Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-04-09
Woman,a

Vicksburg is certainly beginning to
feel the thrill Of new and stronger life.
One hardly ceases to tell Of some new
enterprise before he is interrupted by
the announcement Cf another. 1t is
not strange that the ladies' of our city
should catch the cOntagion of pro-
gress, and come boldly TO the front.
Many of them during the last year
witnessed the work of the Christian
Woman's Exchange In New Orleans
and became convinced that much good
might be accomplished at home by just
such an organization. The purpose of
the present article is to show to those
who are not already informed what
these ladies propose to do, and in order
to do that l copy from the fourth annual
report of the New Orleans Association.
The second article of the constitu-
ton reads: "The purposes and objects
of said corporation are declared and
specified to be the amelioration of the
condition of worthy women, by en-
abling and assisting them to earn a
livelihood, and providing a means and
opportunity of disposing of the pro-
ducts of their labor, and of other
property belonging to them; and in
furtheraAce of such charitable pur.
poses, to establish and maintain a depot
for the reception and sale of any mar
ketable articles that a woman can
make in her own home, or any Valu'
able articles which her necessities may
obllge her to dispose of, thereby assist
ing a needy woman to turn
to personal profit whatever useful
talent she may possess Extract
from the Report Of the Employment
Bureau :
"Never in the history of this ex'
change has it been known or intended
to be a purely charitable institution.
The object being to assist needy and
worthy women to gain a livelihood
Many a woman, though in distress,
would s:arve rather than accept a
charity, be it ever so friendly bestoW ed;
but there can be no loss Of
self respect in accepting the
helping hand extended by us.
1t was in such a spirit and upon such
principles, that this exchange was or.
ganized, and has since been conduct
ed"
This report informs the public that
they have ION file, applications for sit
uations embracing almost every posi-
BILE office for woman to fill, house
keepers, governesseS, teachers in art,
music, languages, cooking, dress
making, clerks, nurses, etc." From
the report Of the Lunch Committee l
extract the following:
"In pursuance of the grand OBJ
ject Of our work-to confne the
benefits as closely as possible to
women, and to open every available
avenue of support to them. Not only
are cooked viands of every description,
butter milk, eggs. fruit, Vegetables, oys-
tiers and meats as well, are furnished
by women"
Extract from the report of the Wis.
iting Committee:
"The committee would be glad to
have the fact more widely known and
appreciated, that there are among its
b~eneiciaries, needle women, skiilful
not only in the making of
garments and all manner of
useful and ornamental articles, but also
in the homely arts of darling and
mending. Overtaxed mothers of large
families, and gentlemen whose ward
robes, etc., etc, bear in mind"
The report of n committee men,
tions ninety-eight families assisted in
one year. The correspondence of the
exchange contains many letters of
thanks from those who have been aided
by what many will esteem to be purer
charity, than giving out money to beg
gars.
1t will he seen from these extracts that
this is an organization of women, to
help women. 1t has succeeded and
it has deserved success. Its total re.
ceipts for the first year were in round
numbers $4,000 and for the second
year $4,000, for the year 1885 (the
fourth Year, $4,000. But much of
its success and by far the better part
cannot be put down in figures. Toe
preservation of that delicate and line
self. respect which, in a wOman's ma
turelsurvives for all time and lives on
through all the sufferings of
poverty ; the giving of a new hope to
many lives familiar with the dread of
actual want of fool and raiment the
tears stopped in their fountain or turn
ed into gladness in their course ; the
comfort and the peace of heart by day
and the troubled dreams by night,
which we cannot reckon up in money
value, but which go so far to make life
both pleasant to oneself and useful to
others-these are among its better
and nobler triumphs. 1t is to be
hoped, indeed, that the good
"