The evening world., 1891-04-16


for 10 cents, which included bar OF soap.
Last year the receipts only amounted to
about SIC. These poor women are not
overburdened with clothes, hence tho
scantiness Of their wash.
1t would be very sad indeed II these
women were so unkind to one another as
the world is TO them. Somehow they can tell
when one Of their number is in trouble. and
times are bad and the future is dark indeed
when they do not get together and help
little. Repeatedly purses are opened TO
pay for bed, and at breakfast the impe-
cunious lodger just goes to the table and
partnkes OF the sips and bites that her
friends contribute so gayly and willingly.
Just now one OF the inmates is young
widow. She buried her husband several
months ago and has not felt strong enough
since TO go TO work. The t75 left from the
benevolent fund after the funeral expenses
has enabled her to live at the Home as
comfortably and serenely as Vanderbiits
widow. To pass the time away and dis
tract her thoughts she looks after
the comfort Of her associates. II
any ono is Ill during the night she gets hot
poultices, hot waiter bottles and hot drinks
tor the sufferer. She reads the papers and
picks out wants : that may suit the unem-
ployCd. She minds the young children
when the mothers arc away looking for
work, and che advances small loans, sews
on buttons and repairs old garments.
Another strange little creature is a widow
named Mary, sixty years Of ago, who
comes and goes like the birds, always man
aging In some way 10 ray her own
way. She knits lace and sells It by
the yard to any one who admires It.
During the warm, sunny days, Winter
and Summer, she sits in Stuyvesant Square
and knits away for dear life. According to
her own statement tho square is q good
place to sell lace. Last year she sold sew
eral hundred yards at 85 cents each. The
poor old creature often sits up till mid
night, when business is brisk, In order to
have at least yard length on her needles
when tho ladies goes by"
Some droll experiences are told by the
Matron In her relation with the girls. They
VIII Bes out VI WoEkt anu hhNiuR ho
friends will come to the Home when
put out of their boarding houses.
Until employment can be found the
Matron will have to trust them for
board and lodging. The pay while not
soon in all instances is sure in
every case. Sometimes delinquent will
call and pay up two years from the date Of
leaving the Home The bad debts. all told,
will not exceed SO for the entire seven
years the house has been open. That the
debtors are not ungrateiul is shown by the
number of people who come to the Home
| on their recommendation.
Now and then a whole family will
apply for admis sion. The wife and children
taken in, the woman will invariably plead
| for tho husband; but without avail.
A great many strangers frequent the
place, but any clean, orderly woman,
whether a resident OF the city or not, is
always received and allowed to remain as
| long as she cares to. Seamstresses, nurses,
shopgirls domestics and general workers
predominant I; occasionally teacher, gov
erness, artist and stenographer gets
stranded and gladly avails herself of the
shelter OF the Home. That 1t accom-
plshes good work goes without saying.
1t is better than any refuge; it is not only
cheaper but freer than any Of the so-called
women's Christian boarding houses, and 1t
is accessible to class Of poor, honest,
simple-minded wage learners who would be
repulsed at the door c: more aristocratic
| institution.
The Temporary Home is worthy Of sup
port. II Is an institution for the lowly and
lonely. 1t has need OF the encouragement
the wel-todo women of the community can
extend. Household furniture, bedding,
blankets, books, reading matter and bits
of beauty In the shape of tableware and
decorative articles would increase the com.
forts of the place. make it little more like
a permanent home and have a wonderfully
cheering effect upon Its 600 annual
visitors. NELL NELSON.