[14] This article was first published in _The Forum_, May, 1892. It is now republished without alteration from the original manuscript. In the intervening years some exchanges then existing have been abandoned, and new ones have been organized, but a somewhat careful inquiry has disclosed no essential modifications of the principles for which the Woman’s Exchange stood in 1892. The conclusions reached at that time therefore remain unchanged. [15] Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the Ladies’ Depository Association for 1890. [16] Annual Report for 1890. [17] A very full list is given by F. A. Lincoln, _Directory of Exchanges for Woman’s Work_, pp. 24-26. [18] “But it is not to be understood, because of this surplus, that the Woman’s Exchange is in any sense self-supporting. Such is not to be expected, and has never been any part of our scheme. The surplus comes, as was always anticipated, from public benevolence.” _Third Annual Report Woman’s Exchange_, San Francisco, California. [19] How difficult the task is may be inferred from the following extracts from annual reports of two exchanges. “While we can by watchfulness avoid any considerable number of such transactions (consignment of goods by other than needy and distressed gentlewomen) on the part of the residents of this coast, we are utterly helpless in cases coming from the other side of the continent, for which reason I think it is just and prudent to stop such exhibits altogether.” “A prevalent opinion in the community, and one that does us no little harm, is that we help many well-to-do women. It is a very difficult, as well as a very delicate matter to learn just how needy our depositors are; we do not attempt to do so. We assume that they need to earn money from the fact that they desire to become depositors. But we gradually become more or less familiar with their lives, and we can assure you, as a rule, our money is well paid out.” “Sometimes people unwittingly make very damaging statements. A short time ago a lady remarked to a friend that the exchange was not accomplishing any good--it only helped well-to-do women to earn pin-money, and verified her statement by giving the name of a wealthy lady who said she was a depositor. The matter was inquired into and the said name was found, but we also learned that the ticket had been bought to give to a needy woman, who became the depositor.” The Riverside Press _Electrotyped and printed by H. O. Houghton & Co._ _Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A._