Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-05-04
WOMAN AND HOME.
ADVICE 70 COUNTRY GIRLS WHO
SEEK THE CITY.

How to Keep u MISUNDERSTANDING
Terribly Irrevocable-lInnging Lamp
Women Growing Larger-Care of Babies.
Dish Toweis-Household Hints.
To the strtng and healthy country maiden
who seeks not only self support, but greater
excitement, every large city, with its wealth
of trade and glittering show seems mine
ready to yield its rich ore. All kinds of girls
steady, earnest workers and giddy, thought
les and dissatisfied village belles-throng the
railway and steamboat stations, utterly mex
perienced, often nearly pennless. alone and
strangers What do they mean to doi Uni
versally the answer is, Get work." as if it
were to be had for the first asking. TO OBJ
tain board "neaI by" or to "work for board"
seems to their simple experience very easy to
manage. But what are the factsf Arriving
in the hurried, rushing crowd no one meets
them, no one notices the bewidered, fright
ened amazement at SO many people, no one
directs TO the safe shelter of some y Dung
Womens Christian association or lodging
house. All, yesl here are one or two to
notice, this policeman or this hackman, with
the badge of authority on his cap comes
politely to the comely maiden and offers to
show her a respectable boarding house, kept
by kind landady, at very cheap prices.
And the unsuspectinS girl gratefully accom-
panies her guide, admiring the wonderful
machinery of a great government, to-a
house worse than death, from which she can
never so out pure, honest woman. And
the hackman or policeman pockets 5000 for
his half hours trouble.
This is painfully, terribly true So true,
that Christian women, slowly waking to the
Il nj box 10; ,,f
position. In Boston, the Young Travellers
Aid society provides for the distribution, on
incoming trains and steamboats,, of printed
slip bearing the words: important Notice
to Women" telling of the lodging houses on
Berkeley and Warrenton streets, connected
with the Young Women's Christian associa-
ton, warning the travellers to beware of in
formation received from unreliable sources"
And to find at the wharf lady authorized
to give information, wearing Il blue badge
marked Boston Nj. G. A"
Every night these workers return with
girls who otherwise would have nowhere to
60 Think of the riskl Better than all will
1t be, when farmers daughters and village
girls will stay in their own safe homes, in
stead of venturing into the abyss of city
filth. which. even under favorable surround
ings, is miserable struggle for daily bread
The competition is already so great that
for every opening there are dozens of appli-
cations. The wages are SO low that women
who can keep from starving outright, never
theess lose health and courage. If, after a
steady grind, the young girl longs for rec
reation and fun, where can she find it. I'm
less she is happy enough to belong to Miss
lodges clubs, the Young Womens Chris
tian association or some hearty social church,
she must leave her cramped, cold bedroom to
find her companions Oh the street or in the
dance hall. And such companions! Not the
steady industrious men, for they will not be
found there, but those only whose pleasure it
will lie to lure her from the virtue which has
been her only protection. ls this lifes Is
this the excitement and freedom you long
for country friendsi Oh, stay at home where
your individuality is not lost, where your
health and youth can be kept for many year:
and where love surrounds you. The work is
harder in the city, the love is wanting, and
youth and beauty fly from tired, weary
faces. Stay at homei-W oman.