Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-30
Some Examples Showing How 10 Utilize
Talents

talents.
This Is certainly the day of utilizing
ones talent, whatever it may be. A wo
man who lives in another city found her
self, after 90 years of happy sheltered mar
ried life, a widow with two daughters, 10
and IS, to make q home for, and an in.
come SO small as to be scarcely worth men,
tioning. The elder daughter was delicate,
and the younger had two years Of her col
lege course to complete. To meet the cri-
sis and tide over an interval which would
give one child health and the other educa.
ton confronted the mother. For q time
she saw no way to pursue. Then clear
Leaded friend came to her one day for a
talk over affairs.
Now, Isabel" she began, II know
your liabilities, what are your assets?
mean besides your little income. What
can you do absolutely wells"
1--WE a general knowledge Of many
things" was Isabel's discouraged reply,
''but the only thing l can do absolutely
well, " and her laugh was mirthless sis
to make over old clothes. You know I've
always had a great aptitude at that for the
girls and myself
/. ITO be sure you have, and believe you
can do thatnow," came the prompt an
swer to astonish Isabel.
Further talks followed, and in the end
the friend persuaded her companion that
something could be done with this talent
The beginning that spring was small and
merely among her circle of wealthy
friends. She did not actually make over
the old clothes, but spent a morning or q
day with the family seamstress, carefully
inspecting accumulated materials and sug-
costing designs and combinations which
permitted the continued use of dresses and
fabrics. She charged by the day, and her
rate was not low, but she saved it often a
dozen times over to her patrons. The au-
tumn saw her clientele increased, and
now, after threo years, she Is busy nine
months Of the year at good prices.
Before other women embark in the same
occupation 1t must be understood that this
woman has little short Of genius for her
unique calling. 1t Is q positive pleasure
to see her at her practice, for she loosely
styles herself doctor Of robes, and GER
tainly her skill and dizziness are closely
allied to the surgeon who fits and restores
humanity's broken bones and misplaced
anatomy.
She is shown fine Paris dress bodice
Of black satin, whose sleeves have vanish
cd, and of whose skirt is left a single
straight breadth. Sho looks them over
critically. ::
'Havo you any velvet or figured heavy
silk or silk and wool cloth or any hand
some black novelty MATERIAL" She asks.
A piece Or frisc velvet is found which
will do for fun sleeve tops with some other
cuffs and leave two or three straight
mi ~ IflI nd ri man 1it,rr
box is looked over and a few detached jet
ornaments and some black lace arc found.
The waist is fitted, the long position
back carefully opened and pressed and left
TO hang. Tho pieces Of the frise velvet are
set on for skirt fronts and hip pieces join
ed by jars Of the black satin skirt breadth.
The jet ornaments are put on the waist
and at critical points on the hip skirts.
Puffs of laco laid over white silk and u
collar to match are made, and the end is n
costume jacket of imported elegance that
looks as IL 1t might have cost $3.50 and
did cost not u penny beyond the seam
stress time and the designer suggestion,
as tho black silk lining in this case was
produced from Il discarded coat.
If something extra is needed, she can
tell to the shade, quality and fraction of
measurement what it must be- And her
customers nre no longer confined to the
wealthy Persons in moderate circum-
stances realize that their need of her is
quito rs great. Did space permit tho reci-
tai of her many triumphs in evolving a
Worth gown from the family ragbag
would be most interesting. Her work is
carried on quietly, her patrons advcrtis-
ing her from one to another, and her cx-
cellcnt social position, which has undoubt-
eddy much aided her has never been in
the least impaired. New York Times.