Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-16
FOR REDUCED LADIES
Olive Logan Tells Of the English
Homes for Working Women.
PALACES FOR A QUEER CLASS
Of Aristocratic Females With Whom Death
Plays Odd Tricks.
MEN MAY BE HOMED In LIKE MANNER


'What sort of project is this anyway"
was asked on all sides. eff it is charity,
why demand payment? If it is mere ho-
tel speculation like any other, why call it a
philanthropic coneern?" No class of critics
were more active in its denunciation of the
new house than the very women for whose
use it was erected. With unanimous voice,
by communications to the newspapers, con-
versations in the streets and conveyances,
and every other mode of expression open to
them, the poor working women of New
York gave the rich merchant, or his execu-
tors, to understand that they rejected with
indignation this action for their benefit,
which in their opinion was errone-
ously so-called. The very fact
that the home was known as a
charitable affair initiated against its
success with proud American women who
labor hard for living, and the various re-
strictions of liberty, such as being obliged
to enter before a certain hour at night, to
keep no birds, dogs or other domestic pets.
were looked upon as rules OF intolerable
severity, only to be paralleled within the
precincts of a jail. When feeling runs so
strongly as this against an enterprise, col
lapse is inevitable. The building is now
known as the Park Hotel, and as such be-
lieve it fulfills its allotted mission of paying
satisfactory returns to the landlord and pro-
prietor. But it is no longer home for
women exclusively, and probably never will
be again.
That the Stewart idea is a novelty is
proved by the fact that a London magazine
of high standing accepted and published an
article from my pen about the time of the
opening of the home, in which the project
was explained and its probable benefcent
result expatiated upon. I imagine, speak
ing as from a mere impression, that the
cause of the non-success of the enterprise
was to be found in the circumstance of pay
ment being demanded bya millionaire, as
we'll as gratitude for his charity-two things
which are incompatible to minds which are
devoid Of much erudition in financial
affairs.
ENGLAND'S CARE OF WOMEN.
The Louise Home in Washington, in
which certain number of destitute ladies
are most tenderly cared for from admission
to death, without the dlsbursal of single
penny by themselves or their relatives, ahl
that indeed is what one looks for as largesse
to poor womankind from the hands of a
manifold millionaire. On the other hand
there are scores of cheap boarding houses
in every large American city where girls
can have the traditional "hash" and some
sort of roosting place, and where, though
uncomfortably lodged, they are as free to go
and come as the habitue of the parlor floor
of the grandest of grand hotels. No bene-
faction will be received with gratitude by
young America" which is trammeled
with restrictions on American independence.
To catalogue but small portion of the in
stitutions a.in England, where suffering
women in sickness or in poverty, or afflicted
with both evils, can be received at moderate
prices or without payment of any kind,
would cover the allotted limit of newspaper
article with a mere record of names. A
directory of some 700 pages is published
yearly, being reference book to these insti-
tutions and nothing else. Large public
hospitals, supported by voluntary contribu-
tions, are England's pride; many of these
are devoted solely to the treatment of women.
Outside of these great establishments there
are scores of private institutions, which are
kept up by private individuals for reasons
of their own. What are those reasons?
Well, in many cases they may be found in
the fact that the benefactor has deep loye
of mankind, is sincerely anxious to relieve
those to whom fate has not been so generous as
to himself; in others social ambition adds
the spur to action. A baronetcy or a
knighthood lies ever in waiting for the
British subject who shall buy it with the
thousands necessary to fund and endow
charitable institution of importance, and
though ladies are rarely ennobled for their
munifcence, (the Baroness Burdett Coutts
was made a Peeress for this reason, how
ever,) still Mrs Madre with her Creche,
Mrs. Onguont, with her hospital for poor
women OF the Lazarus type, and others, are
certainly more prominent socially because
OF their charity than they would be without
it. Yet glancing over the pages of the
reference book have named, feel half
ashamed to repeat the cynical gossip of this
kind which one hears in the drawing rooms
of idle men and women. The destitution in
England is frIghtluI, but see what heroic
efforts are made to relieve it. In a remark
able variety Of forms, charity is at work to
alleviate the pains of indulgence.
MODES OF RELIEF NUMEROUS.
Leaving entirely aside benefactions show
cred on the pauper class, the modes in
which relief is afforded ladies of small
means are numerous. There are several
charitable homes which are open to ladies
who possess small incomes of from S100 to
$3.50 per year. This sum is supposed to be
sufficient to buy food and clothing, house
rent, devoid of any taxes, attendance, etc,
free. am acquainted with lady who en-
joys the Huggens charity. A large-hearted
benefactor of her race named Huggens-
nothing very aristocratic about that-lett
bequest with which "Huggens College"
was founded. By this charity 30 ladies
and gentlemen, over 60, who possess incomes
of not more than 500 per year are given,
each one Of them, cottage, and other $3.50
year to keep it up. Those we'll cared-for
people are independent, safe from
storm or stress until death, can en-
pIoy a servant and live, though modest
ly. exactly as ladies and gentlemen should.
The estate is in the loveliest part of Kent,
only an hour from London, and still nearer
the empress Of watering places, Brighton.
There is such an abundance of capital in
England that an opportunity to obtain for
its use more than 2 per cent in any safe un-
dertaking is eagerly sought. A company
has been formed that lends money to set up
women in business, and in the last two years,
enormous sums have been invested by large
capitalists in the erection of residential
homes for the accommodation of ladies ex-
clusively. 1t has been found that with 12
inmates the board of all concerned can be
made self-supporting, and with 20, the rates,
taxes, firing and some part OF the rent can
be recovered. 1t therefore logically follows
that to show profit all that there is to be
done is to increase the number OF patrons. A
percentage on capital OF 3 per cent is conf
IDENTIFY expected.
LONDON RESIDENTIAL HOMES.
Two palatial "homes'' have SO far been
the outcome OF this movement, and others
are in course of erection. These resid ences
are built as substantially and furnished as