The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-31

stamped Velvet flowers balls OF tlnsel.
ribbons for arrnsene work were also
wanted. Here for the first time, came dif-
ficulty. for stock OF this kind meant an
outlay OF more money than she felt she
could spare
One day she had an idea--the first, she
says IN the series OF Ideas that have made
her successful. sitting down, she wrote to
LARGE Wholesale house in New York
asking for the privilege OF selling upon
commissions and. offering as security the
name OF prominent New York business
man who had begged her to permit him
70 be Of service to her.
Then she wrote 10 n firm manufacturing
embroidery silks and. telling them that she
was about TO handle ribbons and flowers
for a New York house, preparatory to es-
tabllshing art stamping business. she
asked them TO let her sell embroidery
silks on commission, ii abundant security
were given.
10 both letsers-in which by the way.
business cards were encsoseSi--there was a
favorable reply returned. and inside OF
week. there was n very good stock OF
artistic materials for fancy work on ex-
hthirlon IN the front parlor of her cot
tagc.
business was fairly good and the income
was steady and more than expected
about SIC per week. And this sum. Mrs.
Baker reasoned. was more than could be
cleared In any other way by working at
home. Even Notwithstanding would be
less lucrative; for with the children TO
care for and the Homework TO do It
would be Impossible to complete u gown
in less than week; and even in large
cities people do not feel like paying anna
tours Si2 for making gown. And the
work for amateurs Il very wearing upon
nerves brain and eyes.
But the best was yet to come. 1t hap
pencd by accident.
THE FIRST CAKE FOR SALE.
One week there was sociable in the
church, and Mrs. Baker, who had never
permitted herself TO fail back in any of
her outside duties. baked a cake ana sent
1t with her compliments A few hours
after messenger came running from the
church. 1t was the attie boy OF the pas
tors wife and he saad breatfiessly,
mother has Just sold your cake TO Mrs
Richie, who wants another, and mother
says II you Wiz make It she will insist
on paying you for IT.
The cake was made and pay was de-
c2ined. But the idea was soNn ana few
days later Mrs. Bakers business cards
bore the legend. "Iome-made cake
Weddings and parties supplied.
Then came run OF custom, and Mrs.
Baker had servant to help. before she
knew IT, In a week she was agent for
patent cake pan; for many Of her custom
ers We're sure they could bake as well, II
they only had the pans ana the recipes
that Mrs. Baker used
They can't make the cake" said Mrs
Bnker. because they are not willing to
take the trouble, I am not afraid OF get
ting out of work. why. dry my flour
and sift Il four times, and slit my sugar
and dry IL too And measure everything
aad heat my olsa by @ thernpometer
and time my cake as if | We're boiling
eggs And when 1t is baked l leave il
~ the pans ha,f day to make the out
side tender. The foundation is only one,
Two, three, four cake, but ] make it so
rich that people think am losing money.
But am not"
The cake business went on until It be-
came such nuisance to sell the cakes
from the front door that arrangements
had 10 be made with a grocer in the VIII
lage, who for per cent commission
agreed TO handle the cakes and dellver
them to regular customers, besides pro-
viding a handsome showcase for them in
the front of his store.
FORTY DOLLARS A WEEK CLEAR.
Last summer during July and August,
when the summer people we're IN town.
there were thirty cakes sold each day
and 200 on Saturday. AS none OF the
cakes We're .ess than . cents, the lowest
estimate WIS $50 Of this the grocer
Kept sI-2iis Tor commission and the cost
~ the matetials wsls % per cent, or S2l.S7ls.
leaving profit of SCI %.
OF course form this sum had 10 he de-
lucted the price of two maids to help. but
this, with their board, did not come 10 s2l
per week, nor near IT. so that there was
a generous $40 left as clear profit. And $40
n week is good pay for q woman TO earn
In IA business of her own-at least Mrs. |
Baker so considers 1t.
In the summer when there are hungry
boarding house people to be supplied with |
uncheons OF cake, every day in the week |
Is baking day
The layer cakes" that retail for only |
"a quarter" are apt to dry out soon and |
should be fresh when sold, So these are /
made daily--every morning before z I