The herald., 1897-02-28
WOMEN DOING MEMS WORK
Effects of Hard Times Illustrated
in Simple Fashion
COLLECTING OLD nInTS
Some Would Like TO Be C0ndu c.ars "a
Cars
COLLECTING OLD
A Woman As q BootbIack-The Proprietor o.
Prosperous Shoe Shining Esq
tabiishment

Hard times, poverty and distress asVo
driven many Brooklyn women to seek
employment in positions usually illed
by men, and the applications that have
been made this winter are uany A. the
office of the Brooklyn Heights Railroad
company yesterday it was learned from
an official that since last Christmas no
less than twenty-five women and girls
have applied for work of any kind, but
that it had been absolutely impossible
to place more than two of them, and these
were selected because of their ability ~
stenographers and typewriters.
why" said the official, you will
find it hard to believe, but five young
women actually wished to become con-
ductors on the cars, and others were will
ling to act as spoilers. Never before
since 1 have occupied the position
now hold has there been such an In
vasion of women who would be only
too glad to do the work that men are now
doing and have always done"
At Bedford and Putnam avenues there
is a bootblacking parlor in which there
are three chairs and a separate room
where ladies can have their shoes shined
secure from the gaze of the curious. Col
OTeQ men anu boys are employed TO 40
this, but the owner of the esta blshment
is woman. That is not generally known
to the patrons of the place, but still 1t is
fact, and she is a white woman, toe
a. woman with good business head IN
her shoulders. She uses it to good ad-
vantage for it is understood that shs
derives profit of nearly $50 week from
her enterprise.
Women BARRIERS are not by any means
uncommon, and a great deal has been
written about them and how they shave
and cut hair, bu3 women as collectors
of old and bad debts are new. One OF
these was abroad in the Bedford district
yesterday with big bunch of laundry
bills in a small satchel which she car
ried in her hand.
"I nave been forced to go into this
business" she said to the lady OF one
house at which she called, because I
could not earn a living as dressmaker
| This is very disagreeable thing for me
| to do, but it was the only thing could
| get. 1t was either starvation or going
| from door to door dunning people. so
| chose the latter course
Il meet many peculiar people and am
| given all sorts of excuses by thern for
| not having paid their debts. For in
stance: I had claim against lady In
this block which amounted to 40 cents.
She said she had not paid the bill bee causs
l
shirts was slightly frayed. She claim
ed it was the fault of the laundress but,
as matter q fact the shirt was a almost
worn out. OF course, the debt was just
one, and I pressed our claim.
"She, after much argument of con-
ciliatory nature, agreed to liquidate on
the basis of weekly installments OF 10
cents each. These have collected with
unfailing regularity and ! have just e
ceived the last payment. 1t is necessary
for me to collect money, because work
on commission, and if 1 do not get the
money I get no cash for myself
There are other women in businesses
that were formerly monopolized by men.
In Decatur street there is woman dem
tist, in Skillman street woman real
estate agent, in lower Fulton street a
woman hotel proprietor as silent part
ner, and last, but not by any means
least, a woman who not only sells, but
smokes, cigars, pipes and cigarettes for
the benefit of her husband. who is the
proprietor of a small cigar store In Fur
man street, not far from Fulton ferry.