The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-15
EVENING CHAT
BY RUTH CAMERON.

In the hope of bringing a suggestion
to some woman who has her living TO
earn and cannot decide just how to do
it, and with a desire to give women
broader outlook upon what the rest
of their sex are doing, 1 occasionally
devote this column to telling some
thing about some of the unusual ways
in which women are earning their
bread and butter.
If any of my readers are doing any
work that is rather out of the ord1n-
airy. or know of anyone else who IS
doing such work, i wish they would
write me a few lines about it.
Please tell how you or your friend
started in with the unusual work, what
it's advantages and disadvantages are
and how we'll it pays.
An unique niche in the real estate
business has been both created and
filled by a very clever woman, with
small amount of money and large
one of taste.
After falling to obtain a regular po-
sition as real estate agent, this Wo-
man started the business of making
Undesirable summer houses desirable
She began by renting a house that
was desirable in a locality and in every
thing but furnishings, and completely
overhauling it., She repapered, paint
ed, cleaned and refurnished it-most-
ly with second hand furniture rejuve-
mated, and dainty but inexpensive
hangings. All of the work this reJu-
venating entailed. she herself did with
the help of a scrub woman. Not a
room cost more than fifty dollars, but
it was all done with such taste and
daintiness that as soon as 1t was fur
nished she rented the house for the
summer for twice what she had paid
for whole year.
She was at once offered a position
- - oefa To yor7f hut T1ra
to work along this new line and has
made a good living in this way. Often
she furnishes the house with antique
furniture rejuvenated. and sometimes
sells the furniture. This year she ex-
poets to make desirable, and sub-let,
five houses at a good profit,
Because of the high cost of food
stuffs, woman's time honored occupa-
bookkeeping boarders-is said to be
difficult to make profitable just now.
One clever woman, however, has
| evolved a variation upon 1t that she
| has been able to make pay very well.
She boards helpless and cranky
| old folks, charging from ten dollars
up, according to the care required, and
as care is the chief commodity sup
piled and the food they consume is
comparatively small consideration, she
makes a very comfortable thing out of
| it.
At present she has six guests and
keeps two maids One maid does the
washing and ironing, the other does
the table work and chamber work and
helps her with the old folks. She her
self does all the cooking and takes
care of the guests. Under present
conditions she could accommodate
eight. Four are the least with which
such an establishment could be made
to pay, she says.
| OF course, most of the old folks are
| lust like children and require infinite
patience and watchfulness. Some of
them have to be dressed and undress-
! ed and fed Some are weak mind ed,
and ask the same question half doz-
en- times in half an hour. They are
also apt to be blue and depressed, re-
curing constant cheering.
mo one could do 1t who did not like
old people," she comments, "but for
anyone who does and who has much
patience and vitality, think there is
| a. good opening for such work In any
good sized town or city. Get the doc
tors to be on the lookout for cases
for you to apply for, and advertise in
the local paper"
Now please don't forget to send in
| that little story of your work that may
holm mr. interest some other woman.