Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-02-04
FOR WORKING GIRLS.
THEIR CLUBS HELP YOUNG WOMEN
TO IMPROVE THEIR LOT.


ing Girls" Societies Arc Built-Or-
CARNATIONS That Have Done n Great
Deal to Make Women Independent.
Miss Grace Fl. Dodge, who first thou ght
,f the Working Girls club, and who has 50
tealously and helpfuly lent her cooperar
ton from the beginning, has kindly con.
scented to state the aims and endeavors Of
the members and does so in these words;
First-Consider just what a club is, name
ly, an organization formed among busy
women and girls to secure by cooperation
means of self improvement, opportunities
for social Intercourse and the Development
of higher, nobler aims. Second That it is
governed by the members for the members.
Thrd-That it strives to be self supporting.
1t is not a charitable society. 1t ia CO.
operative rather than q phiianthrOpic or
ganization. Methods that are usually
adopted to start charitable and philanthrop-
ic movements cannot he carried out when
a Working Girls' clu Is planned.
A neighborhood or city club of either
men or women, is started by few who uc-
eide that the establishment of such a club
would be desirable for social or literary
reasons. Then others are consulted, con
stitutions and bylaws adopted, a committee
on rooms or location appointed, and their
report acted upon by the club. Other COM
mittees follow on furnishing house rules,
finances, etc, all the members of the COM
mittees being chosen from among those
who are toutilize or have part in the house.
rooms or meetings.. Zee and dues are
voted upon md other club affairs system
atized.
If the house or rooms are to be bought,
built or leased capital must often be OBJ
fo;y n,,1 10 on, int,
raised among the members. Those with
large incomes feel it privilege to give
more than the Others, who perhaps give
time, talent or effort worth more than the
money. Outsiders are not admitted to
these deliberations, but after the club is
located, rooms furnished and all in run
ming order reception is held when each
club member is privileged to invite given
number OF guests, and from these new
members are obtained and fresh interest
aroused.
HOW A CLUB IS STARTED.
A similar plan is followed in starting a
Working Girls society or club, if it is in
tended to be founded upon the principles of
cooperation, self government and self sup
port. Working girls cannot be forced into
club organized in their interests any
more than any other people can be driven
into social club. They wish to know
their proposed leaders, and here friendship
must be at the root Of the matter To
guard against the apringing up OF cliques
it is well to have the early members repre-
seut different occupations. Women Of
leisure, teachers saleswou4cu, clerks, stem
ographers dressmakers and mill and fac
tory employees--if at the start there is q
mingling of these each will bring in
friends, and a sisterhood Of women will be
the result, all interested in mutual aims
but coming from different surroundings.
The importance Of impressing on mem ber5
their Individual responsibility to the club
cannot be too strongly urged
In Europe working girls club could
not be started because the principles Of or
ganization are not compromised as yet.
In this country organization is understood
because wage earning women breathe tho
air of self government. The class of girls
that come into the clubs are women who
are accustomed to join other forms Of orr
ganization, such rs benefit societies, lodges,
etc. There are in this city an enormous
j number OF wage earning women, perAa IS
. 10000 or 10000, who belong to the wome,t's
branches Of the Freemasous' organizatiC,s
and other societies, and in these they have
already learned something about the berc-
: fits of associations
The clubs are giving to girls an oppor-
J tunity, and are doing for one class what
Sorosis, the Woman's Press club, the
Wednesday Afternoon club, etc, are doing
for Others People say, why do you give
it the name of the Working Girls club?'
We want to dignity the name of working
girl"
SOME OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.
The public should know what intelligent
and enlightened girls belong to our clubs
There is the other side" however. Labor
Al 60.
because you are making working girls
satisfied with their lot" but is there any
thing to regret in that?
When people say we do not touch the
class of girls that most need help | feel
quarrelsome. Where are they? We have
girls belonging to our clubs who earn but
s. a week, girls who work for sweaters"
and who do the humblest kind of factory
, work, and yet we are told we do not reach
, the really poor girl. | received miserable
anonymous letter two or three days ago.
asking why we do not devote our money
to better purposes than TO New Years
parties at the Madison Square garden.
People talk of things they know nothing
about. The club girls know the secret Of
the New Years party expenditures, and If
they are satisfied everybody else should be-
The principles of our movement are pepe-
trating everywhere, and can any one say
that the results are not good?
am asked by what right | am mem.
Der OF the Working Girls club, and why
Mrs, Richard Irwin and others are admit
ted. The club girls settled that question
themselves one evening at a discussion. 1t
was decided that Mrs. Richard Irwin and
others were working women, but they
might be said to be working with money,
not for money. II is not n question of dol
lars and cents, or of the kind of work. Ono
member may be just as busy keeping house
for her mother as another girl is in n shop,
and it was thoroughly agreed that both
have an equal right of membership. As a
matter of fact have no more voice in tho
Thirty-eighth Street club than the young
est cash girl.-New York Tribune.
Women of Chilli.
Chill lis the womans Utopia. 1t isthe only
country in the world in which women are
possessed of full political rights. Every