The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
SUPPORTS HERSELF
 BY OPENING HOMES
Experiences of Widow Who
 Works for Living
STUMBLES ON PROFESSION
Gets Homes of Wealthy People In a Habitahle Shape Against Their Re- turn From Summer Vacation.
 Makes Good Living.

''The work of opening and closing homes has given me good living for some thing like four years now"
 The speaker was a woman in middle life. Both her appearance and her man. ner evidenced her refinement and her method of speech proved her education.
 "On the death of my husband seven years ago. she continued, T came to the city in the hope of getting place as housekeeper in a hotel. l soon found that there were a dozen applicants for every vacancy. As I had neither experi- ence nor influence none of the few va cancies came my way. Finally my money became so nearly exhausted that I was glad to take employment as cham bermaid.
 "It was in hotel. and while was kept pretty busy the pay was good. had known the pinch of hunger and the shame of having to dodge in and out of the little cubbyhole of a room that served me as a shelter to avoid the re- breaches of my landlady for not paying up. so I was willing to put up with the disagreeable features of chamber work in a hotel.
 "At least, that is the way I have all ways accounted for my not taking of fence at things which would make the other chambermaids discharge them selves at a moments notice. I was not looking for sights and insults, but was saving up every penny against the time when l could get out and hunt work more to my liking.
 "Uufortunately, that time came before I was ready for 1t. The hotel changed hands, and the housekeeper who came in with the new management brought her own help. Of course. there was noth- ing for us to do but get out
 "Being new at the work, was not quick enough about getting recom- mendation from the housekeeper under whom I worked. In applying for new place. while I could claim to have ex- perience. when I said I had no recom- mendation the woman at the employ ment bureau shook her head
 she took my fee, but when after wait ing days and weeks I reminded her that I was still out of work she reminded me that had no referenees She did finally call me on several occasions to speak to ladies in search of servants, but the minute they learned that although l had worked more than three months in one hotel I had no reference they would take some other woman. No one seemed to believe that I could find the house. keeper under whom had worked.
 gro get rid of this stigma l finally hit on the plan of taking service with my 1 landlady, the one with whom l had boarded when l first came to the city. 1 After explaining the situation to her i offered to work for one week free of i charge provided she would give me a reference.
 "She didn't pay me in money, but altogether that was about the best weeks work I ever did. I mean in re- turns. It was in the middle of the sum mer and she was going out of town to take a few days rest. She put me in charge of the house and as many of the rooms were vacant had to make them ready for fall boarders.
 'I changed things around quite good deal and when the mistress of the house returned she was so pleased with my work that she offered to keep me as a working housekeeper. She was candid enough to tell me that she was sure I could earn more money elsewhere. As she could now vouch for my ability and willingness to work as well as my hon esty she sent me with note to a friend connected with the Woman's Exchange.
 This woman said they had no opening for regular employment just then, but they had just received letter from one of the ladies on the board of managers who wished to have her house opened against her returned from Europe. If I thought I could do it they would give me trial.
 Tt was a large house and as 1t had