Thrifty Females Making Work For Themselves

1901

There Are Many Remunerative Occupations For Women

One thrifty woman who had watched the vegetables and fruit rotting by day at her grocer's, and which were a dead loss to him, proposed that they enter into an arrangement in the future whereby she should preserve and pickle his entire surplus, either for regular pay or upon commission, in the latter case he furnishing the sugar and spices. Another woman, with sharp business instincts, a butcher's wife, made up soup stock, and found a ready sale for it to many overworked housekeepers.

Still another, who knew but one thing thoroughly, and that was cookery, called every morning at certain physicians offices and formed a list of families in which sickness prevailed. To these families she offered to come every day for an hour or so and prepare in their own homes mutton broth, beef extract, chicken jelly, panada, gruels, fruit and herb drinks, wine whey, custard, etc., furnishing her time and labor cheaper than the articles could be bought at restaurants or women's exchanges.

Some women are specialists in one branch, such as handkerchief embroidering, lampshade making, fan painting, feather curling, glove cleaning, and the like, or can make beautiful neck scarves, or launder fine laces. Such can easily make their specialty pay, some by the aid of friends, some by the patronage of dealers in such goods, some by a house to house canvass made by themselves.

A young girl in one of the large eastern cities was recently puzzled by finding herself left almost helpless and homeless, with no talent in any one direction. There was but one thing of which she never tired, and that was of children, all of whom seemed to adore her; so this young girl went out at so much an hour to amuse sick and irritable children. Many a worn-out mother found her presence a most grateful repose. She was indefatigable in inventing new games and perfecting old ones, and her naturally retentive memory came also to her aid as a story-teller.

It is the woman who takes advantage of opportunities, the woman who can plan as well as execute, whom the world wants and for whom it will push its ranks apart to make place.