New-York tribune., 1901-02-20
THRIVING INDUSTRIES.
BY SUPPLYING THE NEEDS OF GOVERN
MENT CLERKS IN WASHINGTON

Numbers Of industrious women in Washington
make a good living by catering the needs OF the
Government clerks. Women clerks have much
time 70 sew and less time 10 buy the things with
which 70 sew and the woman who brings for sale
satchel fun Of little parcels. each contain
ing piece Of skirt braid A spool Of silk. hooks
and eyes. readymade pocket 10 insert IN skirt
and loops ready made 10 tack for hanging skirts
is hailed with pleasure. her parcels snapped up
eagerly and a fair price paid for them.
Certain Of these women peders get the cream
OF the trade. There Is one old woman who has
never offered anything but aprons and sleeves. such
as school children wear. and with which the clerks
protect their clean gowns and shirt waist sleeves
in summer and their cloth suits in winter She her
self always dresses in black. and wears most
distressed expression. though il really hurts
her 20 part with the black and white aprons and
sleeves she has neatly made II is currently re-
ported that she much in a year do
many Of the clerks.
As rule. every woman in office likes TO have
her desk look we'll and her needs for this purpose
are met by a cheerful lame girl. who brings for
sale cheese'loth busters. with loops 10 hang them
al the back OF the desk when not in use This
young girl has also learned that old kid glove
wrists are the best % all things on which wipe
pens. and she gathers quantities of these and
sells little packages OF them at five cents each.
me shoulder brace woman is always well pat
ronized. Constant leaning a desk develops
round shoulders. and Government clerks are
vain as other women. so when they discover ten
oehCy 10 StOop they begin To think OF braces II
would he troublesome TO buy them in a store. but
II IS no bother 10 have Shoulder Brace Mary"
they call her. come at noon and ft them on while
they eating luncheon. Many a haIf-dollar IS
exchanged FOR a pair OF braces which Mary guar
antees viii cure the worst of round shoulders
and which she makes herself according 10 her
ideas Of anatomy
The inner Is not forgotten by the office
venders- AZ noontime certain favored merchants
hurrying in with their baskets Of good things.
An old colored woman who makes the best dough-
mats ever tasted by department clerks has her
basket emptied and her pocket filed with nickels
IN the tTukiIng CT eye A pleasant llttie WIDOW
brings delicious angel cake TO those whose orders
she has taken the day before. and her order book
II always full The faVOritC fruit puTveyOTs
etagger along under the baskets Of apples oranges
and bananas which are rubbed until they shine
alluTiuEly-
MANY ~ the women clerks make tea for lunch
con They longer allowed heat water on
alcohoi stoves. Of old several explosions hav-
from The engine rooms. \ poor woman who knows
that clerks Ike tea. also that they always
hurried and often forget to bring IL from home
comes around daily with neat little drawings OF
te. done mp I'm japanese paper. The tea is OF eN-
cei.ent quality. and the clerks are willing to pay
fair price fOr II.
The homemade Jams ana jeIlies Of a certain
Nanny Jones are bought by the clerks. II IL takes
their last cent No living woman having tasted
blackberry Jam OF Nanny JOnes's making can
resist buyinE glass Of IL whenever opportunity
offers. Mammy's Grandchildren pick the berries
ter Nanny brings little oyster pies for SALE and
as the number IS limited. the rush for them is sug
Eestive OF football scTimmage- In summer she
draws the dimes with devilled and soft crabs.