The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-16

livery of the recipes with the signatures was
an indiscretion. the consequences of which
were very unpleasant to them but they have
made no attack Of any kind upon your honor
and, therefore. so far as they are concerned.
there is vindication required.
There may be a desire in quarters to
generate tempest" out of this matter. but.
If they act under my advice the ladies Of the
Exchange will not furnish the ''teapot:m Re
MI Mrs, n. Merry 1888 California street, CITY
The publicity brought about by the
publication in the papers also brought a
letter from Mr.. Ames, manager. of the
baking powder company, to Mrs. Schmie-
dell, president of the board. The letter
related to the circumstances of the case
and contained these sentences: Mrs. Mer-
rvs action in the matter was exclusively
and entirely prompted in the interest of
the exchange and not through any
thought or expectation of personal bene-
fit. Being DESTROYS, however, at all times
to conform to the wishes of your manage
ment we would be pleased to hear from
you with suggestions and expressions of
your wishes in relation to the matter in
hand.
Whether the board answered this let
ter l know not, but 1 do know that the
baking powder people called in and de-
stroyed all available copies of the book
at was my original intention to sue the
Wave for libel, but my attorney advised
me that in the event that L secured judg-
ment it would be valueless. Theretore.
against my wishes, I must get my vindi-
cation through the columns OF the daily
press. These charges are all false. and
] am at a loss to know who or what in
spired them; and, Furthermore, the board
has never ceased berating me for resign
Ing. 1 had to resign, or ruin my health.
The work was hard enough, but the
lady managers was too much. Tuesday
was board day and we approached it
with mortal dread and babe it good-by
with heartfelt thanks.
THE Woman's Exchange is not what it
used to be, nor is 1t carrying out the work
for which it was founded. 1t is supposed
purpose of assisting needy gentlewomen.
Such is not its mission now. It is now
used as the stepping-stone to good society
by the nouveaux riches who could not sue
coed in getting on the front doorstep of
such society people as they now reach
We're 1t not for the Exchange. The needy
gentieW,o oIn IS an nnknown quantity
is a rare case. 1t is the women of the
middle class who do not need the assist
ance who, have the patronage of the ex-
thing extra for pin money.
The board passes upon the work of
new applicants, and if she is not the cou-
some one of influence in the sacred swim,
her work is rejected, and the managers
say, oh, no; we can't do anything for
her; but If member says: She is all
right; she is related to Miss So and So,
and we will have to handle her work ;
and they do.
Now as to the real work of the board.
1t is supposed to be a charity. 1t is no
more a charity than any commission
house on Front street, for a. commission
of 10 per cent is exacted upon every sale
be 1t small or large. Furthermore, the
women who work in the Exchange are
held to their hours and work as rigidly as
any employe of the large stores of which
the Labor. Commissioner has so often
complained.
IF the Woman's Exchange Is ever to
fulfill its mission there must be a grand
reformation, that will not only aid the
needy gentlewoman to sell her handi-
work, but to do so without having to
give charity one-tenth Of the returns of
her labor for assisting her
am sorry to have to SAY. these
things, but they are true. and after the
outrageous manner in which l have been
treated by these ladies feel that in jus
tice to myself I must give the public an
and me.
They know that they cannot substan-
tate the charges that have been made
against me, and they choose to treat me
with contemptuous silence as an answer
to my demand for a just vindication.
Matters having come to this acute stage
we Will see what the outcome Will be.