New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-24
Your Daughters Vocation
Why Not Handicrafts?

: be learned under the direction OF experts
For instance, there is n small school OF ART
woodcarving that has its sessions In New
York City from November TO May, and IN
Maine during a few weeks OF the Summer
But. although many OF the successful
handicrafts women to-day began In train.
ing schools a surprisingly large number
and they are often the very ones who nlaks
the most financially from their work-ar.
self-taught. Being self-taught, by the way.
in handicraft usually means getting
GOOD book or several good looks on the
desired craft and teaching ones self from
them.
A young woman who makes a profit Of
s., 900 or $500 year OF antique" hand
made iewelry began her Ca.ce' in an ann.
teur way Seven or eight years ago, when
she was travelling in Italy, she happened
TO be greatly struck by an antique bracelet
shown in a glass case in certain museum
So much impressed was she with the beauty
of this piece Of jewery that she tried 10
get a ieweller TO duplica te 1t for her. II
was simple enough design, she thought.
but the price named by the Jeweller was
prohibitiNc.
If could make the bracelet myself II I
had GONE gold and few semi-precious
stones" she protested. In fact think
will make it."
She made a few sketches OF the coveted
bracelet and on her return to America
bought ? handbook on artistic jewelry
work. Before many months had passed che
had not only duplicated the Italian bracelet
but many other pieces OF jewelry she had
seen in her travels And to-day her busi.
ness is conducted exactly along this line.
PERHAPS you can't afford 10 send your
daughter 10 school to learn her trade and
pertaos she has not initiative enough 10
teach herself The third way OF gaining
the necessary Groundwork-that Of working
UP from the bottom still holds out excel
| lent opportunity o. thorough training. Not
infrequently there is an opening for girl
with agile fingers and artistic ability d
make herself generally useful in the work.
rooms or studio Of handicrstt worker.
For instance. pottery makers employ yours
/ girls 10 help with the construction OF the
pottery. and metal workers find many WAYS
I 10 employ the services Of the willing young
apprentices.
dauehter fer one Of the handlcrafts, You
would be starting on the right road II you
/ got position for her even AT very
small salary, in some handicrau w0rkroonl.
/ Perhaps you yourself know some ponce.
| in one Of the handicrafts who. could en-
ploy your daughter. III not, look up IN"
names Of handicrait workers in one Of ire
handicraft magazines or bulletins and az
/ ply directly 10 them for the opening you
want. The magazines or bulletins are usu-
ally to be secured in the public libraries
= At present one Of the best possible fields
! for the thoroughgong handicraft woman's
/ efforts Is IN the small city. The best way
! 10 carry on a paying nandicraft business IN
such a town is undoubtedly through
! small shop Such a shop. cr studio as
many handicraftsmen prefer 10 call IT, viii
serve as workroom. a sdlesroom, place
, to give lessons in. an Office and sometimes
: tea room. \ special point in running such
/ q shop should be made OF timely gifts
/ articles Of decoration and adornment that
/ VIII bring good prices not so much because
I Of their intrinsic worth as because o. theE
originality and appropriateness BESIDES
/ the profit gained through sales. the woman
who keeps a local handicraft shop can give
lessons and supply the local handicraft anna
/ tours with the materials needed for Their
/ work
In the big cities there are exchanges
where handlcraft products can be sold Al
che Of the most famous Of these exchanges
one where the prices are proverbially steep
| a commission OF about % per cent Is re-
CURED for all sales made. Here, in order
! 10 place anything on sale. II has TO De ae-
| cepted by jury committee.
| Through the agency Of this and other e&- 81
changes many women are al present max
| ing good incomes. The most popular ana
! salable Of all the articles shown in the ex.
! changes is hand-wrought jevelry. Inere
| is good profit in iewelry, too, but the
original outlay is greater than In any otner
sort Of handicraft. Baskets are also COCO
sellers" and the basket manufactures mas
the ADVANTAGE OF requiring very little orig
inal outlay in materials and implements.
tCapyrght. 1912, by Mar Nsrsha!I)