The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-15


 work of the association, naturally some what curtailed on account of the moneyed strain, has, however. continued through judcious management.
 Over $SoOo was paid to the women consigners of the Womens Ex- change the past year. The annual re- port which has just been made by Miss Walters, manager of the exchange, shows that $s745.76, was the amount paid out, the best showing that the exchange has ever made, although it's preceding reports have not been far behind this amount.
 The members of the exchange board are naturally most gratified at the years re- port These figures emphasize the work of the exchange in affording a market near at home for women to dispose of their needleworx and their breads anl cakes.
 The exchange was organized and es- tablished on it's present basis, for the sole purpose of helping women. It seeks to provide a market where women. forced to earn their own livelihood, will find ready sale for their work and it encourages them in the various branches of work, fine sewing, plain sewing, the making of cakes and breads
 No other agency really supplies the practical neeos, or the opportunity to realize a steady income from the sales of their work, as do the women's exchanges. They reach hundreds of women that otherwise would have no opportunity of disposing of their work The consignors. include women of varied accomplish ments, experts in handwork in exquisite needlework of all kinds, embroidery, send their work to the exchange where they find ready sales.
 Not only does it provide market for these women, but it has proved of great convenience to hundreds of women who are able to supply themselves with hand made articles and who buy homemade breads and cakes.
 The woman who has no time for the making of salt-risen bread or the beaten biscuit, or the cakes for her family, and the woman who has bread and cake to sell meet on a common ground in the exchange. They are both necessary to each other, The one creates a demand, the rther supplys the demand. The woman with her varied accomplishments has through the medium of the exchange been made to realize that there are women who need her work, and are willing to pay her for her time and in- dustry. She is working on a practical basis, an encouraging basis. As a con- sgnor to this department of the ex- ;S aII in varied branches of work, and her connections with the exchange is natur- ally productive.
 She becomes not only self-supporting but she receive the stimulus for better work that is the result tf daily de- mand for just the class of work that she is able to do.
 The success of the Birmingham Ex- change shows how cooperative it has be- come. The exchange was organized sev- eral years ago. It was so successful from the first that it was seen that only a few years were needed to make it firmly established. cafe feature was opened when the exchange was in it's old quarters on First avenue This also was signally successful. When the ex- change moved into it's present quarters in sthe Title Guarantee company building, it's success in all branches of work continued to the satisfaction of the man. agement The cafe is well patronized, home cooking is made speciality, and southern recipes have made the cafe la nous throughout the city.
 ''But'' always Miss Walters, is saying, "while the cafe is a success, do not want people to forget that the exchange is conducted to help women. It Is to provide market for their work l want this always emphasized, that it affords an opportunity to hundreds of women to earn their own livelihood. It is for the