New-York tribune., 1901-10-19
SELLING CASTOFF CLOTHES
AN ENTERPRISE THAT HELPS IN DI-
vERs WAYS MANY POOR FAMILIES.

Not whit more eager are the crowds that be-
sege the bargain counters OF uptown stores than
is the group composed 81 Jess fortunate women
that Ills the clothing bureau Of 81 Baruabas's
House 30. Sia N5tt-zt. ery Wednesday morning
Last Wednesday was the bureaus opening day
Of he season and the sales were larger than ever
before since its establishment IN March. but this
was because every member of the organization was
present and had been boarding pennies for the pUr
pose all summer. The amount usually received is
about S2-last week il was So.
The room in which the sale is held is the lodge
Of ST Barnabas's House the eight beds OF which
are filed nightly throughout the year with re-
spectacle women who temporarily without
shelter While the clothing bureau is in possession
the beds are folded up and put away. and the
room assumes the character OF a second hand shop
Or. perhaps more exactly. rummaFe sale for
every sort OF thing 10 be found in civilized house
there
The stock ~ the enterprise is composed Of the
riffs OF cast of clothing OF an kinds. abandoned
household utensils and furnishings children's worn
out toys and discarded appointments Of weIl-to-ao
homes. which all supplied by friends Of the in
stitution
Every article is appraised ana marked plainly
with price before II is shown 20 the buyers. The
prices. Of course are nominal but by them the pur-
chasers are made exempt from the odium OF
charity A well worn but comfortable dress win
sell FOR from 20 cents 50 cents. which. If the
buyer Is thrifty. a few pennies more viii put n
good reDair. IN many cases such suit VIII be
worth fa~ more 20 the wearer than one OF the
shoddy kind found IN the cheap shops of the East
Side
The buyers are persons recommended by religious
or other organizations as worthy 81 aid. and all
carefully investigated, make sure THAI their pur
chases VIII not be converted into drink through the
pawn and second hand shops. Each member re-
reives a ticket without which no purchase can be
made OF the nearly eighty persons enrolled 10
rr1,u F-- of he
are men but judging from the articles bought on
WEDNESDAY, II IS certain thar many more benefit
by its opportunities. one woman mourned openly
because she could not get a white shirt 10 M him
and another hoped 10 have better luck next time
getting a real nice expensive suit Of clothes for a
Dig man" Others went away happy with coats,
hats. shoes, trousers and haherdashery enough in
The aggregate 20 make comfortable a small regl-
nent. One woman looking for shoes. and when
asked what sizes she wanted. replied: From three
years up 10 twenty-three. Next time VIII get
some for myself"
As the women enter their tickets arr given up 10
The manager, Miss Julia Lathers. Then they go
about and make selections, each putting her treas
ures ln pile. Sometimes. indeed. this pile be
CONS a yeritahle mound for size. Not infrequenuy
the same article is the desired Of all others by
two OF more women. and occasionally the outcome
OF the discussion Is ~ who shall win Is In danger
of being settled by force. There was a guilt on
Wednesday that several women wanted Tor, with
approsching cold, the meagre furnishings or The
poor homes become more apparent The contest
ants finally dWndled TO two persistent spirits VINO
threateled fcr time 10 rend asunder the coveted
prize The controversy was at last setled by arbi-
traton and the winner left with the air OF con-
oueror. when the size OF the heap has been made
10 correspond with the contents OF the pocket5ook
4 is gathered into the arms and carried TO Miss
Lathers's desk where she notes the prices Of the
various articles makes q bill and takes the money.
Often The Is found exceed the limitations
oI the buyers resources. In such cases penny OF
tWo CepOst viii reserve am article necessary 10
comfort until the next week
INTERESTING TRAITS.
good many interesting characteristics are re-
Fealed al The managers desk. The feminine love
Tor shopping Is apparent IN the poorest. and the
Delight huding a bargain is just keen as
among richer folks
- got the whole lot for 20 cents, and there's every
hit enough 20 make "a quilt" said a neat looking
little woman. she exhibited a huge box fun Of
SIX pieces. the castsways of some bodys piece bag
The manager explained that the people Of the
'enements take no end Of delight in making patch
work and pointed 10 a box of what she termed
penny bundles filed with pieces. That what
tNe !ith throw away the treasures Of the poor
was many times illustrated the sale progressed
= ~oolly sheep that had many a battle, II in
s.ceuonS were any guide. was ha1led with delight
y 4 Jilnd woman tor some child of her acquaint-
SHce. For long time q neatly dressed young
woman hcsitated between the purchase of por-
-ere and a blanket for a bed covering. finally de-
eelv heavier and consequently warmer, but hand
some for the outside of the bed" IL this
.Monan who bought a huge bundle OF things only
- md that her purchases far exceeded her money
y was hard 70 decide what 20 leave because all
We're needed 80 badly" Finally. with a sigh OF
regret faced tidy was thrown out, and that with