Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-11-13
GIRLS HOLIDAY HOUSE.
For the Benefit of the Overworked Girls of
New York.

Onota farm is the midst of the beautiful
Berkshire country. Situated on rising
ground, mile or so from Pittstield,
Mass, it overIooks the town which
nestled among the wooded hills Not far
distant are the broad waters of Onota lake,
from which the farm takes its name. Far
away in the north is stately Grey ock
mountain, looming up some tins in pale
blue dl,tincinesS against the heavens,
metimes cloud capped and misty in the
gray atmosphere. The unduIating
meadows of the farm sweep away toward
the hills, over which the lights and
shadows make an everchanging picture.
The Housatonic river gil les in its wind
ing, rlbbon-iko way through the fields
near by, rejecting on its clear surface
many scene of beauty.
ltls here at Oaota farm that party of
euteIprislnQ young women have tabIish'
e. a vacation house for the working girls
e New York A lecture last winter at
Pittsheld b, Miss Grace Dodge caused a
ciuO for working giIls TO be started in
that town, and this lecture also sowed the
seed in the practical mind of a lady who
was present from which the new holiday
house has teen developed. Talking over
the matter during the winter with friends
who had the same taste for country life as
herself, she carried out her plan in the
spring; and, with these three friends
Ouota farm, with its commodiOus house
and great barns and buildings, was
rented.
Having taste for farming and a knowI-
edge OF the management of such work,
'heSe friends determined to combine with
1t scheme OF advantage to working girls,
whose board, it was believed would pay
the running expenses of the house, vege-
tables, milk and eggs being supplied by
the farm. Arrangements we're made with
the Vacation socIety of tie Thirty.eight
street club of New York to have from 10
to II girls each week at the farm. The
month of May was busy one for those
undertaking the scheme. Every energy
was taxed to get the house ready for the
reception of the girls. Additional furui-
mre was put in, hrors were stained, and
the house was nut in thorough order.
Soon it was decided to purchase the prop
est IN the working girls clubs Of New
York-and Miss Florence Learned bought
the farm
June, July and August were the months
when the girls were received. From 10
to II gnls at q time were accommodated,
each one remaining from two to four
weeks as her health rtqlired, thcEprlce
for each being $3.50 week, paid by the
the vacation society to which each girl
contributed her share. In this way about
so gul- have had rest and pleasant
holiday IN the mountains. Single beds
three and sometimes four in the larger
rooms duriu- the more crowded weeks
have been uulz d. The girls were rcqulr-
ed to take care of their rooms and leave
Tia, m Ia perfect order, while matron and
two house servants ooked after the other
work If the establishments Miss learned,
Miss Cnul hill, aud the Misses Willard
aave exerted items Ives in every way Ia
make their enterprise success. Living IN
the house, their constant presence among
the worku 2 girls has marked I'll ct,
and the II fiuenCe of home lite has
made itself felt in this pleasant inter
course.
The vacation society sent working girls
from the large s ops Of New York, such as
Atman's. S ern's. Macy, ;. Enrlch.s and
Rlthschid's. One young woman who &c,
cupics the position OF a cashier al one Of
these establishments, came up, tired cut
mentally and physically from the strain Of
averwork in a poorly ventilated part OF the
shop where the lnterse glare of an electric
light brought W ariness to brain anc
nerves. She had been ena lied TO gain the
rest and strength so greatly needed, and tC