The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-22
FOR WORKING GIRLS.
Their Clubs Help Young Women to
Improve Their Lot.
WHAT MISS GRACE DODGE SAYS,
Tho Principles Upon Which All "Work-
ing Girls" Societies Are Buiit-Or-
CARNATIONS That Have Done Great
Deal to Make Women Independent.

tion from the beginning, has kindly con
sented TO state the aims and endeavors Oh
the members and does so in these words:
First Consider just what clubs. name
iv. 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 IL is
governed by the members for the members.
Third-That it strives TO be self supporting.
1t is not a charitable society 1t is CO.
operative rather than a philanthropic or
ganizaton Methods that are usually
adopted to start charitable and philanthropy
ic movements cannot be carried out when
Working Girls club is planned.
A neighborhood or city club, Of either
men or women, Is started by few who de-
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 TO utilize or have part in the house.
rooms or meetings. Fee and dues are
voted upon and other club affairs system
atized.
IL the house or rooms are to he bought
built or leased capital must often he oh
taiped and this is loaned on interest or
rais.d among the members. Those with
Jslge iucomes feel il 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 privilegtrrto i'm ite a 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
Working Girls society or club, If it is in
tended TO he founded upon the principles OF
cooperation, self government and self sup
port. Working girls<annot be forced into
club organized in their interests any
more than any other people can be driven
into n social club They wish to know
their proposed leaders. and here friendship
must be at the root of the matter. To
guard against the springing up Of cliques
il is well 10 have the early members repre-
sent different occupations. Women NJ
leisure teachers, saleswomen. clerks. stem
ographers. dressmakers and mill and fac
tory employees--f at the start there is
mingling OF these each will bring in
friends. and sisterhood of women will be
the result, all interested in mutual aims
but coming from different surroundings.
The Importance Of impressing on members
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 comprehended as yet.
In this country organization is understood
because wage earning women breathe the
air OF self government The class OF girls
that come into the clubs are women who
are accustomed TO join other forms OF or
ganization, such as benefit societies. lodges,
etc There are in this city an enormous
number OF wage earning women, perhaps
10000 or 40,OoO. who belong 10 the women's
branches of the Freemasons' organizations
and other societies. and in these they have
already learned something about the bene-
fits of associations.
The clubs are giving 20 girls Nm oppor-
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 DIRECTIONS ANSWERED.
The public should know what intelligent
and enlightened girls belong to our clubs
There is the ''other side" however. Labor
organizations say, 1--WE are opposed TO you
because you are making working girls
satisfied with their lot" but Is there any
thing to regret in thatl
Il ,lh "A
class of girls that most need help | feel
quarrelsome Where are they' We have
girls belonging TO our clubs who earn but
IS week, girls who work for sweaters" "
aud 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
20 better purposes than 60 New Years
parties at the Madison Square garden.
People talk OF t...ngs they know nothing
about. The club girls know the secret OF
the New Years party expenditures, and II
they are satis 'etl everybody else should be.
The princip' of our movement are pene-
trating evrl Jwhcre. and can any one say
that the results are not good!
am asNed by what right am mem
Der OF the Working Girls club, and why
Mrs Richari Irwin and others are admit
ted. The club girls settled that question
themselves one evening at "a discussion. IL
was decided that Mrs. Richard Irwin and
others were working women, but they
might be said 20 bc <ing with money,
not for money. Ii l. not a question OF dol
larsand cents, or Of the Kind of work. One
member may he just as busy Keeping house
for her mother ss another girl is in shop,
and 1t was thoroughly agreed that both
have an equal right Of membership As
matter Of fact have no more voice in the
Thirty-cighth Street club than the young
ist cash girl New York Tribune
An English DiSh.
There IL n very prevalent idea that hot