Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-04-18
The Stewart Hotel for working
Women

Baltimore American.
The rules for the government of the
Stewart Hotel for Working Women, which
opens April I'd, have been made public,
and although there are many things in
them which will result in making the
plan attractive and eonduce to the comfort
of the inmates, yet there are others again
which even the observer who is not cap
tiOus might legitimately critieise. AL
though it is evident from the prices which
are to be charged for board and lodging
that the projectors have had no phiIan-
thrOpic object in view in its establishment,
yet it is difficult to understand what their
intention in founding it has been. The
hotel, they claim, will only be able to
pay its running expenses, and the capital
sunk in it will, therefore, be dead money.
Would it not have been generous act on
their part to have arranged matters so
that those who most need an institution of
this kind could have availed themselves
of it? AS it at present stands only wo-
men who can afford TO live comfortably
and have something to spare will become
inmates, while the wants of the great
community of hardworking, underpaid
girls will not be aleviated in the slightest
degree. Still, every one, we suppose, has
the right to do with his money what he
pleases, without taking into considera-
ton the abstract principles of charity and
benevolence. There are, however, GER
tain rules to which boarders will have to
submit that will prove obnoxious to them,
considering their sex. To use an English
term applied to female domestics, FFNo fol-
lowers will be allowed The brilliant
parlOrs, with their chandeliers, pianos,
and gorgeous upholstery, Will never be
desecrated by the presence of the tyrant
man. The doors of the hotel will be firm
ly closed against him, and he must con-
tent himself with standing outside, like
the disconsolate Peri at the gates of Par
adise, and imagining the happiness that
reigns within. Another rule reads that
'FNo dogs, cats, birds or pet animals of
any kind will be allowed in the hotel"
Now it is safe to presume that amongst
the inmates will be some of that class
commonly known as cold maids" How
will they pass the hours not devoted to
parrot? Nay, even young women must
have something to love, and pet canary
would help to cheer them in their lone
illness. A third rule prescribes that "No
sewing machines nor any working appa-
ratus or extra furniture will be allowed in
the rooms" According to this there will
be no flowers, no birds, no cats, no men,
and nothing which might enable the in
mates to proftably employ themselves
during leisure hours. For the very char
acter of those who will be admitted ar
gues that they will have leisure. Only
artists, weII-paid employees in stores and
warehouses, and school and music teach |
ers can afford to purchase the benefits of
the home. And even with the library, !
the fountains and the pianos, the fact that |
they are debarred from doing certain |
things will, in view of prOverbial female |
perversity incline them towards perform |
ing them, and make their spare moments |
tedious and uncomfortable.