Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-04
BaiIu Kfnneber 5nurnal.
Methods of Work.

The majority of women work hard for
very little money. 1t is pitiful to see the
exertions of married women to earn pin
money. There u led to be shoes to bind,
rags to be hooked into burlap, and with
the advent of hosiery knit with the help
OF a machine. came the finishing by hand
of the heels and toes. Even now, quilts
are made in Vermont by farmers wives
sewing hundreds of small pieces of cloth
together and quilting by hand for very
small paw. Large contracts of crochet
goods are given out to one person, who
distributes them among women and girls
who eagerly seize the opportunity to add
"A few cents day to their income Many
a woman is more pnched tor money after
she is married than before. 1t is COM
puted that one-h half the saleswOmen in our
large stores are married. Clothing-houses
of the cheaper grade give out their work.
or part of it. to busy housewives who
receive it eagerly, and become so expert
as to be able to earn from fifty cents to a
dollar day; vet the pay for the amount
of work done is mere pittance.
One lady, the wife OF a physician with
good practice, made buttonholes Ter
years, 50 perfectly that she always had
enough to do, and so swiftly that she real
" made it quite profitable.
Another lady, whose father kept several
horses, and who had an opportunity to
drive nearly all dav, used to take ladies
and children with her a very reasonable
rates In every place Of any size there
are always invalid persons of small means
Who would gladly pay from fifty cents to
a dollar for short drive with a pleasant
companion.
Another lady is ready at brief notice to
bake bread, pies, cake, and meat for her
neighbors who may have company come
unexpectedly and be without efficient help;
or she goes TO their houses for dollar a
day, and demonstrates her ability as
superior and capable cook. At her house
may ALWAYS he found the best OF pre-
serves and dried fruits. which she sells
at good prices There is room in the
world for more followers of her good
example. but if a woman has not friends
to start with to afford patronage, she
must, of course, advertise until her SER
vices become known.
A lady employed in IA bank in one OF the
cities nearest Boston originated her own
method of keeping books and accounts.
Some gentlemen recently about to organ
ize bank. visited many institutions of
this kind to study their workings and
compare their methods. Of operation, and
gave her system the preference over all
others. 1t is sometimes said that the fem
mime mind can copy but rarely originate
ANYTHING of value TO the world or man.
kind. Competent young ladies' are need
ed by overworked matrons and inexperi-
enced women in society to assist in
arranging for parties and entertainments.
in securing musical and literary talent. in
the furnishing OF houses, choice of PIC
tnres, books and s'atuary. Many women
of means are totally incompetent in these
matters, and make mistakes amounting to
many hundreds of dollars yearly, who
would gladly receive advice and pay well
for it, did they but know where to find it.
A lady in one of our large cities, thrown
suddenly upon her own resources, opened
correspondence bureau, wherein letters
of all kinds were copied or written to or
der, in several different languages. This
she made very lucrative business.
A young art student acted as cicerone
to strangers visiting the city who recon-
tlltHuPtl themselves Nv tnelT IDOkS0S De-
ing ladies and gentlemen. She took them
to art museums, pointing out the pictures
best worth looking at told who had paint
ed them. giving a little sketch of the ar
fist, and mentioning any facts of interest
in his or her career. At concerts she ex-
planned, when desired. the varieties of
music and named the composers. In
public libraries and historic places of in
terest, she was good guide by her I'M
failing enthusiasm, fund of knowledge,
and uniform courtesy. A great many peo-
pie visiting friends are disappointed in
going about with them by their failure to
give them just the information required to
appreciate some object of interest. They
would like to hire this art student for a
day or two, and would remunerate her
well, or another like her, did they but
have the convenient address
1t would be interesting to know the diff
ferent methods women have taken to set
tie successfully in their own households
this vexed question.-M P. NEAL, in
Wonan's journal.