The morning call., 1892-01-28

help aud restrain them. Out Of the agita-
ton Of this question arose number of ma
tiOnal and international clubs, associations
and organizations, to which young N en-
away from home may resort and find
friends. healthful amusements and Oppor-
tunties for seli-advancement These in
situations mark a long stride in human
progress and merit the hearty Endorsement
of all interested in the good Of humanity.
Now, however, another problem has
arisen, and in every great city in America,
England and on the continent of Europe the
need is becoming manifest OF similar move
mentS for lettering the condition Of the
great army of working girls that has become
a permanent feature Of lie in our great
cities.
The needs of the working girls are quite
as great as those of their brothers. They
work as hard, their surroundings are as un-
favorable to enjoyment their wages are not
much more than half what young men re-
ceye, and their mode Of life is therefore
poorer. They are beset by equal dangers
and temptations, with hardly greater incen-
tiyes to resistance, and the idea is coming
home to all who can read the signs OF the
times That upon their welI-being. as well as
upon that Of their brothers, depends the
welfare of the race.
a number Of movements have also been
inaugurated for improving their social con-
dition, but these have as yet scarcely re-
suited in mere than the establishing for
them of cheap boarding houses, which are
! in themselves a good and helpful thing
under existing conditions, but which, be-
| sides being very limited as 10 number. have
! often been hampered in their usefulness by
! fri. tfgr, Z ri ho 90
| to keep away the class they have desired to
| help. An idea is apt to prevail, too regard
! ing them that they are in a measure charit-
! able institutions-an idea as repellant 10
| young women as it would be TO young men.
! Such clubs and societies as have been
/ formed for working girls have been for the
! most part planned by women OF leisure,
/ honestly DESTROYS Of helping them, without
/ being sufficiently conversant with their
/ needs to DO SO practically. These clubs
/ have had "a smack of literary study and Ell
! forts for higher culture, Of which working
! girls have been little afraid and which in
| Clned them TO pass by on the other side
/ and seek amusement elsewhere.
| Different from these. and much more pop
/ ular among the workers, are the Girls
! Friendly Societies Of London and the New
/ York Association of Working Girls. organ
/ lied ana Offered by workers, for purposes
/ Of fellowship, recreation and amusPmeu t,
/ and such efforts at culture rs they may
incline to undertake.. These societies are
/ doing practical work, and have a wide field
! Tor usefulness They are the CenterS Of
/ happy social life Tor young girls, making
/ them feel at home among their fellows,
/ planning pleasures for them, through their
! own united efforts, enabling them to eStab-
/ lish safe and pleasant friendships. 10 save
/ money for summer excursions or for time
/ of need or sickness, through the beneficiary
/ funds to which all contribute. Most Of them
/ have their own ciub-houses-sOme Of them
/ are only able TO afford rooms, but in each
/ instance they have pleasant club-homes.
/ One club IN the New York Association has
/ actually bought and furnished its own house.
/ Others are saving for a similar purpose.
What are needed for working girls are not
/ estheJic culture societies, literary circles or
/ even purely protective associations, but clubs
/ and institutes similar to those that young men
/ find 80 helpful and enjoyable. After hard
/ days work in Office store or woTk-ToOm a
womaus needs for relaxation are precisely
/ similar to those Of man. Pleasant rooms,
/ centrally located. where they may spend
/ their evenings, where they will find the
/ latest magazines aud periodicals. where
( they may chat with friends and enjoy the
+ pleasures Of cheerful human intercourse
/ with their fellows, shat men fad so insrir-
/ iag-with such occasional lectures, in the
/ clUb-T.Oms, ana such lines Of special study
ana reading as VIII always suggest them
/ selves, from time to time, TO thinking human
/ beings I'D common assembly a. interesting
/ and desirabe-these would do more TO give
4 working girls pleasant home associations. a
( love for home life and a desire to form
/ hOmelike associations than any amount Of
/ literary study and intellectual training that
/ the most elab5rately devised agriculture
/ club could iucul-ate.
/ 1t is a hopeful indication Of the practical
/ nature Of modern philanthropic movements
/ That the latest Ideas on clubs and associa-
/ tons for working girls are taking this form,
TO the abandonment Of old Ideas