St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-03
WoMAN's WORK.

Judging, at least from what is done
in this city in the way of charity, one
is inclined to the opinion that women
than men. They seem to possess
more practical knowledge of the needs
of charity, and have more effective
way of reaching those who merit it.
This may be partially due to the fact
that women are of a more sympathetic
nature than men. and are most apt to
act under the inspiration of good lnl-
pulse. But aside from these traits
women exhibit peculiar finesse in Or
ganizlng and arranging the details OF
charitable work that men seem to be III
capable of. We have had occasion here
tofore to speak of the good results OF
the Women's Business exchange, OF the
and of the various organizations I'M
der the di ection of the Sisters; and
tits now our pleasure to see the w omen S
Gospel Temperance union added to the
list of organizations who are seeking
the elevation of womankind. 1t Is
singular that in the past most OF the
work of charity has been directed to the
relief and redemption of INDECENT and
downfallen men, while suffering women
and fallen women have been measure
bly, overlooked. The charity OF to-day
is of more catholic spirit, and brings
all humanity. regardless of sex, within
the scope OF its beneficence.
alone of putting bread into the mouths
of the starving, OF clothes on the backs
of the naked, although that form OF it
takes precedence over all others. Yet
there are many other ways OF winning
the smiles of heaven in doing good
deeds. Anything and everything that
lightens the burthens of life or admits
Array of cheer and comfort into the
heart of human being is charity, and it
is in this blessed form that much of the
work of the various women's organiza-
tons in this city is now being done.
For example, the W. G. L. U. recently
decided to open their parlorS to the
working girls of the city. Shop girls
and factory girls have all been invited
to use the parlors at the noon hour for
a lunch room and during the evenings
for social entertainment. Coffee, and
good coffee at that, is served by ladies
of the union to the girls at the low price
of one penny cup. There is prac-
tical form of charity in this arrange
ment, no less unique than meritorious,
and is appreciated by none more than
the underpaid, overworked girls who
stand behind the counter OF bend over
their needleWOrk all the long, dreary
day.
Only those who are familiar with the
privations and hardships that the great
majority of working girls undergo can
really understand what precious boon
it is to be the recipient Of little chart
ty like that of which we are speaking.
1t falls as gratefully upon their young
hearts as the warm sunshine when it is
permitted to fall upon the tender plant
that has sprung up in some dark re-
cess. Most of these girls work on
salary ranging from S1.50 to $3.50 a
week. Many of them are on their feet
all day; others sit in one position all
day, all of them shut out from the sun
light, often in rooms sitting with bad
air, where it is work and drudge, and
nothing else. In the coziness of
those little parlors where these
poor girls assemble for the noon
day lunch, or the evenings So
cial enjoyment, they get glimpse
of chaprinpSS and a taste of comfort
which had only been known to them in
Imagination, and the possession of
which had seemed to be beyond their
hope. Moreover, the poor, toiling moth
ers at home have no uneasiness about
their girls when they know they enjoy
such pure environments when out of
their sight.
Charity like this counts, because it is
not spasmodic. 1t flows On In contin-
uous stream, elevating and purifying as
it courses its even way.