St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-03
FOR FALLEN women.
There Is Small Provision
Made for Them in the
Sanity City.
One Home for Them, Where a
Limited Number Are
Cared For.
pathntin Stories Which the
Pathetic Stories Which the
MatPon Tells of Some of
Her Family"
Instances Where the Unfor-
Inmates Have Been Led to
Virtuous Lives.

If the worth of any special charity is
proportioned to the need its object has
of aid and sympathy, that which pro-
vides for fallen women is by all odds the
most worthy. Orphans are cried over,
widows are sighed over, and widowers
fought over the world through; but the
woman who goes astray is found in the
gutter, only lifted up occasionally by
some piOuS refOrmer to point moral
and adOrn tale. There is no other class
of unfortunates that receives as small
part of the practical phllanthrpy OF the
day. Right here in st. Paul is evidence
of the fact. There are five hospitals
that offer refuge to the sick: there are
two orphan aSylumS, Catholic and Prot
eStant, that provide ample accommoda-
tiOns and support for the fatherleSS;
there is the Home for the Aged and In
firm. where the inimitable management
of the Little Sisters of the Poor secures
comfort and happiness for old peO-
pie; there is the House of
the Good Shepherd that accepts the be-
trayed woman after the birth OF her
child. deposits the child i'll the orphan
asylum and affords the mother the priv
iIege of performing lifelong penance;
and there is the Home for the Friend
less that extends temporary protection
indiScriminately to all classes of unfor-
Inmates. There is not so much as a
lying-in hospital in the city. and only
one institution where an erring woman
NAV retreat prior to the birth of her
child and during the worst period of
her affiiction enjoy the comforts of a
home. This Institution is the WOman'S
Christian home, and when it is cOnSld-
cred that this has accommodations for
mot than thirfnpn at
time, and when the large number of
miSerableS who continually have need
of such a retreat is remembered, the lot
of Vagrant dogs becomes hopeful by
comparison.
The WOman's Christian home dates
its origin back seventeen years, and for
the past four years has occupied its
present quarters on the corner OF John
and OlmSted streets. Its aim is charit-
able as well as refOrmatiVe, and if the
welfare of the many 5e diSregarded for
the benefit of the few
ITS LIMITED QUARTERS
are in its favor. With thirteen inmates,
it retains characteristics of the home
which larger institution loses. 1.-The
girls as the matron speaks of them, are
members of one family, and the methods
of reform employed are the gentle, in
dividualiZed means parent might
adopt towards a child. The matrOn,
Mrs. X. NJ. Rogers, is a mother under
whose influence any girl may count it a
blessing to be placed. She is a Chris
tan who makes unbelief ashamed of it
self and doubt wonder why it ever was
born. Her beautiful patient face, framed
in silvery hair, is an inspiration,
and her very presence breathes a
benediction on the uneasy soul.
She is the rare woman whom
other women inStinctively love, and her
experience would doubtless tally with
that of the fascinating Rev. Arthur Dim
meSdale, whose fair devOteeS WOrShiped
God through their devotion to him.
Hayward women becoming attached to
her would reform, not so much for the
love of Christ as for the love OF her.
Mr.. Rogers has been matron of the
home for eight years. She receives
only such women as announces their
desire to lead better lives. None can
enter the home for less time than six
months, and if at the expiration of that
period their reform is uncertain, they
are persuaded to remain longer. Dur
ing the first three months they are not
permitted to leave the house, save when
accompanied by Mrs. Rogers or some
one she can trust, and to see friends
only in her presence. 1t is her earnest
endeavor to make Christians of the
girls, and to familiariZe them with the
Bible; and to accomplish her end, she
has family prayer night and morning.
and she requires each one to learn a
verse from Scripture every day. Those
whose appearance Will permit she takes
to church with her on Sunday. She
eats at the same table with them, and
by holding herself alOof from them
in no particular, strives to reinstate in
them their lost Self-reSpect, and to cor
rect the belief common to them that no.
body OH earth cares for them. or is inter-
eSted whether they live or die. A laun-
dry is connected with the home, where
the women, as they are able, work.
They receive half of what they make,
the other half going to sustain the inSti-
tuition, which in addition to this has
only the support of voluntary cOntribu-
tons.
From what class of persons do your
girls come mainly?" was asked of Mrs.
Rogers.
From the working class. 1t is horri-
BILE the dangers that beSet poor girl
who enters this town to earn her living.
A new face is recognized. and traps are
laid for her on every side. Under pre-
tense of giving her work at good wages.
she is lured into disreputable house,
and that generally is the end of her.
She feels that she has lost her place in
respectable society forever, and makes
no effort to regain it. We have a great
many women clerks who come to
us in trouble. Their temptations
are Numerous and strong A print
ing Office, too, is bad
place for girls. We have now and then
very intelligent woman-a school
teacher, perhaps, or a cashier. Such a
one always falls through her affections.
She permits man to assume absolute
control of her body and soul and is pow
erleSS to escape him until he deserts
her."
"Then is she not likely to go back to
him when her trouble is over?"
''No; as rule, after her child is born
and she realizes all the misery he has
put upon her, she is filled with resent
ment towards him. | often have great
difficulty in restraining her from taking
revenge upon him."
but she will not refuse to be married
10 him, will she?''
Indeed she will, in some instances.
There is girl in the home now who
was cruelty deserted by the man who
had wronged her under promise of mar
riage. When he learned that she was
In trouble he ran away to California.
We heard the other day that he was
back in the city, and it was told to us
that he had announced his willingness
to make her his wife. l urged the girl
10 accept him. Marry him. she said;
| wouldn't marry him now if he were
the last man on earth and had to die