New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-24
!sF 1OISEHOLD'
seo, N. TALKS
SHOP BOUGHT OR HOMEMADE UNDER
WEAR ECONOMICALLY CONSIDERED.

Only the woman whose time lies heavy upon
her hands" can afford to make her own underwear.
and only persons who have TO need for economy
can afford to have 1t made by seamstress Inc
price at which but substantial garments are
sold in the shops dehes competition with the home
product as far as price is concerned. II Is cheaper
To buy these garments even II they do not last half
az long as those daintily and properly made at
home
When underwear Is made Of fine nainsooks and
cambria the best manner II is cheaper 10 make 1t
home l. then comes in competition with the
best handmade garments Of exclusive shops. Even
al the high prices charged for these things. they
are usually imported for the prices charged by
capable American seamstresses would leave 100
small a profit for the shopkeeper. II does not pay
10 make garments OF coarse domestic musins IT,
however, one has taste for daintily sheer gar
ments OF silklike textures II can be gratihed at
much less price by having the clothes made
I'm addition It is employing women who need
work" added benevolent one Fortunately
this plea cannot be made The seamstresses who
can do even plain sewing inteligently and thought
fully are as Independent the average dress
maker and have as many orders ahead. 1t is no
more necessary to indulge In benevolent sentiment
over these workers than over the average maid
o: all work OF over the prices paid plumbers in
winter. The prices paid good seamstresses are con-
siderably higher I'm proportion 10 the work than
that of almost any other workers-hardly excepting
plain cook" The seamstress who can do her work
fairly well will make no entertainments OF me ma.
terial Of even the simplest construction and put
them any handwork for less than Is 10 sI2
a dozen. and the prices that rule for the larger
garments higher.
When seamslress is employed by the day and
not her own time, the garments generally cost
considerably In the country occasionally
women are found who are willing TO sew and capa-
bic OF making dainty. simple underwear as II
should be made. and who Will work for less But
IL Is not always possible TO ind such workers
There plenty OF Inferior scamstresses. Just as
there are plenty OF Inferior cooks, but the inferior
scaustress's work comes In direct competition with
the rnachine-madc underwear OF the shops, and she
fnds little to earn. The inferior cook has no such
competition. When cooperative Kitchens serve out
food already cooked. at cheap prices. even II II Is
not equal 10 the best hOme-cOOked food, the inferior
cook will find IT difficult 10 get place There VIII
only be a demand then for good cooks. The inferior
cook must perforce in this event learn 10 90 her
work or ioin a band OF incapa bes and accept the
work OF some establishments similar 70 me sweat
shoDs that have engulfed the Work OF the IN
ferior seamstross and made her the OBJECT ior
apneais 10 the Legislature and for general chafi,a
be consideration. Primarily the reason IUr tno
sv,.atshop with all It's cruelty, Is the ihcaphcity
OF tho workers employed -, T., . ,,or,, NOR
the seamstress you recommended ls very Poor
sewer" complained lady 10 somewhat eh'hu-
sias Y I', afraid she IT," the knd-hearted
,,,-i'e reniv but you could hardy pIhine hef "
You knew what a very poor woman she 3D.