The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-26
Women Merchants.

Besides the several thousands of out-of.
town business men who within the past
few weeks ave been drawn to the Broad
way headquarters Of the Merchants Asso-
citation Of New York, and who have regis
tered their names upon the associations
books, more than one hundred %out-of.town
business women have been drawn there.
These women merchants had the same pur-
pose as the men merchants in coming to the
city; they came to buy supplies of mer-
charitable goods for the fall trade, to be
sold at the places in which they live. They
were non resident members of the ~associa-
ton they came here as members Of its ex-
cursion parties; they were entitled to the
privileges Of its headquarters; and they
took advantage of the reduced rates of
travel which the railroad companies had
granted for the season to visiting mer-
chants. at is very easy" said one of them
who had come here all the way from the
Stubtoe State, "to make the trip from
Butte to New York"
1t appeared by the registry books that
most of these women were from the West
ern States. but n number of them were from
other parts Of the country. 1t was learned
that some OF them were in business for
themselves, and came to buy at wholesale
for their own stores, while others were
buyers for mercantile houses which have
confidence in their knowledge and judg.
ment. Some of them while here placed
large orders with wholesale and commits.
sion houses, and there are experienced
statesmen for large New York firms who saw
that shrewder traders were never seen in
this part Of the country. They were quick
In their understanding, careful in their in.
spection, close in their bargaining. and
rigidly practical In all their ways. They
seemed to know all about material and
quality and manufacture, as well as about
cost, terms OF sale, rebates, and credit.
They came here to procure such goods
and wares as are needed in many lines of
business. 1t is probable that most of them
embroideries, fancy goods, silks and vel
vets, women's hats, hosiery and CATERS,
cloaks and suits, rs also cooking utensils,
upholstery ware, and dry goods, Plenty Of
women possess expert knowledge of such
articles as these, along with the fine taste
required for the selection OF the best of
them, In such manner as to meet the de-
mands of ever.changing fashion. Intelll-
gent women know well that New York is
The right place in which to procure them,
all the varieties OF them. This is the place
OF their manufacture; this is the s~torehouse
10 which they are brought from other
places; this is the market for people who
would purchase them.
We guess that the American business
women here spoken of are about as ~"level-
headed" as are lots OF our successful bust
ness men. We guess also that those of
thern who have recently been here for the
iail Trade by invitation of the Merchants
Association of New York are among the
In the country. 1t was a wise
determination of this association to make
no discrimination between men merchants
and women merchants as nonresident
members.
Women who desire to become LAWYERS or
preachers or doctors often complain of the
obstacles that are put in their way by the
man members of these professions. But
there is a clear course for those women who
desire to enter into the mercantile bust.