Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-12-24
Especial corresponaenoe.l

prove her delicate health by resorting to those
outdoor sports which have since become so
popular. The girls of twenty-five years ago
were not ambitious. Few thought Of making
q career, but those who did, found the stage to |
be about the only profession open to them, |
and devotion to that almost carried disgrace
along with it. Indeed the young woman who
thought to earn her own living might count |
upon the contempt Of the world instead of
plaudits for her pluck and independence.
Now it is better. The American girl has
pushed her way into the ranks of earners and
all that is now asked of the fair to;lers OF the !
land is that they shall be skilled" in what
ever trade or profession they may elect to
follow. Hence it comes that the collegiate
institutions of Europe are crowded with our
countrywomen, studying to become singers,
painters, dramatic artists, physicians and
teachers.
TIL rush to the institutions Of learning In
New York is even greater than to those in
foreign countries. The Cooper Union free
art school for women yearly admits to its
classes 424 pupils, and rejects for want Of
room more than 7oG.
/ have been making some inquiries as to
how the girls manage who come here with
only a little money to pay for tuition and
living expenses, and give the result for the
benefit of the fair toilers Of the future who
wish to acquire their education in New York.
Boarding is the chief item Of expense. In
the average respectable boarding house ~ q
week is as low as a young girl can obtain
board for, and this only pays for a hall room,
on the upper floor, without fire.
Clearly this will not do for the young stu
dent who must make a little money last a
long time and get as much comfort out Of it
NO ppcotb1a TharaForo che hoA hoAkar co 60
one Of those boarding houses which have
been established to cater to this class. There
are very few Of them, and all require o
recommendation or other guarantee Of re-
spectability from the would-be boarder.
First in size and importance comes the
"Home for Young Women" No. 81 North
Washington square. There are two houses,
containing rooms for eighty-six young girls.
The board is So q week, including fire and
gas, az may go AS high as a, IS or So, ac-
cording to the room occupied. Washing Is
lone there for fifty cents per dozen, just half
the usual price. Young ladies are allowed
to receive visitors in the parlors. This house
is closed at 1870 p. M, except to sue as
| have permission to be out later. The houses
are OF the large, old fashioned style, roomy,
sunny and cheerful, we'll furnished and tho
food good and substantial.
Washington square is about the only
square in Now York whose beauty has not
been marred by trade. The fine old man
siops fronting upon it are mainly occupied
by people Of wealth and refinement, among
them being the famous Mrs. Hicks-Lord and
/! Sir frederick Cameron.
A few squares away from this home, in one
OF the busiest streets of the city, is Miss
Leggatt's boarding house, No. 60 Clinton
1 rNnNa Fiohfh cfvrnaf II rroc Hr,NarnN ao-nn
years ago solely for the accommodation Of
working women, but has lost It's distinctive
character. However, it still receives young
women, which not oil the boarding houses
will do, and many of the hotels positively de-
cline them as guests.
Board Is rather cheap at Miss Leggatt's, a
good large room, comfortably furnished, and
o good, plain table are supplied for SO a week
for two in a room. A line of cars passes the
doors, and Broadway Is but a couple of
squares distant.
l was much impressed with the pleasant
appearance and accounts of 'The Laura
Home for Young Women" No. 100 Second
avenue, another good locality. Second ave
nue. was originally intended to be what Fifth
avenue is-the aristocratic avenue Of New
York. 1.-THE Laura Home' was established
by the Rev. d.. G. Potter from purely philan.
thropic motives, namely, to provide a shelter
and home in every sense for young girls with
small means while fitting themselves for
self-maintenance. Although undo the super
vision OF q minister, Laura Home is non
sectarian, and there are fewer rules to be OBJ
served than in the other homes l visited.
Girls are allowed to receive in the parlor calls
from even a-sweetheart; but here, as else.
where, testimonials of good character are in,
I J;c>nncolJo ~ oh%aso;,, ,Jr,,t%,oo pon~5
costs from So to Sc per week, according tt
the room occupied, alone or with anothe,
girl. Table first class.
For those who cannot pay these prices
would recommend the Girls Endeavor clut
house, No. 278 West Fourth street. TIL,
house is plainly but comfortably furnished
clean and well kept. Single rooms, So pei
week; double rooms 81; fire, gas, the use Of
the kitchen and all its utensils included in thu
charge for lodging. The girls buy and cool
their OWL food, and thereby avoid paying fol-
meals they do not eat, a great saving fol
those who are obliged to be absent from homt
all day. Say they are studying at the ar,
school in the Cooper Union. In tho top o.
that building there is a lunch room, where, fol
only twenty cents q week, hot chocolate anG
milk, tea and coffee are supplied to the pupils
, who are allowed to bring the solid part o
: their lunch with them. In the Girls clul
: house various trades are taught for a nomlna
price. This winter they have a class Il
artificial flower making, q trade that som
years ago furnished employment to number
Of girls in all the large cities Of the Unitet
States.
In all these aHousesn musical and literar,
entertainments are provided in the evening
, to make the time pass agreeably and protita
] bly,. Almost every lind Of working womel
a will be found sheltered within these walls
from the art pupil to the seamstress. Thos,
intending to be n working women ar
lis, while the future followers Of the highe
professions, such as medicine and art, com
3 from the different states, and, having con,
pleted their course OF studies, they generall,
scatter to their homes. A recent girl gradu
ate from the Cooper Union has established
thriving "Woman's Exchange" in Toledo, O
!. Another girl from Ohio teaches o large paint
ing class there. Another girl graduate is a,
engrayer in Connecticut and earns $500
year.
While learning these professions and trades
n many Of the girls earn enough by practisin
them In their leisure moments to clothe them
selves.
There are scores of other places than thos
. named where working women can get boar
Tor . small sum-, such as the Primrose Home
, on Thirty-third street, near Eighth avenue
but as cases Of charity are admitted ] hAv
passed them by, combining myself strictly to
. description of those homes where the workin
girl starts in life exactly as she means to cor
tinue, in no jot an object Of charity, but sell
supporting n independent.
CELIA LOGAN.