The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-20
TWAS LADIES' NIGHT.


CO-OPeTntion of Women in Penal and
Charitable Institutions.
The ladies held the floor Saturday night, the
topic assigned being directly ooncerning
them. Itwas not the FIRST opportunity they have
had, hover. in holding the floor. Miss Adele
Walliek furnished the musical number on the
program after Paul Bahr played the organ pre-.
lude- Mrs. Virginia L. Smith of Connecticut
presented the report of the committee on 'co-
operation Of women in the management Of
charitable, reformatory and penal institutions"
in the absence Of Miss Clara Barton, the chair
man.
Her report was in substance as follows:
The chairman of this committee, Clara Bar.
ton. M many a suffering soldier could testify.
is a living embodiment of women's cooperative
charity. Her personal experiences prove her
special qualifications TO present this subject
The subject belongs TO her literally by right OF
conquest. But, she is absolutely unable to
take an active part either In the presentation
of facts or in the advocacy OF the question, |
proceed TO give, as best / may, the report of
the committee and the paper embodying this
theme in one.
The cooperation of women in charitable
work seems in itself a natural arrangement; so
much so. that at first blush one hardly admits
the necessity of its discussion. II is un-
doubtedly the true and proper method by
which to work, and charities organized with
such cooperation have derived a quality and
power I'M possible TO have been gained in any
other way. The plan is not a novel one. nor
the work so much of an experiment many
imagine. The ages OF cumulative business ex-
perience which men inherit, together with the
practical business education which they re-
ceive, guarantees their fitness for
public life. Women have not similar in
heritances neither have they in great num-
bers received the practical education which
fits them in some degree for public life, and
for those reasons they cannot be at the start as
thorough and consistent workers as men. But,
in so far as they are permitted education, they
are preparing 10 be as thorough aud persistent
workers as their brothers. With the oppor-
tunities now existing n generation of women
workers is near at hand who will be equal to
all necessary undertakings and enterprises.
That unique and unhesitating cooperation
existed in honest and homely fashion in primi-
tive times, and before women we're admitted TO
be at all the equals of men. or permitted any ex
cept the most meager privileges Of education, is
evidenced by the private journal Of a cody
woman, bearing dates, 1775, 1916, III, from
which, by right of Inheritance, make the fol-
lowing extracts:
Town of Windsor. Conn.
aye women of this tOwne belonging to ye
church of God do now bring ye young boys in
to parish meetings on week nights in their
dwellings to teach unto them manners and
other dutiful behavior when they shall enter
we pews of Gods house His most holy day.
This TO tend to save the distraction OF good
priest--when he is concerned in explaining
Tree grace or election points in the sermon,
which same points and heads do not seem to
be over edifying to the young. and also to help
Mr. Blank-the tithing mana cripple and
over much burdened with work, in trying to
preserve order in the back seats and the pews,
the reason for so much OF noise and whispering
being that nigh onto every able bodied
has gone to war aud so cannot keep silence and
humility in his own pew. We, the women OF
Widow g. and T., and those of other
women who are not widows who
are beset with work and chill.
dren. and beside (more's the PITY are sum-
mat slack, to patch their clothes and exc their
petticoals, 10 knit their mittens and stockings
and to spin fax. and Mt the end of the twelve
bees or spells do make them a feast in the
fall OF the year OF n sucking pig with pumpkin
pie and again in the spring with apple turn
over, custard and maple sugar. THIS is all for
courage and happiness to them. Any girl
whose marin 10 slack and not forehnnded in
faculty is much let down from privilege II not
instructed into gJodly Why's by ye women
whose service il may be to think of their fut-
ure and 10 be kind and patient in the helping
of them"
The Boston female asylum was an institution
for the care of orphan girls, established In the
first year of the century, and was the only one
until the St. Vincent orphan asylum in 1888. In
order that we might discuss where and how this
cooperation exists and what value il is thou ght
to possess, we have sought TO procure authentic
and especial information concerning the entire
question. and substantially to embody the re-
suits in this report Letters OF inquiry have