The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-11-21
The GIRLS CLUB HOUSE
A News" f" Reporters Visit to the
Orms Street House.
CERTAINLY A MODEL CLUB.
Prominent Ladies' who Take an Interest
In the Club and Its workings-How
tho Home 10 Arranged-The Dispen-
sary and Gymnasium are Very Fine.

1t may not be generally known to those
who attended the opening Of the North
End Working Girls Club House, last
Tuesday, that this magnificent building
represents but one of vast series OF
similar institutions extending all over
the United States The idea originated
some years ago in resolution among
benevolent workers to establish system
Of club houses wherein working girls,
who's, incessant warfare with poverty de-
prives them of the priceless privileges OF
education and attractive surroundings,
may find a haven OF social entertainment
aud material INSTRUCTION In the fuuda-
mental branches. This nation Il organ
ization, wide in its ramications and con-
stsntly growing in influence anu power
for good, Is united under th- generalship
Of Miss Grace Dodge, president OF the
society 1t publishes a bright aud help
full paper called Far and Near" VIII sc
editress is Maria Bowen Chaplin, formerly
OF Providence and Nell-knoN TO the
cnarity workers of this city.
The Providence branch which, last
week. found itself ensconsed in the COM
modious ne building at 81 Orms str set
organized some time ago aud occupiei
quarters in Dimond's Hall. The phe-
nomenal patronage accorded IL by the
working giris soon rendered the crampei
facilities in that building inadequate,
and the question OF a new club house was
taken up. A vac mt piece OF land on
Orms street, valued a. S2. 800 was donated
To the club and the work OF constructing
the club house begun on scale calulated
to eclipse any similar building in the
country.
A reporter for the NEWS visited the
club house last week and its mysteries
were explored by him uader the chaper-
onage OF the urbane jaDitors 1t is a
com modious two story structure, built of
wood, anu contains eleven rooms and
large lecture hall. Nine of the rooms oc-
cupy the first Il )or, four OF them being
connected by large folding doors. Here
Is to be found an extensive library AMI
reading room, filled with useful and di
verting literature,.a gymnasium, flee
medical dispensiEy where services in the
leech's art may be obtained without
money and without price and lastly COM
plete kitchen filled with all the appli-
ances necessary TO the construction of an
epicure's fe ist. The lecture hall on the
upper floor will seat several hundred
people, contains "A piano, and Will also be
used RS n dancing hail by such as desire
to acquire Terpsechorean proficiency.
The Tree dispensary is nnuer the super
vision Of DIR. Helen Putnam, u inor-
oughly competent physician. who has OBJ
taiued honor in her profession. free
each member of the club.
Glasses have been organized in milli-
merry, dressmaking, penmanship, cooking
and physical culture. Miss Ruggles,
principal of the city cooking school, has
charge Of the culinary department. and
venture the suggestion tlat no future
husband OF the young lady who takes n
course I'm cooking under this efficient in-
structress will ever find himself mired in
the slough of dyspepsia.
Miss Ellen lie Garde, we'll known as a
thoroughly scientific and expert instruc-
tor in physical culture, has cnarge OF the
gymnasium The class now NUN be RS
about fifty candidates for enlarged biceps
and other characteristics of the physically y
perfect woman, and the nu nber Is iu-
creasipg. At present the apparatus con-
sisis OF clubs, wands, dumb-bells and
fencing foils. but Miss lie Garde expects,
ere long, to tit up the room with all the
heavier apparatus found in the best gym
nasl ums.
The society ladies have taken an i'm
men Sc interest in the work of tl e ub,
and prominent among tho beIefac-
tors Of the institution are Mis-
Iatt. daughter & Of tS. eS.Goy; m Taft; at
Miss Paige, all we'll known to Provi-
dence society. The club roll consists at
present of two hundred members, rep
resenting the mills in the North Epd and
the screw companies of Fletcher, Vans
kuck aud Geneva. while scores OF others
are Knocking at the door. The fee Tor
mem bership, including all the privileges
OF instruction, IS astonishingly low. be-
ing but 10 cents per week for each mem
Der. There is a strong bond of sympathy y
among the girls. aud the outlook for tn e
future of the club is most hatteringl y
auspicious.