Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-09
TIRE WoMAN'S EXCHANGE.
The General Plan Upon which This Branch
of the Y. w. c. A. Is Cond ucted.


of the Y. w. C. A. Is Conducted.
Communicated.
The work of the Woman's Exchange
of the Y. w. G. A. of No. sos King
street, this city, has been frequently
referred to, briefly, in the newspapers.
Since the removal of the association to
its present location, not only has the
Exchange added to its patronage, but
all other departments of work have
been materially advanced.
The general plan upon which the Elk
change is conducted is, no doubt, very
we'll understood, but there are some
features of the work which would not
fall under the observation Of the casual
observer or patron Of tho Exchange, of
which it has been thought wise to
speak. In less than year past, the
number of consignors has increased
from II in April, 1898, to 80 at the
present time. These figures, alone, toll
very significant story Of a new Avenue
of usefulness which the association has
opened to women who desire to become
either entirely, or, in part, self.sup
| porting, and of the eagerness with
| which the opportunity has been seized.
OF this number, four consignors sup
port entire families and others lend
great assistance in the direction OF
family support. The mere thought of
a failure on the part of the Exchange
to continue TO act as medium of com
munication between consignor and pur
/ chaser, is viewed with apprehension.
Although branch of the association,
the Exchange, as far as possible, en-
beavers to meet its current expenses
and its salaries of attendant and mes
senger 1t is very easy to see that the
revenue upon which it operates it's
business. must be much more than the
10 per cent, which the Exchange re-
tains from its sales. A simple calcula-
tion will show how inadequately this
method works and yet, if remedied by
q larger percentage upon sales. With
what hardness it would act upon the
consignors. A hundred dollars' worth
of goods must be sold before $40 can be
earned by the Exchange, 5000 before
$50 can be earned, &c. Plainly the
commission is far from being sufficient.
1t is the history of Women's Exchanges,
generally, that the commission alone
will not maintain them. Upon inquiry
found that either annual or life sub.
scribers have to be depended upon to
furnish the capital upon which ex-
changes are operated. 1t is not sur.
prising that the Wilmington Women Is
Exchange should ask both for increased
patronage and moneyed help. This
effort is being made, therefore, in order
that it may not have in the future to
fall back on the parent organization.
, the Y. w. G. A but may carry its owr
financial burdens Upon the payment
of 50 yearly one may become an annua
subscriber to the work of the Exchange,
and Mrs. Il. L. Warner, No. SOB Della
! ware avenue, will gladly receive sucf
proofs of interest in this worthy de
partment OF association work.
Your correspondent would draw at
tention to some facts with reference t
this work. The consignors have beer
able to become bread winners by havin,
D a market furnished for their product
, Many of them are unable by reason o
, home circumstances, to perform an.
:, other remunerative work. In every in
stance, the goods furnished for sale ar
) produced in the homes of copsignors
For this reason, their labor is no
drawn off from their own homes, but i
performed while other domestic dutie
I are being likewise attended to. Con
= signors never fail to receive their re
turns from sales, minus 10 per cent
|
Q tho risk or the vexations which hav
1 to be endured by the members of tn
v Exchange committee. The use Of tn
). telephones in the association building
while of inestimable benefit to the pur
chaser who lives at distance from tn
association, nevertheless, of necessity
gives rise to q credit system which tn
+ Exchange, by reason Of its manner {
o obtaining its working capital, is badl
/ able to continue for any length OF time
1t is quite certain that our purchaser
who find our consignors' goods desil
y able, would assist us in this matter,
= they understood the necessities of tn
n case. Expenses must be met each weel
!, our oonsgnors must receive their flu
! quota, and the duties of an alread
burdened Exchange committee woul
be considerably liehtened, if they coul
/, see themselves assisted by annual sui
= scriptions, by increased sales, an
IA prompt settlements therefor.