The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-05
HOMES FOR WORRYING WOMEN.

!. ia HOMES FOR WORKING WOMEN
Among the most pressing needs of our
cities are some provision for that large class |
Of women who, compelled to labor for their
own support and often for others, have no
homes of their own. Few persons realize
the great difficulty experienced by such
women in obtaining comfortable and re-
spectacle homes. There is always a pre-.
judice against women among clearinghouse
keepers; but the wealthy can buy their way
anywhere. The poor woman who works
for a living, has TO encounter this hostile
feeling without the means to conciliate it by
lavish expenditure. ''''''' 50
Her small earnings are expended in secur-
ing inferior accommodations, often INSULT
cient and unwholesome. "a Her spirits are
depressed, her health ruined, and all the
large, beautiful outlooks of the world shut
ont from her. If she does not die outright,
the light and beauty of life die in her, and
she sinks into a mere drudge, devoid of
spiritual aspirations. Is it strange that
from such class the unfortunates, whose
fate is just beginning to interest good peo-
PIE, should be largely reinforced?
Think Of it yourselves, men who have
mothers and sisters, wives and daughters (;
and look at the garrets, and cellars, and huts
Where poor working women so often drag
ont their lives. Here is the source in a
large measure of the disease and vice
which destroys women by thousands, and
reacts with fearful cost upon men. A move
ment is now inaugurated in several of the
Western cities to meet this pressing need
Of the working women. 10 1fiEsism
80 In New York, Stewart, the millionaire,
has nearly completed an immense structure,
capable of accommodating about two thou
sand women. 1t is one of the finest speci-
mems of architecture on the continent, and
! is furnished with every convenience which
modern science has achieved for cooking,
washing, and hotel work generally. Here
respectable women who work for their liv-
ing are to be furnished rooms, board, and
washing, at cost. For these splendid ac-
commodations they will be charged less
than their miserable quarters now cost
them. It is estimated that three dollars a
week will cover all expenses in the new
home. Mr.. Stewart deserves the highest
COMMUNICATION for this noble act. 1t is
worthy Of his great brain, and vindicates
him from the charge of being merely self
ish and greedy accumulator of wealth.
This great edifce will cost over million
dollars, and will be the first grand expert
nent in cooperative housekeeping. upon
the plan advocated by Mrs. Stowe, Horace
Greeley, and other social reformers. 1t
can scarcely fail to be a great success. F,s
| In Bostonno one person of great wealth
has come forward to fill this gap in our So
cial needs. Several attempts on smaller
scale are being made with encouraging
success. The most successful of these is,
the Working Women's Home, at IA Lin
coin street, under the charge of Mrs. E. w.
Philbrick. While this institution is less
imposing than the experiment of Mr.. Stew
art, it involves the same principle and is an
example within easy reach of any associa-
ton of good people who may desire to help
the poor by enabling them to help them
selves. H
Mrs. Philbrick, lady of noble heart
and fine executive ability, by the aid of a
few noble men and women, has fitted up
and opened the Home, and made it o
success. Here, working woman can find
a sweet, clean bed, good wholesome food
and pleasant home influences around her.
In the large airy parlors, hung with pictures
, and furnished with agood piano, the weary
are refreshed with music, reading, and thu
I delightful social influences which are posi-
BILE in such place. .g s,5a4 NJ,
, Here too, women fiud friend in tn,
kind and large-hearted superintendent, AM
. through her their needs and troubles ar
communicated to noble men and womel
outside. The friendless and troubled wo
> man is thus brought into the circle of bene
1 violent sympathy, and a hand stretched GU
to save her before she sinks. No none,
aid IS gipe,t as rule. Everything is paid 70
at price as near cost as possible. Blu
> the amount of good that is done by such a
; institution is simply incalculable. Mrs
, Philbrick has made the institution sclf-sup
4 porting already, and needs only means t
: extend it indefinitely. 49,. .,s.s.
. We can think of no enterprise which ha
. stronger claims upon the public supper
!. than this. We hope to learn that Bosto
has set the example of furnishing ever,
! woman who is willing to work for living
!, with as good home as that at IA Lncol
/. street. As the first wisely planned an
n efficiently administered institution of thi
J. kind that we have known, we commend
: to imitation, ia our own and other cities
e Richmond has hundreds of women VIII
J. need just. this thing. Let the Christina
= people who have undertaken to save tn
l. lambs who have strayed from the fold, pro
\ vide against the necessity of this benevo
= lent work by affording labor for all women
q and pleasant homes for those who hay
n none Of their own