St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-19

x G4 As efit OF those less
n. NpJS IT'S savOrably situ-
MNOek| GWHe 1ted. There are
IA Mtk ~#zMkNAHS he poor whom
REAk@A with us, and who
need charity di-
rect. Again, there is class of women
who are poor, but wish to do some sort
of remunerative work in order to help
themselves. To aid this latter class
there has been established Woman's
Industrial exchange. The title would
seem to indicate that it was intended to
remedy some of the existing poverty
among industrial classes by substituting
better system. The large number of
women who rely upon the fruits of their
industry for livelihood would be sup
posed to take an interest IN this institu-
ton. Inquiry among women who de-
pend upon factories and workshops
for places in which to work revealed
the odd fact that many of them had never
heard of the exchange, and OF course
could not have reaped any of its benefits.
The dry goods clerks all knew some
thing about it, because they said it was,
and is yet, the custom to take their noon
lunch there. After much diligent in
quiry | found few housekeeperS who
sent specimens of their achievements
in the culinary line to be sold there !;
also some embryo artists, embroiderers
and designers who perseveringly sent
their elaborate productions to the same
place. 1t was difficult to find out any
thing from them as to how much they
received for their work, but my i'm
preston was that they didn't depend
upon the exchange at all; seeming to
regard sale as special dlSDenSatlon
of Providence, rather than something
to be reasonably expected. Perhaps
the faithful and idealistic, rather than
the practical character of their work,
renders its sale somewhat doubtful.
The general result of my casual ques-
tioning gave me only vague idea of
the purpose or scope of work cOmtem-
plated by the institution. A visit to the
place shows that the exchange occupies
spacious and expensive quarters in the
Collom block. The ground floor is
utilized as a salesroom and lunch de-
partment. A pretty and appetiZing dis
play of cakes, preserves and "trifies
light as air." fills one side of the sales
room. On the other side are specimens
of all sorts of fancy work. Some of
these are quite artistic, both in finish
and design. They are pretty to gaze
upon, but it fairly makes ones eyes
ache to look at the intricate embroidery
Oh some pieces, and reflect how many
HOURS OF TEDIOUS WORK
they represent. Besides the fancy
articles, there are dolls and curious toys
for children, also some samples of plain
sewing.
"Who buys this sort of work?" I
asked of the pleasant attendant at the
counter.
1--WE sell nearly all of these articles
to wealthy people who had rather
buy decorations than spend time in
making them. Then we have many
orders for laces and other articles" she
explained.
''Is it possible to obtain price which
will make such work profitable?'
"The person making the article al
ways sets the price and we charge a
commission of 10 per cent for selling it,
| OF course, many benevolent people buy
| goods at the listed price in order to help
planned the attendant.
"How long do goods remain here gen
| orally before being Sold?" was my next
| question. 1t was prompted by seeing
| two or three come in to know if theil
work had found buyer.
I'VE don't keep work more than three
months, unless by special arrangement
| Nor do we allow 1t to be withdrawn in
less than one month";" she said; ''bu
nearly all meritoriOus work finds pur
| chaser in a week or two"
"That isn't so at ALL" said young
girl, in an excited whisper, at my elbow
Il paid 81 for the necessary ticket il
order to be entitled to deposit goods
my work was first examined and approx
ed by the committee, then put on sale
But the articles have never been pur
chased, while goods of the same grade
made by others, have been repeated.
sold in preference to mine."
but what reason would the clerk
have for discriminating in favor of ON
depoSitOr rather than anOther?" l sal,
doubtfully.
why you see many of the womel
who send work here are those who dom
really need the money in order to sup
port themselves" she said. "They ar
FAR FROM BEING POOR;
they have good homes and only sell thi
work in order to have more spending
money. Maybe it's only natural tina
they should receive more consideration
than women who live in humble quar-
ters and can't afford to attend fashion
able church. But it's rather provokin,
to hear the directors talk about helpin
needy women and have them depart S
far in practice from their benevolen
theories"
l asked the clerks about this matte
but they Indignantly denied the charge
'It was true" they said, "that many O
the depoSitorS were women in comforta
BILE circumstances, not obliged to Pre-
vide for themselves, but it was imposs
BILE to direct customers as to what good
they would purchase and no such thin
| was ever attempted"
AS the incorporators and directors O
this institution are ladies of the highes
standing, both in church and society,
seems hardly possible that they woul
knowingly permit such an abuse q
their benevolent enterprise. Yet tn
stubborn fact remains that many othe
depositors make similar complain
about the disposal of their goods. 1t j
just possible that some real cause fo
dissatisfaction exists. Even thoug
such be the case it must be remembers
that ladies are not supposed to posses
business talent, yet this Institution ha
been managed successfully by ladies fc
the past FIVE years, and no doubt thei