New-York tribune., 1902-07-21
a RAG CARPET INDUSTRY,
IN THE c. o. S. WORKROOMS, WHERE
POOR OLD WOMEN FIND EN-
PIOYMENT

There one class Of the cty's population that IS
sorry indeed to see summer around. for It
that its ordinary source OF livelihood is
closed against 1t. Il is composed of the cleaning
women, the women who go out by the day TO
sweep, scrub wash do odd jobs in private homes.
Like the deserted cats. left TO CLEAN precarfous
living in the alleys, these poor old women find the
friendly door locked against them and the income
stopped when the hot days come on The family
IS luxuriating in the cool breezes of beach or high
land, and the old scrubwoman sits in her lonely
attic and wonders where the next meal is to come
from
The wandering scribe in search of a summer
story can find it up in the sewing room Of the
Charity Organization Society Building, in West
Twenty-eighth-st. There company of the women
who in winter help 10 keep clean the homes Of the
well to do upper West Side taking their vacations
over the carpet rags. The New-York Charity Or
ganization Society is famous for its rag carpets
Orders come it from housewives in every section
OF the Union. In St Louis, Denver and all the way
along out TO the Pacific Coast one can find the rag
rugs of the New-York Charity Organization So
ciety. But curiously enough. they go principally
10 the sections where people born and brought
I'D on rag carpets-to Boston and Nantucket 10
Maine and "up State towns in newborn
PRETTY DENIM RUGS
1- oc,liar st,rerioritv of the Charity Organiza-
. Society rag carpet lies in the fact that the rags
are cut very short which gives much better Color
effects: and only rags are used ana those VI
the hest quality which naturally makes better
,. into the oldtime rag carpet. The society leaves
large bags with dressmakers and tailors. having
r,non them the address, with a request 10 ho'iiS
when filed - o,o
.a,s are collected Another source of GOOD ma
terial IS in the out OF date samples OF "holesdie
houses out of these scraps fine rag rugs are
made which find a speedy sale at % cents S"i
They display rug at the sewing room maui
.,-.,v of velvet scraps, which is thing or
l,eautv Then there the denim rugs Tor "hich
the superintendent buys bolts OF DENIM inns M
dustry began with of Colonial plue ana "Illte
which are still the favorite. but no" they MAKE
sav,,, rag rugs of yellow, red. green, maroon or
any shade ordered. Many rugs are made 10 ihalcn
rooms finished decorated in certain shaoes ana
these are exceedingly pretty and popular espe-
ciall,, in chambers furnished in cottage effects
decorator recently ordered set OF rugs In lemon
and white for a bedroom in those coiorS-
STORIES OF AGED WIDOWS
So the old women bereft Of employment oy the
summer drift up here to sew carpet rags Ihey
oct 40 cents day in groceries, clothes or coal and
their dinner and II a Charity Organization Society
visitor testihes that they need money to pay rent
they receive money They are mostly OLD women
widows. -
" why the husbands die before the wives In 50
1srge a number Of The women seem TO
we ca much more vitality and longevity than the
rno, They last on. year after year, husband dead.
children dead or all grown and scattered. and they
Ief+ alone in some dreary lodging house
rrteee women have nearly all been servants In
carl, lffe They have married workingmen, and
after a busv life Of bringing up children have
fc,,,d ,beroeelves without means Of support In old
age Aek one Of them how many children she has
bs6 a-d che vyill reply -Four living and nve dead,
thank Cod or Five living and SIX cead' thank
n NAV seem strange that they do not find homes
,.i,b t5efr children. but IL is not so queer upon
srtss,iootio- The children are commonly pursuing
ne qa uath trod by their parents Deiore them-
a tenement fat swarming with cnildfen; a man man
esrrfro eiG a yeek. the most; satternly
F-,-5tI ~ a xUffe There IS neither room nor food
- lgc.her and though her own may be willing
10 fakc he- in there Is usuaiy eIIclent oPios
,T5er sesin the old woman does not want 10 lVe
,,i,b ber children. She has always been used 70
ber nUn home She she her own poor DTS OF
tbi,es-oId furniture. keepsakes and helriooms- II
she goes into the home OF one o. tne ck iit,ns ~
mus ake a subordinate position sne hkes 10
Yen ber own roof over her head. be II only one
Pr 10 Soes odd DAYS work in the winter. and In
tzat9on eocietv And, odd IL may seem sne is
mite contented and happy in her surroundlngs
Tbs 6JstingUishing Characteristic or the lower
r,ra4,,rn ~ the moor 20 be lts perfect CON
tent so long as Il has a meal ahehn, One VIZ h
% 49,, srecinents Of charity cannot avoid the
,.s,a MAJ dIecontent Is the yeast OF all prog
vApTED ASSORTMENT or DISEASES.
rho o,a women find unlimited material for con
,ga,,on az tbev sew their carpet rags II is prIh-
,n.ll,, diseases OF which each possesses a varied
.ssgortr,ept and remedies Of which there IL "A
-rhole nater,a nedica unknown TO the schools