The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-09-19
WOMEN'S WORK.

One Of the most successful business
women in New York procured the
money with which to start her enter
prise by making doughnuts at Nome,
Alaska, about four years ago. In
single season she made $4,000 in her
little tent restaurant. The doughnuts
sold for Is cents apiece, with a cup of
coffee thrown in. Part of this $4,000 she
judiciously invested and formed the
nucleus for her present profitable bust
ness Of cleaner and dyer of women's
| fine wearing apparel. She has expert
toremen to attend to the factory part
OF the work and runs two shops.
Openings for women in South Africa
appear to be many and varied. A wom-
an writing on this subject says the
popularity of this country is it's un-
familiar conditions of life. Luxuries
are more in demand than necessities.
The range Of employment open to wom-
en- is a wide one, varying from domestic
service to beauty DOCTOR but every
thing is much more expensive in this
newly-Qpened land. Living in the
Transvaal is at least 100 per cent dearer
than in London. Laundresses are
scarce and the calling in small favor
among the women at the Cape, who
fear social ostracism if they turn to the
washtub- This and the fact that doilies
are being sent out to some Of the hous-
es needing decent furniture throws a
curious side light on this country
There are chances for much money to
be made by clever women caterers at
| railway stations. These are few and
far between and the rentals enormous.
Lovers of beautiful products Of Bel
GUM, Brussels and Flemish lace will
learn with regret that according to an
exhaustive inquiry that has just been
completed under the auspices of the
ministers of industry the lace industry
of Belgium is gradually dying out. That
the number of workers employed in tn.
manufacture of Belgium laces has fall
en- during the last quarter of a century
from 200 to $4,000 is sufficient indi-
cation Of the decline in this one flour
ishing industry.
This decline is attributed to the exis-
tence of a system of sweating that is
the evident outcome Of middlemen and
statesmen. The degree to which this ex-
ploltat1on is carried out is indicated IN
the report of the department of indus
try dealing with the present condition
Of the lace industry, of which the fol-
lowing is a specimen: Number 10, seen
at the depot of a factor at Barlaere, a
bertha Of fine duchess de Brussels
hn ind
docket attached: Making 40 francs:
my price to shop in Brussels, $50
francs; sale price at shop in Brussels,
$50 francs.'' The department Of indus
try in Brussels is at present examining
the feasibility Of p intervening in same
way in order if possible to place the
industry on sound and economic
basis.
Questions having been raised on the
+ subject OF the decision OF. the French
maritime authorities to allow women to
act as sailors in the channel fishing
smacks, the French minister of marine
has addressed circular to all the port
officials, in which he says: IT have to
inform you that this question must be
replied to in the affirmative. There is
no legal Introduction preventing women
being upon the roll Of a ships equip
age. It follows, therefore, that they
! cannot be excluded from the exercise
| of navigation. Women cannot navigate
as captainsf but according to the
/ French law they cannot be prevented
from embarking as members Of the
crew.
In Boston elevator girls are giving
satisfaction in several buildings where
they have been installed. They are
seen in the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION, the Educational and Indus
trial Union, and in the dressmaking
establishments and buildings where the
rooms are largely given up to lunch
rooms for women, manicuring estab-
neat white aproos and caps and plain
black frocks. The work is not hard and
all the girls have to do Is to learn to
operate the lever and answer questions.
London, which is a breeding place of
| societies with worthy objects and queer
names, has formed new Organization
under the title of the Factory League Of
Helpers of the Poor. This institution,
| which has really been in existence in an
| informal way for the last dozen years,
! was originally started by the employees
| of a great clothing firm. Up to date the
| girls employed by this company have
n cuRwEDT e. IN