Wichita eagle., 1890-01-25
WOMAN And HOME
Interesting and Useful Clean
ings from Many Fields.
IN THE CASTLES OF MAN
What the Fair Are Doing for Them
selves and the Rest Of Mankind.
ABOUT W0MEN'S EXCHANGES.


Bonnets-ForeheadF rinses-It Is Good
Habit-The Diamond Necklace Wet
with Mothers Tears-Costuaes Worth
S1,o0O-why Her Cloak Was Torn-An
Omcer's wife's Home-WOrking Girls
Clubs-Proper Position of Beds.
Save for those most directly interested
there is still only the vaguest idea as to the
real work accomplished by women's e1-
changes. The casual observer, entering one for
the first time, sees in every direction masses
of ornamental work. from decorated roll
ing pin up to an embroidered portiere. Much
of it is beautiful and quite worth the price
asked, but as every woman with leisure ex-
periments more or less in precisely the same
directions, and every house is already over
loaded with their experiments, one questions
who is going to buy and if this is all that the
new outlet has for women. Often it hap
pens that the inquirer stops right here and
goes home with the conviction that women's
exchanges are simply another means for the
dissemination of bric-a-brac. already an over
whelming fact in all our lives, and that sup
preston rather than encouragement should
be the order of things.
Certainly the supply of this variety of
work far exceeds the demand, though even
here the highest excellence in design and
workmanship is almost certain of encourage
ment and reward. But this is, after al, the
smallest part of the work of a prosperous ex-
change. 1t is the order department that is
the real source of income, and the display of
dainties and substantials of every variety.
-. .xf HI
rolls, ETC., visible to all, but this is the mere
suggestion of what is actually received and
delivered. One woman, for example, sup
plies consomme, sent in the fern OF jelly, and
ready TO melt and serve. This is a soup APP
parently beyond the power of the ordinary
cook to compass, and there are many house.
keepers who prefer to buy this product, which
has proved itself absolutely certain IA quantl-
ty, to venturing upon experiments at home.
Even the professional cook often lacks a some
thing that is found in the work OF these wo-
men who supply through exchanges.
with brains, sir" said Sir Joshua Rey-
nolds when asked with what he mixed his
colors. and it is just as true that the food
into whose composition brains have entered
has flavor, a delicacy, above all an I'M
varying standard, that no average cook ever
attains. 1t takes a little time to secure this
result, but it comes before long to every sue
cessful worker in this field.
Another fact has no less bearing upon the
success Of such an undertaking. Preparation
in small quantities secures finer end more
satisfactory result than is ever possible in
larger amounts. For the occult reasons for
this there is no room, though we all know the
magic in the woEds 'hand made and have
perhaps discovered by personal experience
that where a double or treble quantity of
any form of food is required, it is always best
to make the single rule several times rather
than take the whole bulk of material. The
exchanges have all been demonstrators of
this fact, and thus the housekeeper who has
once tested their work shIns the great baker
les, even those Of highest reputation, and
pays gladly the added price for tbs more
delicate handling.
The restaurant department has shown it
self as one of the most important, at least in
its possibilities. Not only unsold food can
be utilized, but wherever established it has
been shown that, under wise management,
the restaurant pays and becomes popular.
One difficulty has been in the mex pcrieuce Of
those in charge, and thus s. sense that only
the least was given that could be called a
moneys worth. But this phase, natural in
beginning unfamiliar work, has ended after
little experience, and the sharpest critic
could not now find fault with the amount
served at any well known woEnans ex-
change.
''Why have we been so slow TO see their
advantages" writes one of the contributors
of Good Housekeeping. ''If they are 50 use
full method of helping the better class Of
women who must earn, Why has not every
city more than one, and why is there coz
slant suspicion of favorKisrnf'
This is popular question and popular
accusation. Inquiry and observation have
both been brought to bear, and so far as in
dications go, one becomes tolerably certain
that both are very likely to eoFee from those
who have done imperfect work and been In
dignant at It's rejection Favoritism some
times shows itself, for tho managers are hu-
man, and may be at times biased by personal
preferences But rs a whole there is singular
fairness The work is much of IL voluntary,
though the larger ONES are finding it well TO
paw good salaries To competent n9aaagers-
The idea mas spread 50 insensibiy and Is still
surrounded by SO much question and unoer-
tainty, not in actual fs but IN tho minds
Of those unfamiliar with tho workings of ex
changes in general, that IL Is not regarded IS
possible tina, every town of any SIG could
support, in great part a. Least, the coutribu-
tors to such undertasins.-EeicnC Camp
bell In Good Housekeeping.