The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-04-18
Searching For Data.
A Lucrative Occupation For Women
Described by an Adept.

classes. etc, are represented IN the
collection. These are useful In sug-
costing features and topics for other
club programs. and requests for this
| branch of the work should be nu-'
nervous
A woman who was formerly en-
gagged in this occupation found it,
pleasant and profitable She charged
by the hour for her time in looking
up subjects, or a lump sum if the
request was for the writing of the
paper, as was often the case. Some
times her clients wanted only refer
ences as to where the facts on the
subject in hand could be obtained.
In that case the later and more popu-
lar magazines were consulted for
references as being more available
to the woman in the small city or
town. Books also were referred to,
and sort of photography of the SUBJ
ject was forwarded.
Many clients less inclined to labor
or with fewer facilities at hand
would write for extracts on a certain
subject sufficient to form the body
of the paper. Often patron would
inclose sum of money in her letter
and ask for the equivalent in facts.
At other times 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 two
or more. years experience, and this
was for a mass of information which
she had collected to be made into a
paper on Child Study" Her clients
were widely scattered From Idaho
and from Cuba, from New Hamp-
shire and from Pennsylvania came re-
quests for help in her line. !
While women were the principal
customers of this "searcher," there
were many men also who wished a
similar service. Ciergymen, lee
turers, authors all require this ex-
pert assistance now and then
The work is in every way educa-
tional. Many of the subjects may
have held only passing interest to
the searcher. Immediately she be-
gan to look up references and to note
facts and fancies concerning some
subject her enthusiasm was aroused,
she exhausted every source of infor-
nation, and when her data was
ready to mail she found herself to
be in possession of general knowl-
edge of subject which before she
had probably scarcely thought of.
The first request not only to COL
lect the data but to write the paper
as we'll that came to this pioneer in
the research business caused her con-
science to sit up and take notice.
Should she aid and abet another
woman If this other meant to deceive
her fellow club members in the
authorship of the paper, was q ques-
ton carefully debated. She decided
that it was not her affair and wrote
and forwarded the paper. Her re-
lief WAS great when soon after she
received from another member of
the same club a request to prepare
a paper for her, too, as she was SO
pleased with the one written for her
friend. which was read at a recent
meeting. No deceit had been prac-
tised and the conscience ceased from
troubling.
With women's clubs in every city,
town and small village, and even in
the isolated country districts, the
field for this work is enormous. Jul
dicious advertising and letters in
various clubs throughout the coun-
try, list of which could be obtained
from the collection of club programs
already mentioned, would open the
way for beginning in this occupa-
ton. Then, with conscientious work
and fair prices for doing it, large
and paying business could be estab-
lished.-From the New York Tri.
bune.