San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-11-23
THE WOMAN'S EXCHANGE.
GOOD BUSINESS WITHOUT MUCH
FUSS AND FEATHERS.
A Reception That Had Practical
Work For San Antonio at
the Bottom of It.


Woman's Exchange of this city at
their rooms on LOsoya street, pleas
ant and attractive and enjoyable as
a social function, had meaning
deeper than any merely social
gathering. 1t was in effect an il
lustration in results of what had
been so quietly and efficiently eff
fected during a year of genuine eff
fort. The real interest did not GEN.
ter around the charmingly ar
ranged tea tables, nor in the ele-
CANT toilets Of the leaders OF society
who dispensed the Inequalities OF
the afternoon, bat in the work that
had been undertaken and which
had been so persistently carried
forward under so great discourage
ment until the fruits were appear
ing. The LIGHT deems its readers
more interested in this work, than
in any description OF the toilets OF
the ladies, the refreshments offered.
or the roster of those who were In
evidence.
The Woman's Exchange is the
motherly creator, sponsor and pro-
wider for the Exchange, employ
ment bureau, free kindergarten and
library-all Of which are the direct
result of the efforts Of about three
score Of the earnest, level-headed
| and warm hearted women OF this
city. The work OF the Exchange
| has often been reverted to, but its
| work in establishing a free kinder
/ garten and public library deserves
| special recognition.
The Free Kindergarten has been
established for the benefit OF those
, poor mothers, who, compelled by
circumstances to go out to work,
must leave their little ones either
at home without proper supervis~
ion or commit them to some neigh
boris care. The Exchange has OPEN
ed a day home for these little ones
where they are taught the same as
in the pay kindergarten, a COM
Portable meal given them and
proper care taken Of them until
they are called for by their moth
ers at night. For this instruction
and care no charge is made, but as
all this costs money and there is
no revenue for the Exchange other
than is voluntarily provided, those
who can afford to pay a small sum,
be 1t more or less, for the care of
the little ones, are expected to do
SOFAS every quarter of a dollar thus
received aids in the work of the
Exchange. The object Of all this
is to aid those who are trying to
aid themselves. The object lesson
shown in this department yester-
day was very charming one and
which attracted even more atten-
ton than the brilliant talk of the
ladies.
The Library is another OF the
objects that lie near to the heart of
the Exchange. For two years they
have labored assiduously to put this
enterprise on its feet, moved solely
by the need that there Is for such
an institution in this city. To this
work they have given their ener-
gies and their devotion until they
have enough in sight to warrant a
general call on the intelligent men
of this city to come forward to
their aid. The Library room Is
pleasant, easy of access, has on its
shelves and in circulation about
800 volumes and requires more
money to keep 1t healthily growing
than the ladies can command.
Membership in the Library divi-
sion and the dues for readers are
the only sources of revenue that
the Exchange has for increase Of
the library, and the men OF
San Antonio who have an interest
in her intellectual growth should
step forward voluntarily to the aid
of the work so nobly begun. Two
or three hundred memberships,
that not one of which w ould be
felt, would put the library in good
shape, frOnted toward success with
a catalOgued list Of 1000 or 1000
books.
The work so far has been in per-
feet harmony, the ladies knowing
nothing of rivalry, save as to
who can do the most self sacrl-
ficing work. The pleasant parlors
of the Exchange were well filled
on yesterday afternoon with a
throng of the best representatives
of the wOmanhOOd of this city,
among whom few gentlemen
were sandwiChed. The LIGHT
commends this work to a car eful
examination, confident that it Will