New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-23
A FAIR AND HAPPY RETREAT
COSBY COTTAGES CROWDED WITH GIRLS
A PLACE WHERE THOSE WHO MOST NEED REST
CAN FIND IT--sIsrER CLARE AND HER WORK

A PLACE WHERE THOSE WHO MOST NEED REST
CAN FIND IT--sIsTER CLARE AND HER WORK.
On hot, dusty, summers day It would be hard TO
find n pleasanter walk than along Paisade-av In
Engewood, from the railroad station up over the
"mounainn to the river The avenue is sheltered
by trees and the natural and artificial beauty OF mo
scenery Is rest to who has Just come from
n crowded city. Tho further along one goes after
reaching the summit OF tho mountain tho scarcer
become the houses and 1t is rather surprising to see,
after having passed what would appear to be the last
house on tho skirts OF the town, two cottages
pceping through the trees the left a mile and a
half from the railroad station.
The cottages are shaded with trees and set back
somc distance from tho avenue facing little road
that leads of the avenue When the reporter passed
up the road to the cottages he surprised to
their stoops swarmlDg with girls big and littlc while
others swinging I'm hammocks near by. There
ycro too many for man to count. 10 was mo
"Convalcscent Home a summer homo for working
girls, women and children, maintained by the Ordcr
Of the Sisters of Peace. Last summer 1000 women,
girls and children spent their hart-earned vacations
at this homo and went away with strength and
courage.
The first cottage Is English In style and American
in hospitality. That is TO say, every nook and cor
is used In accommodating all tho girls and women
who can be packed into the building 1t is large,
airy cottage, and homo Hike look pervadcs the place
Tho sitting is fitted up with taste, and there Is
a piano. Upstairs cOscy bedrooms filed with
uttlc beds. Cots have to be added when there Is
rush. as was the case when the number of boarlcrs
ran I'D to about 80. Across the lawn and Joined to
the first cottage by covered walk is the cottage
where tho Sisters stay. This Is Swiss In style. inc
boarr.crs take their meals here, and some of them
lave rooms In the cottage with the Sisters. The
Mother SUP cror. the Mother General, as she Is
called Sister Clare, tho well known Nun Of Kcnmar,
lives In third cottage with other boardcr and Sis
tcrs, near by I'm the avenue.
This Will be the second year OF the Home, and the
GOOD It IS doing can scarcely be ovcrestlmatcd Tho
majority Of girls who camc here last year were SICK
The girls rest for two or three WEEKS perhaps Tor
a month. They breathe the purcst air, cat whole
some food and enjoy themselves every minute Of their
timo small charge is made for board, but no ono
is ever turned away. If girl cannot pay her board
during the summer the Sisters tell her TO pay when
she can Expenses werc not made last year, but the
work went right on, and ncxt month work will be
begun on building on the water front, which
will accommodate even more boarlers.
This practical institution Is carried by seven or
eight sisters Sister Clare came to this country from
Ireland where she had established several similar
homes three years ago. Tho majority of girls who
como to the Homo are shop girls They come from
the large establishments in NewYork and the esti-
nation in which the work Of the Home is held by
EMPLOYERS can be seen in tic fact that Macy, smp-
son. Crawford & Simpson, Enrich Brothers, Altman,
idey and Hcarn all contributed TO the furnishing Of
tho cottages.
How do the girls pass their fimc?' asked tho re-
porter OF of the Sisters. They simply rest and
enjoy themselves" tho reply. Many OF tho
girls who were here last year were consumptve They
come from May until September and stay two weeks,
month or a summer. III raise enough money
we want to make our building permanent home.
That will cost about $4,000"
The reporter watched some Of the girls at supper,
eating with returning appettcs; then no looked at
those on the lawn. Many Of them seemed tired
they had Just come from the shops Others were
swinging dreamily I'm hammocks, while some were
starting Tor a stroll TO the river. Music from piano
in the little sltiingroom added TO the enjoyment 81
the occasion. and II seemed as though tho cottage
was rightly named Paradise The Home IS non
scctarian-