The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-01-26

= poSoo ADcS4GuS III Lace and
Linen Here Displayed Unequa1led
by Department Stores - Simple
Meals Furnished Shopping People.
BY MARGARET: E. SANGSTER.
Copyright, 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
The woman's exchange was original
~ happy thought, and is now a fact
happily accomplished in all our larger
towns and cities. There is no village
that might not with propriety have
Woman's exchange if women, married
and single, found it convenient to or
ganlze and carry one on with, Of
course, a-cooperative basis.
The exchange needs only a pleasant
room located on a business street or
near a business center. Here NAV be
brought for sale articles of beauty,
costly wearing apparel with which the
owners would like to part for a con-
sideration, and various domestic prod
ucts. If there is a woman in the COM
munity who has special gift for deli
cate cookery, she may save her neigh
bors trouble and add something regu-
larly to her own exchequer by selling
her cakes or, pastry, her homemade
loaves, her pickles and preserves at
the woman's exchange.
Sometimes woman's exchange es-
tablishes a reputation for a particular
dainty, and people send from far and
near to obtain it for their parties or
social teas. It is desirable that or
ders should be definitely taken for
perishable goods or else there will be
loss either to the 'consignee or to the
exchange.
Women who wish to consign articles
of value to an exchange, must plainly
state the amount they are worth and
the lowest selling price the owners are.
willing to accept. They will probably
be asked to pay a small entrance fee
and commission will be exacted on
the sale of the articles. A pathetic
interest sometimes attaches to the
beautiful objects seen at a woman's
IDENTIFY an heirloom. Looking at it's
filmy tissues, priceless in the eyes of
any woman who loves real lace, and
observing that it will be sold at sac
rifice, one reads between the lines
the lack Of ready money, the story of
waning fortunes, the decay of an old
family, in brief, the mutations of for
tune that in due time come to those
who have long been prosperous. Few
houses there are that do not sooner or
later feel a chill breath from the biting
winds Of adversely. This length Of
lace adorned the gown of a fair lady
who danced at a ball with Marquis
de Lafayette. 1t has been worn by
other women of the household, at gay
assemblies and bright weddings since
that proud day, and now it is to pass
into the hands of strangers and it's
price will procure comforts, for an in
valid or pay the tuition of a struggling
student.
Near the lace is an exquisite shawl
| of creamy crepe, wonderfully embroid-
cred and deeply fringed. Half CEN
fury ago it crossed the water and was
the gift of traveller to his sweet
heart. She wore it for years with the
sort of pride that women take in raj
ment that cannot be bought in every
shop. To-day you may have it, or I, if
we have the price in our pocketbooks.
A fan, an ivory carving, a picture,
| what is there not here that tells it's
story to those who pause, reflect and
sympathize?
There is nOt> Woman's exchange in
| the land that does not hint at times
| of altered fortunes borne with, noble
| self-respect and of womanly' devotion,
| not reluctant to give it's best if it may
add some brightness to the Swallowed
| lot of loved one.
=
More cheerful are the suggestions
that we find in the table scarfs, doilies,
coverlets and tea-cloths embroidered
with a skill and grace that rivals
! painting. Linen is the twin of lace
| in the affection of the feminine breast.
| The woman who does not prize ex-
| quisite linen is so exceptional that she
seems to have an odd twist in her
mental outfit There is a wide scope
! for decoration in linen for the table
not only, but for the drawing-room
and the bed-chamber and often the
single opportunity for it's sale is in an
exchange The department stores
cannot often furnish specimens so
unique and designs so artistic as are
shown by the lady who presides at the
exchange. " 49,: .
A board Of managers with president,
secretary and treasurer, are essential
to the conduct of an exchange. Often
it adds to it's other sales a. luncheon
and tea room where simple meals are
furnished to shopping people, the Pc
culiar ;inducement to them being that
they may refresh themselves, ina quiet
place. with we'll served andAwell cooked
food. A few viands should form the
|bill Of fare, they should be the best
of their. kind, and the tea, coffee or