The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-01-25
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
MATCHMAKING WOMEN.
The Social Standing of the Woman VINO
Goes Out Into the World and Labors Tor

man has been discussed with less
knowledge and more sentiment than
their homelessness. No word-picture
has been painted with more ferVor tnan
that of the wage-earning woman re-
turning after hard day 3 work IN some
shop or factory to the comfortiess nan
room, hot to suffocation In summer
cold to freezing in winter. There are
tender-hearted women who never slt
down in the light of the evening lamp
in comfort because they picture the
working girl, tired and cold. compelled
to sit the long evening in DARRELL
cold, uncomfortable room. The cry
has been for years, Homes for the |
working women! where they can get |
the comforts of life at price within |
their means" A generous response
comes to this cry, and number OF
| these institutions, called homes, exist
They meet with more or less success.
Even their projectors have to ADMIT
that they do not reach the class OF wo-
men for whom they were intended
| What are the reasons? There are TOO
MANY for this discussion; one only Will
be stated.
In the city of New York, from most
carefully prepared statistics 1t mas
been found that eighty-five per cent OF
the wage earning women live IN their
own homes, or with relatives-one or
both parents, married brothers or SIS
tiers, aunts, uncles or cousins lou
NAV exclaim as to the kind OF home,
but it is a home to them; some one they
love is in it, some one who loves them
is in it; some one who cares for them,
and for their affairs. So the need OF
institutions as homes for wage-earnlng
women is as eighty-five to fifteen per
cent Is there no need for these homesE
Certainly; just as long as the fifteen
per cent. are homeless. You surely
will admit, however, in the hgnt OF
these facts, that the greatest need OF
the wage-earning women as a class is
not the founding of institutions as
homes for them.
What is their need? That education
.. and influence which will change the
conditions in the majority OF their
| homes. That education and influence
: which will make the great majority OF
the whole value clean surroundings
LIGHT and sunshine above seal-plush,
silk and Jet trimming. That education
t which will make them know the laws OF
. sanitation and hygiene; that influence
which will make them respect these
laws.
That education which will teach
f them that ignorance is a sin If there Is
9 opportunity to remove it. That intiu
ence which will be to them a revelation
into an unknown world of simple l1v
. ING and high thinking. That example
which will show them the true relation
O between husband and wife, revealing
= the divinity in that relation, point t.
8 God as it's author The opening t.
them of opportunity for education il
q books, in art, in music. Education tina
will open the world Of nature to them
N Education that will teach them thei
$ relation to the nations growth.
- You may have tried to reach som
d lives by giving opportunities, but the
n have not been used. The fault is /
81 YOUR methods. Wage-earning wome
are not to be treated as charity student
IN forced to take an interest in that whic
VS. does not appeal to them.
as Make yourself the center of friendl
al circle, and let the wants of that circl
IN find expression. Seek to meet tn;
or want even if it is not in harmony wit
bo your pet theory. II you work to
e. good, you must learn to surrender you
as finest theories before practical fact
er- You must remember that the wage-ear
Ell ing woman who possesses the gift
growth will not accept even her plea
nd ures as charity; she must give not on
ear of her brain but of her purse to accor
'he plish any end that looks to her benef
49, she must bear her share of responl
lie bility for every possible good.
Of The men and women who are benef
ing the world to-day are those who a
of seeking TO elevate the wage-earner
tue his home. The money most wisely c
20 pended is that invested in buildin
,is- making safety, light, air, abundance
the clear water possible in the wage-eal
ers' home The women doing most
un- their day and generation are those W
''' are concentrating their efforts on
lied home and its surroundings The VIC
rty. which is telling most on the masses
j at that which teaches the women a
;ide children to make home the dearest 81
~ on earth, the shrine in which Goo
,ota found if peace and purity are fou
there.
,sed This work must be non-sectari
eter We can not afford, If we are to Am
was icanize those who have come to
w.s among us-we can not afford to n
cle- one of this great body who form
the large part of our national life
he The churches can not do this wo
Inc they have special part 1t can not
s-cs done by organizations; their field ,
II. L 4 t = -