New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-26
ALL FOR WOMEN'S WORK
THE NETWORK EXCHANGE AND ITS
GREAT GOOD.
MRS WILLIAM O. cHoATE THE PRESIDENT OF
THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TELLS OF

MRS WILLIAM O. cHoATE. THE PRESIDENT OF
THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. TELLS OF
ITS OBJECT AND AIM
Not all New-Yorkers are familiar with the OBJ
jects OF the New-York Exchange for Womens
Work or realize what It accomplishes in its par
ticular sphere Of philanthropy
Visitors to It's new home at the northwest cor
ner OF MadisOn-ave and Forty-third-st. look upon
a busy and interesting place. A constant stream
OF people flows in and all day-old friends Of
the exchange and strangers from all parts OF the
world
I'm view OF the fact that have Just moved
into house. which we expect the public
10 give TO US" said Mrs. William G. Choate to a
Tribune reporter yesterday. 1T may be OF interest
10 the public TO know about our history"
Mrs. Choate has been the president OF the Board
OF Managers for twenty-one years. She continued
I'VE began our work in the year 1878. a table
three feet square in n house in East Twentieth-st
In three years the work had grown so much that
a business gave 1000 with which 20 move
into house in FHfth-ave.. where, in his opinion.
a substantial business could be built UP. We
proved. by doubling sales in the first year. that
his Judgment not mistaken
Later on It became necessary TO find still larger
quarters and a house rented at No. u East
Thirtieth-st. where lived and abored. under
many disadvantages II is true, owing to the fact
May OF the present year. when the managers
unanimously decided that IT would be for the good
OF our work 10 move further uptown. into sunny
house with modern conveniences. suited TO our
needs and sanitary In all its appointments.
such house was found AZ MadsOn-ave and
Forty-third-st Since we moved into It each
month has shown decided increase in our bust
ness and the greatest Improvement in the health
and spirits OF our employees as well. Our con-
signors. too. pleased with the change and feel
that their wares are displayed TO far greater ad-
vantage.
Il want TO say that In all the years that have
passed since our modest beginning have never
once gone back in our sales. but always forward,
each season adding departments, widening our
scope till from less than 5000 the amount OF our
sales for consgnors in the first year OF our ex-
stence, mounted in 1895 to $4,000
In twenty years have turned over 10 con-
slgnors $4,000 These figures eloquent. There
is to-day scarcely q single sphere OF activity open
10 women which is not represented in some form
or other In the many departments Of the ex-
change"
what are some Of your aims and Objects
THE central idea Of the society has always been
10 help the educated poor-a large class, as you
know and more neglected. more difficult 10 reach
than any other OF all the classes OF society which
stand in need OF charitable aid The lady-the
woman Of gentle birth and breeding too often all
with practical necessities-reduced 20 poverty is.
II seems 10 me one Of the most pathetic figures IN
all our human comedy
such a one though she may have whole family
dependent upon her h. not to 20" reached thr"ut
the channels OF ordinary charity. What shr asFs.
what she needs. is a chance q nelp ncrseH. y ms
| Is what the exchange has tried tp do We provide
"a nlacp FOR the sale ~ clor-f hing pertaining 10
wonen's work. market whore any amand what
soever the part Il the public for any work thai
can be done by women Is to be- promptly and sat
sfactorily fulfilled.
EDUCATIONAL FEATURES.
u should Ike" continued Mrs Choate. TO call
attention 10 the educational feature OF our work.
Women come to MS anxious 10 work 70 earn a
livelihood but only half trained. They are able.
perhaps 10 do many Things bGt after an inacca-
rate fashion-entirely Incapable OF productive any
thing OF marketable value. Ndt.cc -tec" N. T.
dicous criticism and timely announcement have
helTod MANY desnairlng woman % her r."
taught her what she was best fitted 20 DO. and h""
thoroughly 10 DO it.
u could muItip Instances ~ widowed. or wor-"
then widowed. mothers who have sent their sons
10 COLLEGE and trained their daughters to trades or
professions ont % the proceeds OF Work done Tor
the exchange and through the help ana influence
there obtained
being revealed to us are often stranger and sadder
than anything 90 fiction that the sentimentalist
wccps over.
The woman who has a resource 70 turn 10. who
knows that she do some on" thing thoroughly
well. II less h- pitied. no matter what nisfor-
tunes may befa'l her. than she whose early educa-
ton has been o. The desultOry sort which UNITS