New-York tribune., 1871-05-05
ABOUT THE wORKINGwOMEN
NEWSPAPERS VERSUS BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES
HOW TO MAKE HOMES FOR Po0R WOMEN.

and reaetionares OF the world II the prophecies OF the
Raw John Cumming to prove true, and the Earth,
with all the thereof, near Its end No time
10 map out Improvements study ont social soence
cons IN which moral and material tidal waves may
gather sweep away degree OF progress to mako
room for another 1t might be well that such alarm
should be given, and that metaphysical and minute
rcformers should wake the that the science of we'll
doing lies under their hands, and oil problems Of capi
tai labor need but the simple solvent "to do
Justly and love mercy" Leagues and Unions and Asso-
Citations not necessary TO this end. They may
not he convenences for wen-doing; but sponta
Beous individual action is better Is Mt there more than
one person sick organizations for comphcating
questions OF faith ana duty, especially on this
vexed point OF the workingwomens conditions How
many associations for their relief have been formed in
New-York alone, and fallen after they had exhausted
themselves In electng full staff OF ocersf The Albany
Legislature would do the best thing IL ever did 20 pro
hbit the formation of societies for any purpose
under the the space Of FIVE years BY that time
people would found the old plans and so scr
vceable when utilized that they would want more
For example, more than one excellent woman wishes
there were Of opening treaties with the
equally excellent country girl who would come to do her
nursery kitchen work conditions Of semiequan'y'
or OF such tlst and privilege il would be uIsio "
grant the p-s 1t order Of service. ave must nave an
association" say the busy and benevolent, 10 Ies9
the names OF employers and employed" PieaSo =" oy
what for since a very active agency that WIZ acconP
what you wish already exists at your manu- ~ -.
line advertisement in the morning paper wiz IeAo" '
young woman in the country mueh soOhoi ' M ~ ~
association could Start your ASSOCIATION, YOU "l,
and s efficiency will probably depend on the Ieai anu
good sense OF its secretary or acuary Woman Vi CA
nerieneo and discernment who could do without the
society much better than the Society could do possibly
with her and who would be just as ready 10 give her
,es ryivately The weekly family papers and ladies'
Journals wOud be proper advertising mediums Tor young
women wishing situations of respectaoity and trust
.Rpk All sorts of people advertise, and how shall we
Know when VIC get the right sort Messrs. A. T. Stew
art Co are not afraid Of getting the wrong sort OF
person when they advertise for to fiji situa-
tan OF trust There certain terseness inrghtnean
ing advertisement not easy to be mistaken
As a rule the ATTRACTIONS" offered. .",lady can
vassers," ald the "lberal commission allowed" will
prove nothing than patent hemmer agency The
"cook to assist with some washing and the nurse TO
do some sewing" will find all they do OF extra work
expected of them beside Irregular grind" as boys
saw in thar own departments "Saesladies are in re-
quest by avenue trimming stores at S week Large
establishments curtly intimate "SaeswOman Wanted"
Adiectves are thrown away in advertisements, the ex
perenoed understand them reversed; the "hgheSt
references" competent persons" and respectable
American women" often to be distrusted
more useful exercise for city school
children could hardly devised than learning to write
advertisements clearly and neatly But one might make
gu article subject alone We pass on to say that
any legitimate grievance quickly disposed OF In the
much abused new spapers by raising a society espe-
oaly for s demolition. Much good might come TO pass
from even the sensational exposures OF how dferent
haberdashers treat their shopgrs and how basement
eating manufacture stews 1t were not that such
articles are usually dictated by personal malice in the
reporter or superior when they not rude devices
for levying black-mail But every way the truth is
served whether by envy goodwill Not an editor has
desk in NowYork City who does not in year listen to
more grievances OF sort another than any
one but q Police Court Judge. Each paper is open
TO "Letters from the People," provided they
at brief and people who want the hours Of work
shortened want patent seats behind counters as well
rs before them desire shpload Of Breton peasant
girls imported do cooking, vice Hberna resigned,
can do 40 in FIVE lines more efectualy than In fifteen.
Would not column Of benevolent advertisements an
tho ends Of half dozen socetiesi An ntimation
that the widow OF machnist who was crushed In the
falling Of number Eceera has three chill
dren who want school clothes would be apt to meet with
attention from the charitable who like to know where
their money goes dollar spent for such notice would
DO as wisely spent 1t went toward the salary OF
Secretary, who would file the application for relief
These remarks be said TO bear moro closely on
be wants OF workngwomen than those Of other classes
The question OF suitable homes and amusements nc
less inerinked Cheap and comfortable homes are not
wanted more working than they are for work
ingmen the rank Of pavors to cashiers ana editors
So unlimited is the demand for cheap lodgings that
block composed entirely OF hallbedreoms ito use the
free Hbernan manner Of speech would prove capital
investment better model for the cheapest grade OF
homes for women cannot be found than the Catholic
converts which usually receive women of all ages and
conditions to their shelter furnishing protection food
and lodging at the lowest price. In passing through
these Houses of Mercy struck by the comfort OBJ
tanned by the simplest The ventilation is perfect
and the purity Of the little cells adds air ofrefnement
10 the privacy which is the crowning wish Of work
inggrls heart The bare floor is beautiful, 1t is so
white; the walls virgin fair, and the cover
70 the low bed is blanehed while the bedding tended as
pous care prepared for an infants rest is so
carefully neat Pure, air flows freely through the
corridor and into each cell. The lavatores are LARGE
light and attractive. The repeant horrors Of dngy
zinc blue-green brasses, and decayed woodwork which
distinguish too many bathrooms are banshed by In
cesssnt large, sunny ssttingroon, scrupuously
neat it's ngrans and 6agseaed chairs receives the
inmates at evening The food is simple, but well
cooked and served. This much the religious House pro
vides for its humbes inmate, than many pub
lie charitable institution gives. But oh, how different,
because each detail followed and served by ladies' who
have exalted their naturally fastdous instincts OF purity
into a religious Will note these words for re-
ference further ont
Instead of waiting build lodging houses. would it
not be better Of those large odfashoned
houses 10 be found the lower part Of the city and
furnish IL for a-what shall sayf Not q home, nor
an institution nor anything that OF charitable in
tept The best thing would be that some shrewd speeu
laor should ind ont that money was to be made by turn
ing those fine old Amtys houses, for instance, with
their wide halls and sunny windows. into honeycomb
OF neat little cells and renting In by Sparcels at "
week The principal outlay would be for partitions and
wbttewash and an educated cook OF course 1t Is con-
tempateC that food shall furnished al restaurant In
the house What we want LIS such hotels for women as
the Bowery hotels for In point OF cheapness III
a sock-Crfyer or commercial traveller can be supplied
with room neatly kept and freshly furnished for or2
week. as these hotels advertise there is no reason why