New-York tribune., 1908-07-16
THE "SHIP-SHAPE SHOP"
Al Sorts Of Wardrobe Repairing
Done for Lone MeR and Mdidens.

IT'S sort of relief society for the wives Of
the tattered and torn OF the upper classes said
Miss Gertrude Barnum. breezily. Bachelor men
and maids need more buttonless. un-
pressed, unlaundered and unstrung
It tine Wardrobe Repair Shop" at +12 west
47th street. where she sat, and which she thus
extolled. Miss Earnum, who is one of the best
known social workers IN the country, has just
come to this city after year in Chicago Miss
Barnum started the Women's Trade Union League
in New York and its first secretary. passing
the work over to Miss Helen Marot when she
obliged take years rest Now she mas
returned take charge Of the ship-shape shop
she calls it. This shop was Miss Marots idea
inspired by the number of girls left unemployed
by the Industrial depression, and the financial
backer is Mrs George Jenkins. wealthy woman
widely known III social and philanthropic circles
In the reception and rest room sat applicants
for work or training. who gave their references
theatrical costumers for whom they had mace
lightning alterations; directors of schools OF
domestic art where they had been trained 10
make stitch in time nine: Sisters OF Chafl'y'
who had initiated them into the mysteries Oh hhe
darning patching and buttonhoe making
Pitful old who insisted they were as MI
the young for amy kond of SEWN whatever
being referred to the various temporary
workshops established in New York for relief for
the unemployed. Capable young women with good
references were told to take off their wraps ana
enter at once upon the days test a preliminary
examination made by Mrs Clara Grimes. the shop
manager. The advertising cards announce in fetch
ing red letters that the "Shp-Ssapers will either
take work into their shop or do 1t by the hour'
day or week in private homes; that husbands or
absentee wives may have their buttons seWed
on and old clothes cIeansed of spots pressed and
renovated from top to toe; that tired home makers
may be relieved by first class darners, patchers,
rippers, stitchers and buttonhole makers; that
brides may be taught how to be happy though
married-in short. the prospectus offers help 10
Jacks of all trades by masters of each" at the
rate of 40 cents for the first hour 50 cents for
succeeding hours, 81 a day Quncheons and car
fares to be furnished by workers.
Miss Barnum seemed enthusiastic yesterday as
TO the possibilities of the undertaking.
Mothers need no longer face alone the problem
of making fathers trousers fit William" said
She .or doing over Aunt Mara's hoop skirt gar
ments into sheath gowns for Sister Sue
I'VE going to turn wardrobe repairing into a
skilled trade and get it out of the home. This
will benefit the working woman, who will have
new skilled trade; the overworked housewives, who
will be relieved from struggling with work for
which they are incompetent, and the victims or
such incompetency.
ITS going to be a profession popular as
trained nursing because the workers are not mere
" to be hands but trained training for
skilled work and are stipulating for reasonable
wages hours and conditions. Any girl enjoys
work she can do well under right conditions
And the shop is going to be popular with pa
irons too and fill long felt want DO you re
member the story Of Jimmy and his trousers? His
Sunday school teacher asked him, Who made your
new trousers, Jimmy% and Jimmy replied My
mother, gol darn her!
1T is only maternal affection which expresses
itself wrong side before and hitched up behind
You never catch trying To remodel his SILK
hat into visor outing cap for his eldest son or
making CATERS from the knees Of his broadcloth
suit for his favorite daughter a maa goes 10 the
halter for hats to the neckwear maker for ties.
TO the tailor for overcoats When he faces d"nes-
tic problems he puts out the curtain making
patronizes the towel and supply company, employs
professional window washers and automatic sue
ton cleaners, and turns the catering to com
petent firms, equipped with modern labor saving
machines and employing skilled workers. And
women, too. are learning that if you want a thing
well you must not do it yourself but must
turn il over to a trained specialist