The Dickinson press., 1889-06-01
SOME WORK FOR WOMEN.
A NOVEL AND PRACTICAL PLAN TO
BENEFIT THE NEEDY SISTERS.

Woman's Mutual BENEFIT ExchanCe-In.
terestinc Details Relating to the Man.
asrment of the Institution-Tlo Good
That IL Accomplished.
The fact is well known that i'm New York.
as in every large center of population, there
Is a vast number of women who. in one way
or another, have been reduced from condi
tl"nS of comfort and refinement. perhaps
luxury, to the necessity of at once securing
work of some kind to support themselves
But partly by reason of their former cir
cumstances and utter lack of business train.
Ing, they too often are unable to secure EN-
ployment in those paths of life by which so
many others earn their daily breed. 1t was
for women thus situated that the starting of
all exchange for women's work was taken
under consideration, in the early part of the
year, by two ladies who realized the neces.
sity for such an organization, and the i'm.
mense amount of good which could be- nc.
complished by its means. The result of their
refeSion and action in this matter is the
Mutual Benefit Exchange for Woman's
Work." located at No. 1874 West Twenty.
third street, near Sixth avenue.
A pH1LANrHRoplsT.
With the curiosity which characterizes his
profession, a Star reporter called there OH
Wednesday last, and on making known his
mission was ushered into n very prettily, yet
not at all extensively furnished parlor. He
was there received by Miss Sarah Louise
Howell, one of the two ladies referred to,
who, without any incentive other than a sin.
cere and hearty desire to aid their sister
women, devote their time and energies to ex,
tending a helping hand to all among them
who need and deserve assistance. Miss Howell
was one of tho leading spirits Of the Women's
Depository and Exchange, situated at the
corner of Madison avenue and Fifty-ninth
street until quite recently, when she found
that the rapidly increasing demands upon
her time by the new establishment would
force her to withdraw from the depository.
Mrs. Hester Wilson Dart, her able and
willing co-worker i'll kindness, has been n we'll
known artist for over thirteen years, and
now has charge of the art classes of tho ex-
change. The funds with which the exchange
was established were furnished by a philan-
thropic old lady, the only condition imposed
by her ON Mrs. Dart and Miss Howell being
that her name should never be- made known
i'll connection with the institution, and this
request has been strictly obeyed.
The exchange was formally opened March
~, 1901 contrary TO Inc custom OF other
Exchanges" which have been organized in
this city, no fee in advance is required of
those wishing to sell their handiwork by its
means, but u small commission is charged
when the goods are sold. 1t will at once DO
seen how wise a decision this is, as many a
woman can enter her work who might other
wise hesitate to do so, being deferred by the
payment in advance of u sum which in
many, perhaps most, instances can hardly DO
spared from her slender purse.
No work will under any circumstances be
received from persons not obliged to support
themselves. and throughout all tho methods
employed is seen the same regard for the par.
ticular class of women who really need tho
assistance of the exchange. All goods are
sold at a reasonable figure, and are exactly as
they arc represented to be, neither better nor
worse. Anything that a woman can make is
to be found within the building; for instance,
household linen, fine embroidery of every de-
scription, fancy work materials, dolls, under.
wear, candy, preserves, jellies, pies, cakes.
maple sirup, and even poultry is for sale.
HOW 1T rs ARRANGED.