New-York tribune., 1899-12-24
WHAT IS A WOMAN TO DO?
A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE SELF
SUPPORTING GENTLEwoMAN.
DIsAPPoINTMENTs SHE ENcoUNTERs-wHERE
HELP is TO BE FouND-THE NETWORK
EXCHANGE FOR woMENs 7

DIsAPPOINTMENTs SHE ENCoUNTERs-wHERE
HELP is TO BE FouND-THE NETWORK
EXCHANGE FOR woMEN's WORK.
The two cases so recently reported in leading
daily paper OF the brave struggles OF two women
10 gain employment in order 10 keep of starvation.
the death OF and the timely rescue OF the other
through public appeal still be fresh in all
minds and II is TO be hoped. still fresh In all
hearts" said a visitor at the Woman's Exchange
yesterday. Such lesson should not be soon for
gotten.
They were two gentlewomen There numer
Gus other cases OF the sort. There Is an army OF
gentlewomen seeking honest work OF any kind In
order TO them from the pitiable fate OF one
or the other. They women OF education and
accomplishment They ask honorable work 10 save
them from the humiliation Of dependence-and too
often there Is some dependent on them But
work cannot be found. What are they to do?
THEIR SUCCESSIVE FAILURES.
The gertlewoman when first thrown upon her
own resources does not start out 10 find place as
chambcrmaid or other similar position. She knows
that others more accustomed TO such duties can
fill them more satisfactorily and too that she Is
fitted FOR something better. And she directs all OF
her time and effort to pursuit OF that occupation
which she believes she can best follow win skill
and talent. This is the first step.
I'VE know how many hundreds OF earnest women
Ia becn driven and beaten Ddck Dy ulsCOui as
nent and failure 10 find congenial employment, ana
forced to seek any occupation with small remu-
neratlon that would give the bare necessities OF NE
This makes the second step The third step Is
the failure 10 find work OF any sort Whatever the
Willingness and anxiety may be
There have been thousand theories on the
subject and much advice given. but theory never
made loaf Of bread and advice never outtered H.
III self-preservaton IS the first law OF nature
then pride is the first law OF selfpreservation. In
tho time Of necessity, can gentlewoman do more
than tell her necessity when she seeks work?
she believes. when she first starts out to make
the hcht that there must be some avenue open 10
her She tries again and again as long as the last
dollar holds out and In her extremity prefers 10
deny herself rather than ask charity. Repeated
failures reduce her to the point where she has not
the smallest means 70 buy food What is she 10 do?
she las done her best and It seems that the re-
sponsbility no longer rests with her What re-
sponsbilityT some one asks
.. The responsibility cf her life or death, and
nothing less. answer all VINO KNOW the Trials OF
the lf-suppoTtinG gentlewoman.
. 1T IS impossible not 10 know when a gentle
woman Is In need. She has sought work Wherever
II IS offered. She has cOnfded TO friends her con-
diton and her very assurance ! am Wiling TO
accent ANYTHING cannot be hid under bushel, un-
Her failures should then be shifted 10 the shoul-
ders Of the stronger world.
''Is the door Of humanity opened only 70 the cry
Suffering hunger seeks only work. MUST the
gentlewoman be reduced 70 this before help comes?
The death OF Evelyn Adams. on November TO- Is