Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-02-12
women of business in London.

Women of Business in London.
The first lady l knew who ventured
into business was the Hon. Mrs. Mar
berley. She opened milk shop in Lon
don: her carts and billheads bore her
own name in full, and she was simply
untiring in her personal supervision OF
her shop. No paltry pride or caste feel
ing kept her from doing her work as
head of that establishment but her sue
cessful career was cut short by an illness
which unhappily proved fatal Women
of position can afford to lead the way
for their struggling sisters, and as an eX-
ample is worth any number OF argu-
ments / propose to record two success
full experiments in similar directions.
Some years ago l became acquainted
with a bright, clever girl, whose father
was a well-known Yorkshire lawyer.
She was then a Queens College student;
on returning home she entered with
great spirit into the usual engagements
which come to an ordinary young lady
in society. After n time they palled
upon her and she expended great deal
of energy in philanthropic efforts ;
finally she determined on n career OF
honorable work. rather than life oil
dull inactivity or intermittent charitable
enterprises, and casting off the shackles
which imprison weaker women, she
dared to be herself-not the reflection OF
a mere glass She went through course
fg1nG
from hearth tiles to frieze paintings,
visited all the palaces where she could
find antique furniture and the newest
inventions-in short thoroughly quail
fled herself for the business in which she
has since made a reputation. About
three years ago, after having had great
success in London, where she furnished
houses from roof to basement Miss Char-
lotte Robinson came to Manchester and
opened shop in King street. and re-
gardless of that bugbear which terrliles
most women-the loss of social status
she put up her own name over the door,
and. without the least self assertion,
quietly entered into competition with
the sterner sex. Tie result has been
eminently satisfactory. This year Miss
Robinson has had in addition 10 her
ordinary business two exhibits which
have attracted universal admiration, one
at Saltaire. and the other at the famous
Manchester exhibition next year she
proposes to exhibit at GLASGOW and pos
siblv at Brussels Her furniture designs
are simple and unique; she has dainty
and quaint arrangements for cozy hooks
and odd corners, and has good reason to
be proud of the work of the artists EN-
ployed in the studio over which her
clever sister. Mrs. McClelland, IS the pre-
siding genius. Miss Robinson had at
first some difficulty in making people
understand that her W )rk is really COM
mercial. not charitable; she feels that
until healthy public opinion Is created,
women will pose rs destitute ladies,
and never take digniiied position in
any calling they adopt Gentlemen who
earn their own living are not spoken OF
as destitute and we must Danish this
idea in connection with ladies who are
engaged in an equally honorable man
ner.
lluN AIIilk Ailt 'AAAAVAA NeA" III 49,
10 open millinery business in London,
and her example was quickly followed
bv "A Girton girl known as Nine. Isabel
Of Bond street Neither Of these ladies
trades under her own name. but, as their
experience will probably clear the way
for others. the following details of why
Nine. Isabel became a woman Of busi-
pc,. are valuable In the first place, her
husbands health failed. and he was
ordered to India. where his wife hoped
to .ccure educational work. The climate
made her SD ill that she returned to Eng
land convinced that she must at once
abandon al idea Of studying medicine
She consulted friends who fortunately
knew that commercial life offered O suit
able opening Tor clever. Industrious
women. she was strongly advised by
them 20 -co into business. She de-
cided % begin without delay. AZ first
she tried a partnership with an estab-
i,hel milliner. but that was un,atisiac-
tory owing TO differences in taste and
pos tion. Later on this enterprising lady
took a shop on her own responsibility
IN Bond street. and started of 10 Paris
10 complete arrangements there. On the
18Th Of March. 1856, she opened the doors
OF u hat has proved a very successful
undertaking. thanks 10 unfailing atten-
ton TO details. Nine. Isabel personally
conducts all important business matters,
and though she has an excellent house
keeper for her assistants home she looks
after its welfare herself. Her customers
ALWAYS find a pleasant welcome and
afternoon tea at o'clock. Like Miss
Robinson, she still often finds time go
into society after her days work is done,
an has not had her name erased from
any visiting list she values The more
highly educated our women OF business
are the better for themselves, their work,
and the whole community. Many of the
professions to which ladies' have hitherto
turned are overcrowded. and when once
the fear of losing social position IS dlsre-
carried it will be found that commercial
life offers a variety Of more or less lucra-
five employment to ladies Of birth and
capital. who find it more congenial to
their tastes and requirements to invest
their money and spend their energies in
business which yields fair return,
rather than sit at home content with
scantv pittance and colorless. monoto-
nous life
FOR TIE BLOOD.
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