, 1890-12-21
WOMAN'S WORLD.
A SUCCESSFUL WoMAN's EXCHANGE
IN UPPER NEW YORK.

The Chicago TempIe-co-operative House,
keePing-some Society ExpenseS-Cush-
ions GaIors4Ths Latest Mourning Fad.
Men Ike Aprons.
Harlem does not propose to be out
done by any other portion of the city.
Its latest success is an exchange for
romans work, established on a very
small scale twoyears ago and now -four
. ishing beyond the hopes of its incor-
porators. 1t is situated at Nc. 40 West
One Hundred and Twenty-ifth street,
has helped to a livelihood more than 200
women, who probably could not have
been reached in any other way-for it
deals with a peculiar class of consignors.
Women who make and sell fancy goods
and domestic articles for pin money
are rigidly denied the institutions bene-
fits. The applicant must prove that she
needs the money and that it means a
material tightening of the burden she
bears.
The proper committee investigates her
case, and if she is deemed worthy she is
given a co~nsignor's privilege at the low
rate of 50 a year. This will enable her
to offer for sale anything she can make
and bring or send TO the exchange. II
it is a salable article it is accepted and
disposed of at the fixed price by the
owner, 10 per cent. commission being de
Quoted. For the benefit of those who are
unable to pay even the consignor's fee a
very happy plan has been adopted.
Charitable women joining the society
and paying an annual subscription of s.
become members of the board Of mana
gers, and are each entitled to three con.
signor's tickets. which they give to those
who are not able to purchase them.
No names are attached to the articles
exhibited for sale, all being registered
and kept account Of by the bookkeeper.
Women in reduced circumstances
whose pride would forbid them making
a parade of poverty, are thus unostenta-
tiously helped.
There are two Observation-Disclosures
and fancy. In the former is u large
variety Of bread, rolls, pie, cake, jelly,
etc, sold at prices necessarily a little
higher than those of the Harlem baker
les. The fancy department contains
embroidery and all kinds of handiwork,
from a painted plaque to a baby's knit
jacket. These articles are sold at as
nearly standard prices as possible, the
managers taking frequent jaunts through
the downtown stores to keep themselves
informed as to charges. Orders are re.
ceived for sewing, knitting, etc, which
are given to poor women. A teachers
directory and a directory of Harlem's
boarding houses are connected with the
exchange, and some intelligence office
business is done on n limited scale-the
managers recommending servants OF
whose abilities they have positive knowl.
edge.
Four committees-in plain sewing,
embroidery and art, entertainments and
domestic department-have been select
ed to superintend the routine work OF
the exchange. These ladies, all residents
IF t Hsrlds Gaeh hazs skhq sSa e Go def6eeet ii%Petfe fort
its success is largely due.
The exchange is supported by sub
scriptions, c~onsignors' fees and the 1C
per cent. commission on the sale of arti-
cles. The running expenses for rent.
salaries, fuel, gas, printing and supplies
are about 81 500 a year, a sum which Is
unpleasantly close to the net income.
Occasionally a small amount is realized
through some social entertainment for
the benefit of the cause.-New York
World.