The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-19
LIVE BY QUEER WORK.
Men ana women Who Gain n LiveII-
hood in Original ways.


From the Chicago Times-Herald.
Some Chicago people earn their living
in queer ways. There is man in the
city who makes a good income monthly
by turning out especially artistic sofa pill
lows. Another man will clear your kitchen
of rats and mice for a small sum, work
ing in precisely the same manner as the
sewer rat-catchers of Paris and other
large cities Kenwood housewives are
well acquainted with bright young fell
low who washes dogs and takes regular
care of birds and other pets. and oak
park has a masculine resident who goes
from door TO door collecting defective
gloves, which he afterwards carries to the
small shanty which is home TO him,
cleans, mends and returns. He Is said to
be actually saving money, despite the fact
that his charges are considerably lower
than those charged by the downtown
stores
Nor are Chicago women less enterpris-
ing than the men in the way of doing odd
work. one south side woman writes SER
mons for a living, another furnishes
original papers to be read before clubs
and bright rhymes for menu cards and
quotation parties There is another wo-
man in town who is "a practical miner,
managing several western mines, making
periodical trips Of inspection for mine own
ers who do not care to make the long
journey, going down the mines In Just the
same clothing and in precisely the same
manner as a man would do, and taking
hand with the tools herself upon occasion.
Another Chicago woman conducts COM
mission business on South Water street.
But the oldest occupation unearthed yet
Is followed and was invented by a woman.
1t Is that of a sort OF funeral inspector
and assistant. When her services are re-
quired she goes to the house OF mourning,
makes the shroud when desired TO do 50,
gives orders for flowers, arranges them,
takes messages to the friends and rela-
tlves of the household bids people to the
services, buys or hires the mourning gar
ments, alters them II necessary, arrangcs
the rooms for the funeral, talks matters
over with the minister end the undertaken,
sees that the wishes OF the family are car
ried out, and, in a word, stands between
the afflicted people and the world al large
in thousand ways aud performs a thou
sand small but highly appreciated SER
vices The funeral over, she takes the flow
ers to be photographed, remains in the
house until the family returns, nurses any
aiing member Of IL, cares for the children,
prepares a meal II necessary stays TO this
meal II requested and in many ways helps
along the dragging machinery OF life.
when affairs have assumed somewhat of
their natural appearance and course she
quietly departs. This woman Is doing a
really needed work and earning a good liv-
ing at the same time. She IS sympathetic
by nature, and there Is IN her manner
nothing Of the stereOtyped confidence Of
the undertaken. Another branch of her
work is the assisting at weddings or large
private gatherings OF any kind.
When a wedding Is in course OF prepara-
ton she arrives early in the day, or per-
haps two days previous 90 the great event,
4 n IN A l.
small details so trying 10 the mistress OF
the house. She Il Is who sees that the bou-
quet is in readiness for the bride, that her
trunk Is properly packed and everything
that should go In IL put In place, end that
all arrangements for the comfort and con-
venicnce OF the guests are completed. She
IL Is who interviews the bridegroom and
makes sure that tho ring Is forthcoming;
she II is who critically superintends the
bride toilet at the final moment, In or
der that her calm attention and unhurried
inspection may insure perfection OF detail.
She II is who secs 20 the serving OF re-
freshmentn. the caring for wraps and top
coats. and the dreaded clearing up
when the festivities arc over. IN fact she
looks after everything which ordinarily
distrdcts the brides mother and family,
and she hnds her reward In the hearty
thanks which are Invariably bestowed
upon her no less than IN the check which
Two people, q man ana woman, the
former % college youth. follow In Chicago
the down-east avocation OF professional
entertainer" The college bog b. in such
inccssant demand for "staR" ~ mixed
parties that his studies suffer OcN sional-
ly The statement that he ls 1.-THE life Of
every gathering nc attends IN hlg recon-
mcndation. lie also superntends all the
necessary arrangements FOR the affair. he
is held rcsponHlble for the enjoyment and
entertainment OF the guests. and is treat
ed as such himself The woman enter
talnor does precisely the same thing add
INK % her other duties that OF Buperla-
tending the arrangements OF the table.
tho making OF salads. ana other things
~ the knd she plays the plano if dan
cling BE- desired. starts games and nmuse.
mentr, aud keeps the ball rolling Rayly
until the last guest has departed. Ter
only capital when she started out two
years AGO WAS q couple Of handsome
gowns ana a delightful manner now she
possesses an extensive wardrobe. has
money in che bank and a. making ready
Tor an extended European tour The coll
irro boy b. paying his way through col.
ieTe By bio work
TNffe Ia Huf one nfnfansiarnl nahrarrr 70