The times., 1898-01-30

/ SeeAiS5. ~ SflSs' eT .ltQe question tbat
] many girl is asking today with 4
I thoughtful faeaAthe inquiry as 10 wha;
road TO enter that is not now crowded
to 5estling point with busy travellers
! Every trade, or occupation that does
| not come lnndcr the good old term
trade-is full, and it is little satisfaction
/ to the earnest young woman To say
| there is no room at the top. She cannot
| get an entrance in most cases into any
| avenue of toll but that which but yoor-
! ly repays her in the end, and the top is
always G. vanishing point.
Jh.S suggestion of uphJ.s-a-v as an
occupation for women is rather new,
that is, technical and Industrial schools
have only within year or less, formed
classes in this industry for women
There is so much individuality nova
days in furnishings that many women
like to have it executed directly under
their own eyeS. Draperias a1l furni-
ture coverings can be picked lp at low
prices here id there, ana with them
diyans, easy chairs, cozy corners ami
the like be delightfully."- and inexpen-
siyeiy evolved if the housewife has the
assistance of one of these professional
workers.
-Four dollars a day is the average sum
woman should get who goes out by
the day. If one sets up an office, with
assistants, $50 day or $50 or more
should be the average, with a very ap-
preciable sum added TO the income from
the sale of furniture stuffs.
Strong hands and a strong back and
real preference for the work are
prime requisites. One can learn the
trade in from four to six months by ap-
plying oneself most diligently day af-
ter day, to it.
The beginner is put to work on small
mattresses; then & haSSock is given IL
the prentice hand. Here one can exer-
else ones ingenuity in shaping and
tufting-one, too, can invent different
shapes or vary the style to certain
degree. The first attempt probably is
not joy forever, although it may af-
ford a certain amount of satisfaction
as ones first effort at uph olstsring.
The different methods of tufting sofas
and diyans is almost Il distinct branch
of the industry: -tufting, for eX-
ample, is a nice bit of work to learn.
A great advantage to woman in this
work is the lightnesS of the tools; nee
dies of different sizes, some straight.
some curved, mattress needles, strong
twine, curled hair or excelsior, or, for
ordinary upholStering, tow or flax and
cotton; burlaps. plenty of gimp tacks
Of different sizes; tack-lifter and a
hammer-these are tools of the trade.
If one takes a schair in hand upon
which to try her skill, perhaps an old
chair, the frame of which is moldy and
dusty and the covering in rags and
tatters. the first thing is to strip it en-
tirely, consigningi the stuffing to the
fire and the springs to the ash barrel
All the old tacks are easily removed
with the tack litter. Give the frame
a good scrubbing with soda and water
and then after it is dry rub it well
with fine sandpaper, then with pull
verified pumice, after which it will be
ready for a coat of varnish diluted
with turpentine. Mahogany, cherry,
black walnut or rosewood can be treat
ed in this way but one takes care not
to put the varnish on too thickly.
When the frame is quite dry it is
ready to be covered; it is best to put
the springs in before the frame is var
nished Either a board is put under
meath, to wfich the springs are fast
aned, by means of tWine passed through |
the holes made in the board. or straps |
of stout webbing are used Curled |
hair is next required, and is covered |
with burlaps, which are securely tack |
ed down over the edge of the chair |
The outer covering is then tackled on, |
being finished with gimp, neatly held |
in place by tiny gimp tacks.
So much for upholstering a chair. |
For a divan, which is, perhaps, the
most difficult work an upholsterer is |
called upon to do, the method of pro.
,edure is almost Identical
The teacher from whom one learns I
her trade may have-he probably will /
have-certain ideas and an individual
xnack which are his secrets of success
and which he kindly transmits to |
those he instructs. Once at work,
with that growth in knowledge which
brings perfectness from practice, comes I