The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-05-01
seed that Fell into Good Ground

Ooed Jn6C Fol- into GOOD Ground.
1t may be a satisfaction to the friends of the
police dep artment of the Women's Temper
ance Union to know that the report of their
work published in the PRESS month or two
ago, went forth like the sower to SOW; and the
seed fell into good ground and brought forth
fruit
Struck with the practical nature and i'm
portance of the work done as exhibited in the
report, one of the editorial staff of the Proyi-
dence Journal, Mrs. Elizabeth K. Churchill
wrote q resume of it, which commanded the
earnest and immediate attention of some of
the leading and wealthiest ladies of that city.
The following day the work began. Mrs
Churchill was waited upon by the mayor and
together they visited the stations and discus
sed plans for the work Parlor meetings and
discussions increased the interest which soon
crystallized in a petition to the city govern
ment with an organization of women to sup
port it, at one in the holy purpose of saving
the lost.
Witness the result of the petition which APP
pears in the Providence formal:
The committee on police reported favorably
upon petition OF Ann A. Ives and others for
the appointment of a police matron, and on
the recommendation of the committee the fol
lowing resolution and ordinance were passed
ResoJUed That the superintendent of police
buildings acting under the direction of the COM
mittee city property hereby directed to cause
such alterations to be made in the central police
station as may be necessary to provide accommola-
tions for police matron, and better accommodl-
tons for female prisoners.
In the ordinance relative to the appointment
of police matron these two sections q and A.
are of interest to US:
1.-The chief of police shall annually an
point suitable woman to be police matron.
1.-The compensation to be received shall
not exceed 5000 per annum.
The city of Providence profited by the ex-
ample of Portland and within six weeks a
police matron by city ordinance was ap-
pointed, with salary of 5000 par annum. Now
may it not be well for the city of Portland to
follow the example of Providence to pay at least
larger part of the salary of the matron en-
gagged in the work. A little more than
a quarter has been paid.
This work like all others requires money;
and the point is that what is accomplished by
the matron and women is an actual saving of
the city's money. Tie women and children
taken from the Station are found homes or
maintained until they are self supporting. The
City is relieved from the present care and ex-
pense, of the reformed and from the future as
well. The women Who meet these expenses
and who also contribute TO the salary find the
work suffers by the limitations caused by its
payment.
Is it not for the interest Of the city to aid
this work by helping the women to extend it
by paying more of the salary?
This work will extend sooner or later all
sover the country, all over the world. Eiliie
Devereaux Blake is at work arousng New
York city to its need of having women police.
Three hundred women are nightly taken to
the station. In Saxony police women are
employed. In some cities in England COM
mttees of women, members of organizations
who conduct the work of helping and saving
women aud children meet them at the iaii
gates at the expiration of their term, learn
thelr business, become acquainted with theiI
necessities, and through homes and working
women's unions help and save many. We
need III this city a Women'S Educational and
Industrial Union after the manner of the one
IN Boston which has for its aim to do for
women what the Young Mems Christian Asso-
Citations and Unions do for men. They take
in not only plain, fancy and decorative work,
but receive orders for homemade bread
cakes, Jellies, canned fruit, etc., which are
real want in every city.
how many families would gladly avail
themselves OF good wholesome food, without
help, Or with poor help or during periods of
sickness. How many women could by their
Skin IN cooking earn an easy, comfortable
livelihood.
What we want is not altogether money, but
to enlist the sympathy Of women who will
volunteer in this work, their hearts, minds
and active service. Hard pressed as our lives
| may seem. comprised about with affairs mani
fold and urgent, yet by the selection of things
to be done we may find time to do them, and
we must always seek the higher to the exclu-
| sion of the lower.
The care of fallen women, neglected and
| abused children, is as much a woman's mission
| as that of the care of the SICK or the care of
| the home. AS Mrs. Churchill well says,
women will be told the work will be dis
| agreeable; SO is much of the mission work in
! foreign lands, but women are importuned to
enter upon it and many respond gladly These
| poor heathens are at our DOORS They are
certainly no more unattractive in their de-
| gradation no more difficult to reach thansthe
women of Asia or Africa and their souls