The evening world., 1891-04-16
Victims Of Poverty or Misfortune
Made Comfortable for a Time.
No Sect or Creed Recognized-AIl
Are Welcome.

Everything about II Is bare, poor and in
adequate. The place is clean, warm,
wholesome and respectable, but the
floors are partially covered with
cheap carpet, there Is an insuniciency
OF chairs, the bed coverings are of mid
summer weight, there ure no pictures on
the walls and only few papers and maya
zines on the library shelves but for all this
interior nakedness there is freedom about
the place that commends 1t to shipwrecked
and respondent women.
There are few or no rules to be broken.
There are no set questions requiring sworn
answers. The Matron is tender
hearted little woman who hasn't any
time to collect biographical sketches. and
doesn't care whether the applicant was
baptized, vaccinated, educated or married.
To nationality, history, religion and poll
tics she is equally Indifferent. The appli-
cant for nights lodging or weeks
board is ushercd into her private room,
where some such conversation as this en-
sues
You would like to remain in the Home
few OF days, 1 am told"
eyes"
"Well, tell mo your name, what your
business has been and what you expect to
do In New York, and we will try and take
care Of you"
Then comes tho old, sad story of want
and woe, OF suffering and distress, anxiety
and encouragement Of the unhappy
atr a
the street by degraded and unnatural hus-
band.
All that goes on the entry sheet is the
date OF application. name and occupation
with single remark suggested by the
circumstances. The girl may have been
sent from one OF the charity organizations.
she may have been recommended by u
former guest, or she may come from di-
rector. She may not have dime In her
pocket, but provided she was not
intoxicated or depraved In appear
ance she would be admitted and made
comfortable for tho night. While she re-
maincd In the Home she would not be
treated like an imbecilc, q criminal or q
mendicant. The doors are never locked.
Inmates are at liberty to come
and go when they like, and al
though given to understand that the
house is closed at 1890 O'Clock they are
never locked out. Even a so-called prowler
who rang tho boil at midnight and asked
for shelter would be admitted by the
mute doorkeeper. 1t is all well enough
for the virtuous and fortunate to
pirate and scoff at tho wisdom of this
kind Of freedom and indulgence, but hus-
bands and even mistresses have been known
to open the door and drive into the street
helpless women who have incurred their
dinpleasure. Religious regulations would
debar them from various institutions calcu.
lated 10 benefit tho forlorn and unhappy,
money would keep them from going
to public hotel, and In the alb
sence of friends choice would have
to be made between the police station and
the haunts of the vicious. The good
women who established the Home wer,
cognizant of all this when they left it:
management to the discretion of tn,
Matron.
|
the seventh annual report:
During the past year the beds have beer
rented II, pa times by adults, and occupied
by children 375 times.
Private rooms at s. per week rented
ITS times.
The beds rent at IS, 90 and 80 cents pc
a night.
Twenty-Five Thousand Eve hundred an,
. ten meals served In the restaurant at al
average Of 10 cents each.
Number of baths taken 2,04l.
a Number OF trunks stored ASA.
Number OF women attending Sunda
evening service ,2s4.
o Two facts are suggested from the above
Indifference to the bathtub and religion
exercise. Baths are furnished at one cen
each, which provides for hot or cold water
two towels and piece of soap, but of tn
ll.224 women and their S75 babies onl
2,O4l cared for scrubbing. Whether thi
= apathy was due TO poverty or aquatic avel
is sion could not DO ascertnined- Dread {
la grippe may have intimidated the III
l. washed 5000.
y y The Sunday evening prayers, which ar
a largely song services, are optional, those rt
ligiously inclined prcferring to go out I
,s church, unless detained by stormy weathe
IN The Home occupies No. 81 Second av,
v : nue., substantial iour story building, wher
an average of tiny women are housed dai!l
\. The upper floors contain the beds, whic
,s rent at fifteen, twenty and twenty-hS
u cents, according to the number in o room
six being the limit.
Private rooms are 30 cents each. On II
D. main floor are the parlors, one being r
served exclusively for the reception Of Wis
tors. II girls best fellow calls to see h
he is entertained here, and welcome to r
h. main until 10 o'clock. The other parlor col
tains long table, about which the girls &
D. and read or sew. There is always baby
y q little child In the house, on whom the 10y
and sympathy of the boarders IL layishod
70 The dining-room Is in the basement ar
ne the laundry is below. A girl orders wha
" ever she can afford. Sixteen cents will pI