New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-30
IT'S SUMMER EXHIBITION.
THE Y. w. c. A. SHOWS THE WORK OF
IT'S CLASSES
TWO WOMEN COMPARE INDUSTRIAL NOTES on
THE Usefulness OF THE EMPLOY
MENT BUREAU-AN OFF,

GALS STATEMENT.

MENT BUREAU-AN Off
GALS STATEMENT
concert and exhibition of summer work was
held last evening at the Young Womens Christian
Association Building. No. East Fifteenth-st. An
interesting exhibit prepared Of the work OF
the art. embroidery and millinery summer classes,
and many admiring comments were heard.
Since | became a resident OF NewYork ] have
spent 80 cents that brought me so sure a
return that paid for my enrolment In the En-
ployment Bureau Of the Young Women's Christian
Association"
You don, mean It? never got anything from Il
but fair promises"
They working women. comparing industrial
notes they watched the exhibit.
The two opinions up the situation" said
official OF the bureau. 1T is always pleasant
to learn when our efforts are appreciated. but we
accustomed to complaints. Many applicants
do not hesitate to tell US frankly that they feel
that they have thrown their money away. or that
they could have invested It to better advantage
elsewhere The difficulty is here Applicants.
especially those FOR whom We fail to secure engage
ments do not always fully understand the purport
Of tho bureau. We do not guarantee places. nor
do we pledge ourselves to Ill orders from employ
ers Every effort however. is made 10 satisfy our
patrons and 10 place all applicants whose refer
ences are satisfactory. The last summer has been
unusually trying Summer always finds large num-
bers Of unemployed women. The war naturally
added to this seasons distress. We have between
two thousand and three thousand names on our
list There n re about the same number OF employ
ers seeking help.
Yet despite the large list. and the great number
OF unemployed It's not always easy to I'LL place
Not long ago. Of nineteen calls made to applicants
only nine responded. To secure one appointment
we have often been obliged to send three times
There are 80 many people impossible to help They
have set IDEAS as to their preferences and WORTH
-. 10 ,,,,foG
places that meet their personal desires We often
wonder how many OF them manage to keep alive
Last year the bureau filed li26 places. There
Is no accurate means Of ascertalnng how many
individuals It assists yearly 10 find employment
since different places frequently filled by the
came person. and each engagement Is counted as
a place II IT only lasts for several days. Often
an employer TO whom applicants are sent will take
their address and some future time communicate
directly with them. In this way many women
have found most desirahl" places OF which the
bureau hears directly or indirectly long after.
"Douhtless many places secured In this way
Of which report is never made. The bureau IL not
sc!f-sustaininc That Is not lts aim or object"
we ind" said another OF tho officials. that there
ia demand only for the old-cs;ablished trades and
professions The novel lines ~ work Of which one
reads In the newspapers occasionally have no mar
Ike, value In employment bureau. We supply
few factories Many publishers apply for all sorts
n
drcssers 10 proofreaders. once in great while
there is a request sor a woman TO read TO in
WILD a certain hour % the day or evening The
elderly couple Of refined literary taste whose eye
sight had become impaired. applied for woman
10 read ~ them every evening from 70 o'clock.
We had ninc people equipped and ready 20 accept:
\ young schoo,eacher. employed half the day and
proved most desirable and continued throughout a
whole winter. enabling the young woman 70 make
81 extra every week.
WHAT THE BUREAU FURNISHES.
we always try in such cases 10 consider tho loca-
ton OF the employer and the employe as 20 save
the latter cnrfare whenever Il Is possible.
The bureau she went on. EXCLUDES house
servants from It's register. All other occupations
including artists. carpet-sewers chaperons. clerks
companionr copvlsts decorators. designers for car
pots wallpapers. tiles. metal work. dressmakers
hairdressers housekeepers. invalids ATTENDANTS,
k,ndcrgartners ladies' maids manicures. mas
seuses matrons milliners. nursery governssses.
pedicures proofreaders. retouchers OF photo mega
,ives resident and visiting teachers saleswomen.
searnstresses shampoosrs. shoppers. stenograph-
ers teachers Of languages. music and the Industrial
arts trained nurses typewrters and upholsterers.
Shopping has ceased 10 be. II II ever was. re:
munerative calling. At best Il IS extremely nara
work. The mailing departments OF an largr NV
York houses cover the ground so completely that
therc IS lttle left for the shopper who IS made 70
feel moro and more that orxrs are given on me
ground Of charity. rather than for dement's re-
ceivcd. ~
But most surprising Of MI" said the .nformer.
..,s our difficulty I'm finding good pam sewers Sew
ing seems 20 be- lost art. The Red Cross auxii-
iaros In their Efforts to find employment for the
wives and daughters Of soldiers and sailors. meet
with the same dlnculty 1t IL rare nowadays TO
ind women skilful. competent. with the
reodle II mny hc attributed largely 10 the preva-
lence Of the machine and the cheapness with which
rsaGN-made garments mr." 20 be had Inc sttch.
stitch stitch that inspired the immortal Song or
thr shirt would seem 10 have had It, day:
..Vlfhln the last year the Young Womens
Christian Association has arranged 20 offer 10 ~
constituents among self supporting women an an
nusl membership FOR 81. which includes the priv
leg. of free use % Tho emp oyment bureau, as
count or allowance the fees OF classes or de-
nar,mou,s and FREQ admissions 10 the monthly en-
'oriainrcnts that often include the best talent or
tho citv Enrolment In the employment bureau tor
non-rnc,nher- is - cents FOR six months. Women
Passing through the city or staying here tempo
rariv cannot register. The bureau insists on a per-
sonal visit from the applicant
'p,splfe these facts. repeatedly puDHSh"h mo
bureau IS IN almost daily receipt Of letters from
ali narts Of the United States rs far west AZ Da-
ko.a saving the writer will he In New-lork for
few weeks and is anxious to secure work. ana
wants to be enrolled In the employment bureau
Letters inquirirg II work Is 70 be had " the pu-
veau will secure f. SO that the applicant can come
10 New York. are among the odd demands made by
the 'fenderfOot ambitious 10 be a broadwinnsr IN
ono OF the most congested markets In the world.
The associations efforts are confined solely 20
self supporting women residents Of New-fork CRY
or the Immediate vicinity. who can FURNISH GOOD
references for character and ability. and In extend
Ing the privileges Of membership Il hopes 10 bring
them In closer touch with each other.