Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-06
WOMAN AND HOME.
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF
WOMEN'S EXCHANGES.
This BODY OF Ours-Antique Or.entnl En-
brolderi~s-BIts Of Information About
Bonnets-Forehe.d Fringes-n Ia = Good
Habit-The Diamond Necklace.

Save for those most directly interested
there is still only the vaeaest idea as to the
real work accomplished by womens ex-
changes The casual observer, entering one for
the first time, sees in every direction masses
Of ornamental work. from a 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 gong to buy and IL 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 aft., all the
smallest part Of the work Of a prosp.rous ex-
change. 1t is the order department that is
the renl source Of income, and the display Of
daintie> and suhstantials Of every variety
There Is supply Of delicate cake, pastry,
rolls. etc. visible TO all. but this is the mere
suggestion Of what Is actually received and
delivered tne woman. for example. SUP
plies ouSomme, sent in the form Of Jelly and
ready 10 melt aud serve. This is a soup ap-
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 IN Qnantl-
ty, to veuturIng upon experiments at home
Even the professional cook often lacks a some
thing that is found in the work of these wo-
mep who supply through exchanges.
with brains sir, said Sir Joshua Rev
nolis when asked with what he mixed his
coiors, and il Is just true that the food
into who>e composition brains have entered
has a favor, delicacy, above all an I'M
varying standard. that no average cook ever
attains II takes . LITTLE time TO secure this
result, hut 1t comes before long 10 every sic
ces-fui worker in this feG
Another fact has no is hearing upon the
success OF -'u'h an undertaking Preparation
in small quantities secures a fnier and more
satisfactory result than is ever possible in
larger amounts For the orcnii reasons for
this t'er'- i no room, though all know the
mngic ia tue words 'hani male. and have
PERHAPS di-caverei hy personal experience
that where double nr treble quantity Of
any form OF food requrtsi, 1t i, AWAY. hest
to make the single rule several times rather
than take the whole bulk of material The
exchanges have all been deinoli>tratar. OF
this fact and thus the ho,e4ze-.t-.r who has
once tested their work shuns the great baker
les. even those Of highest reputation. and
gladly I'm ad. lo.l T.,
ielica;f handling.
The i.Staurant department has shown IL
'eif As Vhe Of the most important. at least in
its possibilities. Not only unsold food can
I've utilized. but wherever established it has
been Shown that. under wise management.
the restaurant phys and becomes popular.
One difficulty has been IN the in.xterience Of
those in charge, and tf'is a sense that only
tie least WAS given ths.s could BE- caIe,i a
moneys worth. But this phase natural III
beginning unfamiliar work. has ended after
a little experience. and the sharp.st critic
could net now find faui; with the amount
served at any we'll known woman's ex-
change.
why have ~e been -, slow 10 80 their
adraatagesf7 writes one Of the contributors
Of Good housekeeping. If they arr 50 use
fni method of helping the better class of
women who must earn, why has not every
city more than one. and why is there con
stsnt suspicion of favorirismr'
This Is popular question and a popular
accusation Inquiry and observation have
10th been brought to bear and 50 far As in.
dications go, one becomes tolerahIy certain
that both are very likely to come from those
Who have done imperfect work and been in
diguant at its rejection. Favoritism some
times shows it-elf. for the Managers are hu-
man, and may he at times biased by personal
preferences. Bat as q whole there is singular
fairness. The work Is much Of it voluntary.
though the larger ones are finding it well to
pay good salaries to competent managers.
Tbs idea has spread 50 insensihly and is still
BY 20 much question and uncsr-