St. Paul daily globe., 1892-04-19

yne Of the bv-ways Of st. Paul, stands
ulain twO-story brick house that lor
twelve years has sheltered the cohIulh5
victims Of false men.
The MatrOn and Home.
IT is an Old-fashioned square house
aud the bricks have been painted a deep
red like some of the homesteads III far
off New England. There is solitary
look about the premises, peculiarly sug-
gestive OF the use 10 which the ola pace
has been given over; but inside all IS
cheerful and h0melike. The malron,
sweet faced. elderly woman, win
soft bands Of white hair iraih-
Ing the broad brow, answered my
ring and conducted me into the ilttle
parlor or reception room. 1T looks more
like a COSY family sitting room than
either. however. The walls were neatly
papered and hung with pictures OF
miscellaneous character and douDtIul
artistic merit: but they served 70 re-
lieve the baroness, and are doubtless
the gifts Of the homes we'll wlshers.
There was an Old-tme parl0r S0ia'
plenty Of easy chairs ana small center
table. on which lay large FAMILY BlDle'
\ ribbon book mark pr0truded IRON us
well-worn pages. and the marks OF u me
and usage showed that in one home, AT
least, the Good Book" has not gone
out Of style.
yes, we try 10 make Christians oi
our girls, and believe we succeed IN
doing it in most instances" SAID thc
matrOn. noticing the direction OF my
gaZc. you would be surprised to kno w
how grateful they are. DO you see
this?" pointing to a lovely p0tted plant
blooming on the center table. That
was brought to me the other day by
girl who was with MS six years ago. she
has never quite given us up; and she is
only one Of many who come to see us
once in a while to let us know that all
is well with them in the world now. III
is very great encouragement 10 see
them well married and doing their duty
as wives ami mothers, after the troubles
Of their early lives"
The Internal Economy
of the home is an interesting study.
Just now there are ten women and six
babies being cared for, although the
average family consists of thirteen
women. No servant IS kept, and the
daily housew0rk is app0rti0ned to each
woman, as the matron sees best. Occa-
siOnally an inmate IS received who has
been a lirst-claSs servant. Such a
woman will require but little training
in household duties, but she learns to
sew neatly, or to do fancy work that her
busy life has prevented her from learn
ing And il she becomes a mother
while under that hospitable roof, she
learns hundred lessons in the gentle
school of motherhood. OF late there
have been few women received from
the city's disre epntable houses. the ma
jority Of the applicants being girls who
have been betrayed and deserted in
their hour of need. Many girls who
seek shelter here are refugees from
home and friends; and one Of their
greatest troubles is the silence they are
obliged to MAINTAIN in order to keep
their shame from the knowledge OF
those at home.
An Enforced SeclnSiOn
is the only penalty attached to a resi-
dence i'm the home. No woman will be
received who is not willing to stay there
that length Of time. for a less period is
not deemed sufficient to cOunteract the
evil influences TO which most OF them
have been subjected. Most of the girls
are very willing TO stay out their time
and many of them, who have no other
homes, would be glad to stop longer,
but the crowded condition of the home
prevents this. There are already plans
ntoot for obtaining larger home that
will enable the society TO carry
on the work on a larger scale.
At present the inmates carry
ON limited laundry business. do
Ing family work; but it is impossible to
do any OF the finer grades Of laundry
work because of the lack of conven-
lcnces. The present home has eleven
rooms and stOrer0om. The plan is TO
sell or trade this property and replace it
with more commodious quarters.
History Of the Home.
Its organization was effected in 1873.
and 440 women have been received
since that time. OF the l64 babies born
in the home, rs have been legally
adopted and given excellent homes. OF
;he women. 81 have been reconcied to
their parents; 3 have returned TO for
giving husbands; Is have been married
at the home; % have made good mar
riages since leaving it, and 100 have
been permanently reformed. The ma.
iority OF the women received have been
ProteStants, and very large proportion
were unable to read in any language
when admitted.
The present officers are: President,
Mrs. H. ID. Gates; vice presidents, Mrs.
A. b. Sticllney and Mrs. w. f. Luley:
treasurer, Mrs. E. NJ. Van Duzee. The
good done by this institution in the past
can be scarcely computed, and its use
fulnPss under improved conditions can
not fail TO be even greater.