The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-11
A Novel SuFgestion.
THE MENDING BUREAU.

4 wish" said Miranda, sitting down
before a pile Of stockings, white gar
ments, dress skirts and waists for her
quarterly mending bout, that girls had
more get ND and 60 about them, more
originality in the things they did to
make a living"
Her roommate looked up from the let
ter she was writing.
''But what are such girls to do?" she
asked. dropping her pen and swinging
around in her chair.
I heard Of a woman the other day"
responded Miranda. who found Out
what to do. She had sense and energy
and not an atom OF false pride She was
rich woman. and she suddenly lost ev-
erything she had. She didn't aspire to
be a companion or a nursery governess
She sat down and counted over her ac-
complshments and concluded that she
hadn't single marketable one. But
sailed almonds she could make SO they'd
melt in your mouth, says writer in the
Sun.
There was her Chance. and she had
genius enough to know il. She interested
some Of her friends in what she was
trying to do and they gave her orders.
She managed to get a letter of introduce
tion TO one Of the largest grocery firms
in the city and persuaded one of those
high in authority to give her almonds a
trial Well. they were so perfectly de-
liciOus and so daintiy put up in boxes
lined with silver and tied with ribbon
that the firm was delighted and gave
her a big standing order. Now she has
two or three assistants and is kept as
busy as she can be making her sailed
almonds. They are quite a feature at
swell luncheCns, and private orders
always bring her So cents a pound her
profit is pretty good you see.
.sThen / know ali two college friends
who started a model laundry in Boston.
They're running it on strictly hygienic
principles Clothes Of different families
are washed separately. The workmen
and women have ideally arranged work
rooms. with all the modern improve
ments. and the two girls are making the
venture pay.
There's woman out in Chicago who
Is running a bOOtDlacking establishment
and making money hand over fist. W o.
men don't like to black their own shoes.
but they can hardly so into a saloon to
get them done or perch UP in one Cf the
booJblack chairs in the street. This girl
was clever enough to see all that ana 10
meet the need Of a bootblacking estaD-
nshment which provides separate
place for women"
But how many girls would want to
turn bootblacks?" asked the roommate
Why, she didn't black boots herself"
was NIranda's answer. she had other
people do it for her
~Oh," murmured her roommate
Yes" said Miranda, warming up to
her subject, that's the sort of thing L
mean Find a need that no one else IS
filling and meet il. If you cant find one
create it. That's the first law of bust
ness"
win you tell me-" asked her room
mate, a trifie impatiently. what start
ed you on this subject Are you gcing
to organize an employment bureau or
have you founded a working girls aid
society or what2"
Miranda pointed to the pile Of I'M
mended garments on her couch
That started it,t she said. IT want
some one TO mend my clothes
why don't you get some one to do il
then2" was the others answer.
TITS. the hardest thing TO find in New
York" returned Miranda. GU can get
dressmakers by the score. But sou
might as well hunt for needle IN a
haystack as a sewing woman"
We'll" CALCULATED her roommate,
what do you wan1?"
"A mending bureau"
"A what2'
"A mending bureau" repeated Miriam
da. 1t ought TO mean the financial sal
walton OF some poor girl of refinement
thrown on the mercy Of a hardheartsd
world. She could collect all the gar
ments from her patrons. just as a laun-
dry boy does soiled hnen.Then she could
return them meRded a few days after
ward. MY dear, she couldn't help get
ting customers. Think what bliss it
would be to bundle up all the garments
that needed mending, the waists with
hooks off the gloves with fish-mouth
fingers. the skirts frayed at the bottom
and have them come back to you all
whole and ready to Wear- Lots Of girls
would be glad to give her work think
it's a fine scheme for some one. wish
knew of mending bureau now" she
sighed. looking at her unmended clothes
gloomily and then out at the brilliant
sunshine. I'D do my part toward ad
vertising the girl who started it"
Il would too" said her roommate,
turning around to her desk again, If
only to keep you from talking while I
write letters"
''An the same wish somebody would
try my mending bureau, was the muir
INJURED reply as Miranda took UP silk
waist and surveyed the big, round hole
in the elbow hopelessly.
New Wrinkles in Stationery.
In these days the coquettish writing
desk is we'll stacked with packets of
fine, heavy letter paper of weave be-
tween smooth and rough, in white,
cream. pale mauve or pale gray The
brilliant hues so long in favor are fall
ing a bit behind in the race for fashion
able approval Lavender blue is in
vogue and very soft and pretty. says a
writer in the Chicago Sunday Chronicle.
The rather sicNly greens, pinks and
lIlacs of last years monographs and
addresses are replaced by bright. bold
LAu6s purple ana IeQ- GTFeek OF ROMAN
medals or coins are reproduced for note
paper devices and the fanciful maid has
several specific uses for the profile of
Apollo. the winged Pegasus, the head of
Nero. the triumphant Victory etc. For
tender missives the head of Eros is
used. for serious epistles the head of
Minerva for letters in haste Mercury
adorns the top of the letter page A
pretty fancy from Paris is to sprinkle
the wet writing with diamond powder.
which dries the ink and leaves a trail
OF vivid sparkles as if a butterfly had
rubbed his wings against the paper.
Toilet Hints.
If q 1rnanan kaans plenty of nl1re- re-