The sun., 1903-12-13
PROMOTERS IN PHILANTHROPY
A FIELD FOR WOMEN WITH A
LIVING TO EARN.

Lots OF Other Women Ready to Help Them
for the Sake OF the GlOry-A Phase OF
the Business TO which Women or q
Third Glass Sometimes Object
| A newly opened office was full OF girls
and women, each got up with that air OF
having done her best in the way OF appear
ance that belongs to those who seek en-
ployment One by one they were called
into an inner room. where they met the
pleasant faced woman whose advertisement
had brought them together.
There is placid, benignant countenance
which every one classifles as philanthropic
When this goes with rippling fair hair
gathered neatly back, the effect is authori-
tative. The lady In the inner room was
thus convincing.
One by one the applicants came out
and disappeared. As none OF these seemed
to have been exhilarated by her inter-
view, those that remained were correspond
ingly encouraged.
! At length a young woman reappeared
with flushed face. Instead of going out she
faced the waiting group, and said:
I'VE have uprooted philanthropic
fraud!"
The others gathered about her. She drew
out scrap Of paper. They were all familiar
| with It. 1t was the advertisement that
| brought them together. The young woman
went on:
Listen: Wanted, a capable, trustworthy
woman to take charge Of an office; position
permanent She wants canvassers!"
There was chorus of "Oh" and "Ah!'
hN, 7 tr, NJ tO ha
taken in by an advertisement, the young
woman added. But l saw that the ad-
dress given was the same as this"
Here she took out newspaper clipping.
| 1t told of new philanthropic bureau or
ganized by women whose names stand for
most things prominent In charitable matters
concerning their own sex. They had all
seen the same clipping.
She wants me to canvass for a ma gazine
to be published for this affair."" the young
woman explained. Il said Madam, your
advertisement is misleading. You asked
for one woman to fill a definite position.
Here are at least seventy women you are
endeavoring to send out as canvassers.'"
What did she say then? Canvassers,
indeed!' asked one.
She said that by canvassing we would
demonstrate our fitness for permanent
position"
did you ever"
Same old fraud"
Canvass, indeed!'
Il said," she continued, that thought
l was familiar with all sorts of advertise
ments, but did not expect to be deceived
in project that had such backing. I
/ VIZ .
canvass | might as well select any other
decoy."
You said that? Good"
Il did. l was more indignant than
would have been with the usual commercial
snare. Well. now you know what is e1-
pected Of you," and she went away.
Every woman who seeks employment
knows that the greater number of the adj
vertisements offering highly desirable
places to women mean canvassing in some
form or another, however skilfully con-
structed they may be. There is a large
class of women who refuse to ring strange
doorbells and seek entrance into other
women's houses, rarely to get beyond a
contcmptuous butler or insolent maid.
and to meet with n.nety-nne rebuffs to one
acceptance. 1t was such women who
had been attracted by this advertisement
that seemed to promise something diff
ferent. and the standing of whose spon-
sors had forbidden the suspicion of any
subterfuge.
Several OF the women remaining gathered
together their wraps and left. Others
stayed, still hoping their applications might
bring forth something, or. perhaps reason-
ing that if one must canvass, 1t was miti-
eating to do 80 for charity.
1t seemed fertile field for further OBJ
servation, Nobody has yet taken the
statistics of the number Of people engaged
in philanthropic promoting. and the num-
Der of schemes to be promoted. But these
exist as certainly az their rival enterprises
in Wall Street.
Many Of the undertakings arrive nat
urally out of the exigencIes and the CON-
plexities of life in a large city. Others
are as distinctly personal as any of the
get rich quick schemes. and are easily
set on foot by means of the existence of a
class of women who enjoy the personal
consideration 30 freely given to women
associated with the various forms of phil
anthropy.
They arrive after this fashion Some
this person belongs to that increasing class
of the population unframed in any special
direction. without any preparation, but
forced to earn living.
With this necessity goes a certain amount
of traditional or personal pride which for
bids learning typewriiing. being sales
woman, or taking up any kindred employ
ment. In the background there is usually
some social connection or church organi-
zaton that may be depended upon.
Such a person conceives some phian-
thropic scheme, At present anything which
pertains to domestic economy is popular;
for there are fashions in such matters,
and when there is nothing else the servant
question can be depended upon to awaken
a constant amount OF interest
This scheme is carried to some OF
the women of wealth and influence
who may now be fairly regarded az pro-
fessional phlanthropists, so frequently are
their names associated with charitable af-
fairs of all sorts. These women consent.
as one may say, to let out their names
and influence. The consideration is that
tbay ara not m Iva bothered with t,,o do