The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-21
What Woman Sees.

In romances the beautiful heroine who
has been reared in luxury. and suddenly
realizes that her riches have taken TO them
selves wings, is always represented as earn
ing a livelihood, and at the same time sur
fering from the 'slings and arrows" oil
snObbery, by teaching music, painting,
writing poems or romances. copying, ana
very often by obtaining the post oil leading
lady after one nights experience upon the
stage. How very different are the Occupa-
tions chasen by the heroines of everyday
life. some of whom / have met within the
last few months.
one day, after | had wandered around
without seeing anything to enable me TO
earn my salary, | came upon small mousse
so picturesquely covered with vines that 1t
looked more like the architecture apOets
fancy. or the property cottage OF a stage
heroine, than what il was-a laundry.
Entering the yine-wreathed porch made
the acquaintance Of the owner, handsome
woman, who told me briefly the story OF her
venture. Lett a widow with two children,
and realizing that she must work, she had
stepped out from the beaten tracks that lead
to stores and offices onto little by-path
where she set up as laundress.
She was educated, too, but she saw no
other way Of earning living, and at the
same time being with her little ones. She
hired two women, and Notwithstanding
that her charges were cent or two above
the average, the work was done so thor
oughly that her patronage steadily in
creased She never did any hard work her.
self, but for those who so wished she mend
d, darned, and sewed on buttons; and.
while she did not become rich, she earned
enough. she informed me, TO keep herself
and family in comfort. Yesterday again
found myself in that neighb0rh0od, and as
it was raining heavily resolved 10 pay my
ACQUAINTANCE a short visit; but To- the
place had changed hands and man was at
the helm.
Among the widows patrons, he informed
me, between pufs of tobacco smoke, was a
bachelor whom every one declared was con-
firmed in his habits of single blessedness,
and who belonged to the class who desired
mending done. Ii was surprising that a
number of buttons were missing from his
clothes and whether it was the firmness
with which they were sewed on, the smooth
ness of the darns, or the widows pretty
face, no one could tell; but SIX weeks ago
he called one Sunday afternoon and took her
and the children for drive. Next day the
laundry was advertised among the "Busi-
ness Chances in the Evening News, and, a
few DAYS later, changed hands. The widow
became bride, and is now the mistress OF
a pretty home near Fifty-ninth street, for
the ex-bachelor is well-to-do hardware
merchant.
In Lake View is another widow who has
demonstrated the ability TO support herself
without leaving her own home, and she does
not teach fancy work, either. She makes a
speciality Of that airy, nothing which the
matinee girl is so fond of combining with Ice
cream, and which gfaces the clearinghouse
table on the Sabbath as pious reminder OF
the day-angel food. Hers is as white, pure,
and feathery as the wings OF a seraph, ifyou
know what a seraph Is, and finds steady
market at well-known caterers. She Is not
rolling in wealth, is this cakemaker, remem-
Der, but she supports herself and little girl
and is not that enoughs
ON a south side avenue is third self-sup-
porting woman, quite young, but who, hay-
ing drawn an unlucky number in the n.y.
meneal lottery, had been brought face TO
face with the problem OF labor. For one
whole day, she says, she pondered on Whit
occupation she would choose, and finally
decided on that Of hair-dressing. FOrtu-
nately, she was possessed OF small capt.
tai, and after renting suite OF six
rooms she fitted up three for household and
three for business purposes. The parlor
is furnished as recepuon-room. The
floor is painted and covered with rugs;
a crimson velvet lounge occupies one side
Of the room and piano the other. A table
strewn with volumes OF the poets occupies
the middle of the floor, and few coy rock
ers are arranged around. The patrons Of
the establishment speak OF 1t in the highest
terms, and recommend il TO their friends as
place where they cannot only have their
hair arranged according to fashions latest
within, but can also have their nails mani
cured. their compilations corrected" for
theatre or ball, and the pain OF an aching
corn assuaged.
The chirol o list, however, Is not regular
empl0ye, but colored man who occupies
the basement. and who is always willing 10
come to the "Parlors" IL cater ~ the wants
OF some shy woman who shripks from en-.
teriDg his establishment. So you see the
hair-dressing venture Is success, and un-