Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-16
THE wOMAN's-wORK MOVEMENT.
What 1t Has Accomplished I'm WASH
ington and Elsewhere.
WHAT IT rs AND HOW IT oRIGINArED-rHE GOOD
IT is DOING FOB WORKING woMES-rHE EpU-
cAT1oNAL AND INDUSTRIAL AND OTHER
UNIoNs-wHAT WOMEN CAN DO TO EARN MONEY.


UNIoNs-wHAT WOMEN CAN DO TO EARN MONEY.
There is no more significant or gratifying
feature of the present generation than the
partly commercial and partly charitable enter
prise known as the s'Woman's Exchange" move
ment. Movements by women in organized as
sociations are pretty nearly always founded
upon good intentions, and when conducted
closely in line with the original conception and
upon distinctive business principles, the pa
thence and perseverance they manifestly
possess by nature generally pull them
through with triumphant and deserving
success. To be sure many of their commend
able and seemingly well-conducted enterprises
have come to grief from one cause or another
principally, however. from Incorporate diver
sions from the original design, or want of
strength and unity Of association, and this
particular movement has not proved an excep-
ton. The distinctive characteristics of the
'Womans Exchange" are not only new, COM
paratively, but novel, and like all novel condi-
tons applied to business principles, excite
more or less suspicion, if not contempt;
meet with many conflicting interests and
encounter any number of aged hobbies
difficult to deal with. Its strength is
the strength of any vital organization di-
rected to the accomplishment of a well defined
purpose. The movement. or rather the object
it seeks to attain. is singular outgrowth Of the
peculiar condition of the times. the result of
the breaking away of ideas prevalent to within
less than a score Of years ago. Possibly the
great loss of life among the male population
during the civil war, certainly something, has
been the cause of superabundance of women
and the advent of each year offers new perplex-
tiles and increasing necessities for their en-
ployment. The thousands of sewing girls. shop
girls, factory girls, women in government en-
ploy, and women conducting business enter
prises of their own, attest the adaptability of
their services to almost any class of work neces-
sary to secure themselves a competence. And
every year unfolds some new field for the ex-
ercise of their ingenuity, the exhibition of their
independence and energy, and the protection
and maintenance of themselves individually,
and often others as well.
THE woMAN's EXCHANGE.
The very exigencies of untoward circum-
stances, in all probability, developed the
scheme known as the 'woman's Exchange"
In its incipiency it was, and even to-day, under
the influences OF vigorous growth, it shows a
curious blending Of sentimental notions,
modern independence Of the sex, and strong
commercial conditions. In the way of fabrics
there may be found pretty, but largely fanciful
articles, often useless except for purely deco
rative results, complex stitching and gorgeous
embroidery lavished upon positively insignif-
cant and rarely desirable things; in the way of
culinary conceptions mischievous sweets that
endanger the teeth, ruin the appetite, and
promote the worst forms Of indigestion, yet,
withal, pandering to popular taste. The in
ventory Of the woman's exchange of to-day,
however, is undoubtedly an improvement on
that Of only q few years ago. Its scope is
wider, its methods more business-like, its work
more direct, all because, probably, it has out
lived prejudice, and that the brave. persist
emit women, whose handiwork il is, have toiled
with an unceasing honesty of purpose profit
ing by experience and catering to every new
practical demand
AN INVENTORY OF STOCK.
The stock in trade Of o well-regulated and
prosperous establishment, as learned by SrAR
reporter, consists of pretty much what one sees
in q fancy notion and general utility store.
The articles are all on consignment and are re-
ceived, appraised, sold, and the proceeds, less o
nominal commission for trouble and expenses
returned TO the needy consignor. The range
OF values embrace almost everything plain and
artistic needle-work can suggest, Q great vari-
ETY. Of cookery, preserves, &C., representing the
mental and manual labor of old women, maiden
ladies, and young girls. Il IL Q repository
where all, Of high or low degree, who from
whatever cause ind ID necessary TO turn their
talents to account can bring the fruits Of their
toll and dispose of them ut fairly remunerative
prices. When the movement was in its infancy
arrangements we're effected solely for such
sales e. could be made from day 10 day, but
for lack of public appreciation and patronage
many fancy articles would hang on until shop
worn and eatables until stale. Then happily