Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-22
NEW PROFESSION
A WOMAN WHO CLEANS AND RE
PAIRS JEWELRY.
She II = Visiting Jeweler and Works
for Those Who Keep Their
Treasures at Home.

written Tor Ihe evening star
my little leather bag contains all the
materials and implements necessary to
clean and repair jewery," New York wo-
In New York and have all the work that
can do.
"You have no idea how many sensible wo-
men there are who will not allow their
favorite pieces of jewelry to be repaired
by the best houses simply because they fear
that some of their stones will be changed
1 have many customers who watch me
closely the entire time that / am at work
on their property. 1t was the discovery of
this popularity in a friend of mine that
gave the idea of my work. Before
actually beginning my work L entered
good establishment as an apprentice, where
/ learned not only how to clean and repair
jewelry, but also old watches, of which
l make speciality.
'Ihad absolutely no trouble in getting work.
My method is very simple, 1 call. ask for
the lady of the house. explain my business
and as rule, get some work. BY this
method l soon had as many regular GUS
toners 1 could manage, and now I
have many calls that 1 am obliged to re-
fuse simply for lack of time. Nearly every
woman of liberal means has good supply
of jewelry and few Of them keep it in such
good condition that 1t does not need re-
pairing and cleaning at least every six
months. Few Of them are willing to trust
the cleaning of their finer pieces to their
maids and as it is more convenient for
them to let me come in to clean it than it is
for them to collect it and send it to a jewell
err l get the work. These are my regular
customers. Those who fear to allow their
treasures into the hands of any one where
they cannot watch them belong to another
class. AS rule, the articles they prize so
highly are Of little value to any one besides
themselves.
Charges Less, Too.
MY charges are less than those Of q
regular jeweler and I am particular to
have my work as good. I average s. day
above the cost of all materials used and
my transportation expenses. That 1 con-
slider good earnings for woman doing. as
York city. No. never take work home.
My evenings are all free and are my
Sundays. l need rest, particularly my
eyes I often buy articles Of my patrons
and also act as agent in bringing pur-.
chasers to those who would like to sell.
Many women admire only the latest fash
ions in jeweiry just as they do in gowns.
When an article is no longer what they
consider stylish they become very anxious
to get rid Of 1t in order to use the money
to get something more to their tate. Know
ing that l keep in touch with the taste and
desires of my patrons they appeal to me
to act as agent. The majority Of these
women keep the jewelers. boxes in which
they buy the articles and when they are
cleaned and snugly wrapped in their col
ored cOttons 1t Is hard to distinguish them
from new. 1 have sold many such as we'd
ding presents and l cannot see the slight
est objection to their being used In this
way. They are always just as represented
and cost about half as much as they would
if bought new from the jeweler. OF course.
1 have many bargains, for as a rule such
ltra-stylish women are exceedingly extrav-
agant. AS they wear only the latest de-
signs and the most fashionable stones they
are often glad to let things go for a much
smaller sum than they originally cost
Buys and Sells Jewels.
"Then again, 1 have patrons who have
met with reverses and are forced to sell
their jewels. Such things are not abso-
lutely necessary and are the first to be
disposed of when money is needed. Fluc-
tuations in the stock market always has
such an effect Brokers seem particularly
fond of having their family wear hand
some jewelry, and when they are In luck
most Of them buy such pieces that can be
sold when things go against them. l never
lend money on jewelry, though l must ad-
nit that l have been asked to 40 SO more
than once. 1t is the one thing that shall
always refuse, and think my reasons are
obvious.
my regular customers are, as a rule, of
two classes. collectors or persons hunting
bargains The collectors have a fancy for
some particular style or some article OF all
styles They are always on the alert to
add to their collection, and are willing to
pay good prices. On the other hand, the
bargain hunters do not care what they
get so long as 1t is cheap. Then there Is
another class who 1 cannot call regular
purchasers They are women of means and
generous impulses. When my patrons
meet with reverses and call on me look
their jewels over, put them In thorough
repair and take them to some of these
women who l think will buy. / tell the
circumstances, never the names, and 1T Is
seldom indeed that 1 do not make sales
All of this do on a per cent basis and
last year l almost doubled my earnings of
s. day.
MY work is pleasant, I might almost
say dainty. There is nothing heavy or la
borious, so l cannot see why other women
should hesitate to undertake it. 1 am the
only one in the field so tar as can learn,
but am sure that there is room even here
in New York for many more"
LAFAYETTE McLAWS.