New-York tribune., 1907-11-29

is the fact that at TIE Astor Library Is great
collection Of programmes Of vomen's club meet
iHgs sent there from all parts OF the counirt.
Browning clubs. musical societies. mothers clubs,
cooking classes, etc, are represented in the col
and topics for other club programmes. and r.
quests for this branch Of the work should be
numerous.
4 woman who was formerly engaged ia this oc-
cUpation found il pleasant ana profitable. She
charged by the hour her time in looking up
subjects. or lump sum If the request was fo- the
writing Of the paper. often the case Some
times her clients wanted only references to
where the facts on the subject IN hand could be
obtained In that case the later and more popular
ma sgsZEes were consulted for references a. being
more available to the woman in the small city or
town. Books also were referred TO. and q OF
biblography Of the subject was forwarded.
Many clients less inclined TO labor or with
fewer facilities az hand would write for extracts
on certain subject sufficient 10 form the body
Of the paper Often "a patron would incl0se q
sum Of money in her letter and ask for the
equivalent ~ facts Al other tines the searcher
would send her bill with the matter desired and
payment would be promptly and gratefully made
This woman said she lost only one account IN her
more years experience, and this Tor
= mass of information which she had collected
10 be made into . paper on Child Study" Her
clients widely scattered From Idaho and
from Cuba, from New Hampshire and from Penn
sylvania came requests for help in her line
While women were the principal customers ot
this "searcEer' there were many men also who
wished similar service CIergynen. lecturers
authors all require this expert assistance now
and then
The work Is in every way educational Many
Cf the subjects may have held only passing in
terest the searcher Immediately she began
70 look up references and 10 facts and fancies
concerning some subject her enthusiasm was
aroused, she exhausted every source OF informa-
ton and when her data ready 10 mail she
found herself TO be in possession Of general
knowledge Of "a subject which before she had
probably scarcely thought Of.
The first request not only TO collect the data but
write the paper well that came 10 this pioneer
IN the research business caused her conscience
10 sit uD and take notice Should she aid and
abet another woman i this other meant de-
ceiye her fellow club members IN the authorship
Of the paper question carefully debated.
She decided that II was not her affair and wrote
ana forwarded the paper. Her relief was great
when after she received from another r1en-
Der of the same club q request 10 prepare a paper
fer her. too she pleased with the
written for her friend. which read at a
cent meeting. No deceit had been practised and
the conscience ceased from troubling.
With wornens clubs In every city. town and
small village. and even in the Isolated country
districts field for this work Is enormous. Ju-
dciOus advertising and letters TO various clubs
throughout the country. q list q which could
be obtained from the collection Of club programmes
already mentioned. would open the way for a be-
ginning in this occupation. Then, with ccnscieu-
tious work and fair prices for doing It. n large
and paying business coulG be established