The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-13
A New Trade
For Women,

There Is q new trade that bears the
name of professional member" The
idea is not original. but IL is now pre-
sented in a novel form. and II is only
singular that a mode OF employment 50
well adapted 10 wage earning women
and one so thoroughly and essentially
feminine has not been in active opera
ton long before this. The profession
al will be a boon TO the erstwhile help
less bachelor and an aggressive COM
petitor TO the gentle maid OF the bou-
doir. She may even help TO lower the
marriage rate unless her employer be-
comes a victim 10 her insinuating meth
DDS. for what bachelor viii otherwise be
ailursd into the thraldom OF matrimo-
NAL bonds when he has comfortable
apartments and his wardrobe is kept in
perfect condition OF repair?
The woman who has lately devised
the scheme thus tells OF her initial ex-
perience:
Il was at my wits end / had never
been brought up TO work and did not
even know how TO set TO work 10 find
anything to do. / had gone 10 see a
very wealthy woman one day who has
been exceedingly kind 10 me and as
sisted me in many ways. Talking over
my inability TO find steady employment
which would not need experience she
proposed that while waiting for some
thing to turn up | should try and get
some mending or plain sewing TO do
Then. when she did succeed in get
ting work OF this kind IL was only at
irregular intervals and consequently
not very remunerative. There was an
other consultation between the two wo-
men. and when the proposition was
made that she take entire supervision
Of the wardrobes OF some bachelors the
seamstress gave her hearty assent She
tried. and. in her own language, has
succeeded beyond my widest antici-
pations"
But how were her customers obtain
ed? The rich woman talked 10 her hus-
band. telling him OF the woman's strug-
giles TO exc out a bare existence. when
he suggested that the seamstress get
certain bachelor friends OF his at the
club to give their mendinE 10 her. He
accordingly spoke to some OF his ac-
Quaintances in her behalf. who imme-
dis tely engaged the woman's services.
Through them other customers We're
obtained. and in a short time this al
most frenzied woman OF a month before
from dread of starvation was Obliged 20
hire her cousin as an assistant IN her
business. She has certain days and
hours for each customer. but does not
begin work until after IL o'clock in the
morning. Clothes are kept brushed and
laid carefully away. IL desired. she viii
also take charge Of the laundry At
present. her income is $21 a week. and
the various bills from the eight Gus
tomers) are promptly paid her on Mon
day morning.
She further explains her vocation az
follows:
Il do everything for a man. "a far
as keeping his wardrobe in order Is con-
cerned. IL I see that his collars and
cuffs are beginning to show signs %
wear | make a little memorandum %
that effect and pin II 10 my bill. remind
inc him 10 replenish the articles which
I have been authorized 20 throw away.
If his silk underwear or pyJamas show
signs Of giving out. ] do the same
thing"
So this last real new woman" has
come upon the stage Of life as an active.
desirable agent-one who VIII prove "A
boon to bachelors. bachelor maids and
possibly tired mothers who may have
more money than time.