Surely all young girls ought to know how to sew, and, not only sew, but
all girls, I think, ought to love the purely feminine occupation of
sewing. Since I am sure that many of the little girls who will read this
book know how to sew, I am going to tell you about some little sewing
that my wife did.
In 1913 the Ladies’ Home Journal, of Philadelphia, offered a prize of
fifty dollars for the best way to make pin-money at home. You know,
girls, that pin-money means pocket change or spending money. Many
hundreds of women all over the world sent in suggestions to the Ladies’
Home Journal, each one hoping, I am sure, that her suggestion would win
first prize. The following letter sent to my wife will tell you just how
her suggestion was received:
“THE LADIES’ HOME JOURNAL,
“Philadelphia. February 5, 1913.
“Dear Madam:
“It gives me much pleasure to tell you that among the hundreds of
letters received in response to the offer made in our January magazine
in connection with The Editor’s Want-Box, Mr. Bok has chosen your
offering as the one entitled to the first prize of fifty dollars. He
congratulates you upon your success and thanks you for the interest
you have shown.
“Our Treasurer will send you a check within a week.
Very truly yours,
“Wm. V. Alexander,
“Managing Editor.
“Mrs. Ella Floyd.”
The check came all right, girls, and my wife thought, as she said to me,
that in winning the prize she had found a new way to make
pin-money--that is, by telling others how to make pin-money at home.
Two hundred of the little articles were afterwards published from time
to time in The Ladies’ Home Journal. The first article of the series
appeared in the magazine for January, 1914, and my wife’s little story,
which won first money, was at the head of the list. I am going to give
here the whole of the little article, as published in The Ladies’ Home
Journal. Of course, I am proud that she won the prize, and I hope other
young ladies by-and-by may be the happy winners in such contests. And
here is the article:
“When one’s pin-money is all gone but twenty-five cents the question
comes as to the way to replenish it. One day when I found that I had
only that amount I invested it as follows:
1 yard of lawn .10
1 yard of lace .10
1 spool of cotton .05
----
.25
“The same day I made three baby caps as daintily as I could with these
materials. The next day I sold them for twenty-five cents each, and then
I had seventy-five cents. I then bought
1 yard of lawn .15
2½ yards of lace .25
2 yards of ribbon .25
2 tiny buckles .05
1 spool of cotton .05
----
.75
“With these materials I made two baby caps, somewhat larger than the
first ones, and trimmed more prettily. I found no trouble in selling
them for $1.50. Straightway I invested the sum in lawn, lace, ribbon,
etc., and as I had done so well with the caps I thought I would try my
hand on little bonnets. I made two. A friend offered me $5 for them
before they were finished. I accepted her offer and from that day to
this I have never been troubled about pin-money.
[Illustration: PIN MONEY MADE WITH THE NEEDLE.]
“In four weeks’ time I made and sold twenty caps and eleven bonnets. The
material for the caps cost me $2.50--twelve and a half cents for each. I
sold them for twenty-five cents each. The material for the bonnets cost
me $8.25, or seventy-five cents each. I sold them for $2.50 each. So I
netted $21.75 for my work. The time which I devoted to this enterprise
was that which ordinarily I would have used in calling or in running up
bills for my husband to pay.
“Since the first four weeks of which I have spoken in detail I have made
more expensive caps and bonnets for babies from six months to about
three years old. The last one I made was of silk, beautifully trimmed,
tucked and hemstitched. I sold it for $6, making a clear profit of $3.
My husband says I’ll soon be in position to organize a trust.”
[Illustration: A GAME OF MARBLES IN THE SHADOW OF THE WASHINGTON
MONUMENT.]