are strict, and they make little effort to get the
privileges of the society under false pretenses."
CLARA BELLE.
An Antique Plaything.
Washington Letter.
Mrs. Whitney is looking very well, indeed.