The times., 1900-12-23
ODD cALLINGs FOR WOMEN.
Many Means Adopted for Fighting
That Terrible Wolf

Poverty is universally regarded as one
Of the worst of evils that is visited upon
mankind, yet out of the evil often comes
good, and from absolute necessity clever
women devise new modes OF earning a
livelihood. Most of these who find them
selves in reduced circumstances take up
ordinary callings, but few plunge out Of
the beaten pathand make some idle accom-
plishment the basis Of paying vocation
One young woman uptown, says the Chi
cago Chronicle" who in the past learned
to make lace as a fad now puts it to good
use by repairing old and priceless laees.
She carries what may be called a kit of
tools, including a lacemakers pillow, a
full set of threads, and various kinds of
needles. and restores an injured collar
or an ancient lchu in the presence Of the
owner. The work is exceedingly difficult
and the reward correspondingly high.
Several women have taken up fndexing.
Their patrons are people who keep scrap
books and who are too busy-or, as is
more nften the case, too negligent-to in
dex for themselves. The work is slow and
laborious. 1t demands a wide literary
knowledge and often knowledge OF
French and German The pay is mOder-
ate, being usually IS day.
Artistic and fancy bookbinding is prac-
ticed by eight or ten women in New York
City. This is skilled trade of :he high
est class, demanding both technical skill
and artistic ability. Two OF the binders
have done such good work as to make
them moderately famous.
A Vassar girl with penchant for chem
istry found herself thrown upon her own
resources three years ago, and adopted for
her daily work the giving Of instruction
to members of her sex upon the subject
OF cold cream. To the uninltiated this
seems very simple matter, but in truth
il is very complex. 1t involves knowledge
Of the various fats and oils. including
spermacetti, cocoa butter, wax, japan wax,
almond cream, lanolin, and such medical
ingredients as benzoin, oamphor, nyrrh.
carbolic acid, sulphur, arsenic, zinc, and
white lead
Women who contemplate foreign tour
or who are TO receive distinguished for
eigners are often at a loss respecting the
etiquette of European countries. They can
get out of their trouble by taking a course
Of lessons from teachers who have lived
abroad in days OF wealth. At least ten
bright young women have taken up der
matology, with special reference to the
hair and scalp. They visit their patrons
the same as physicians and earn a hand
some living. At least two in this city clear
more than S5,00e a year.
Restoring old photographs gives profit
able employment to a number of women
who have become experts In the use Of the
camera. 1t does not pay very well in gen
eral, but now and then, when there is
strong family love involved, it gives very
handsome returns. One successful woman
inlays books. The work is exceedingly
hard, and consists in scraping away a film
from the surface OF blank sheet of pa
per SO as to fit printed piece which is TO
be set into II, and also removing a cor
responding fim from the back of the lat
ter. The two pieces are glued and sub
jected 10 great pressure. The result is
page which looks exactly gs il it had been
printed as an entirety.
Entertaining children Is another new oc-
cupation. Il demands much tact and in
lEite patience. Writing sentiments, let
ters, and club addresses for indoient wo-
men OF leisure is followed by many ex-
school teachers and college alumnae.