Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-28
FOR WORKING GIRLS.
Practical Philanthropy That Does MucI
to Aid Self Support.

Practical Philanthropy That Does Much
to Aid Self Support.
Whether it is that the wages of work
ing women are decreasing so that she
cannot take vacation on her own re-
sources, or that women nowadays work
SO much harder than of yore that they
need a vacation which their grand
mothers never thought of, it is quite
evident that there is far more of the
sort of charity that sends working girls
out into fresh air villas than there used
to be.
At any rate the interest taken in the
working girl and her vacation nova
days is something phenomenal. Whether
this wholesale charity is desirable or not
depends upon your view point. Miss
Woodbridge, secretary of the Working
Women's society, says, apropos of the
vacation societies: "The Working Wom-
ems society believes in the working girl
receiving sufficient wages to enable her
to go on a vacation whenever and wher-
ever she likes and pay her own expenses.
We don't believe in o manufacturer cut
ting down wages and then having his
wife give back very small slice as her
contribution to fund for giving vacar
tions to working girls, who, if they re-
ceived Just remuneration for their labor,
would be enabled to take rest on their
own hook"
On the other hand the wealthy women
who are interested in the vacation en-
terprises reply: "It is impossible for us
b. <.ok ,~s>- ho<<
do nothing because we cannot do that,
many girls win die needlessly for want
of the help we can give. We help indi
viduals, not the class, we know: but
many of us think that to help class
you must first help the individual"
During the past year this work has
assumed greater proportions than ever
before, and from some plans recently
made public next season viii see it still
further extended.
Miss Churchill, a wealthy young wom-
an of Connecticut, and Miss Willard.
daughter of the Wall street broker of that
name, have purchased q small farm in
the mountains of Connecticut. on which
they propose to erect a summer home
for New York working girls. A fine
house designed by the architect La
Forge is to be built on it at once. The
two young ladies claim this establish
ment will be self supporting, and there
fore mot a charity in the ordinary sense
Of the word. They speak from expert
ence too
Miss Churchill and Miss Willard.
with several other society women, last
summer entertained several hundred
working girls on small farm in Pitts
field, rented for the purpose. Twenty
four girls were entertained at time.
They spent two weeks in the invigorat-
ing country air and then returned to
New York to give place to others. The
girls were charged $3.50 week for
board, and reduced fares were secured
for them on the railroads. The same
rates and rules will prevail in the new
establishment.
There will Of course be little or no
profit in the undertaking, but it will pay
its way. Competent men win be hired
to cultivate the farm, and sufficient gar
den truck wild be raised to supply the
table. Horses will be kept for the use
of the guests. Miss Churchill and Miss
Willard will spend their summers super
intending the house.
In the case Of this new establishment
and Of most Of the others for the same
purpose, the occupationof the girl makes
No difference. The only requirements
for the privileges Of the new resort are
that she be dependent on her own labor
for support, and that she be recommend
ed by the Association of Working Girls
clubs or the Working Girls Vacation
society.
The working girls clubs maintain
three summer houses. These, however,
are exclusively forclub members. Nom
inally these houses are supported by
the clubs. In reality there is but one
Of the working girls' clubs that is on I
self supporting basis. This exception Is
the Thirty-eighth Street club. Home
maker.