The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-19
THE GIRL BACHELORS.
<r<nrxxNr 10 he BUILT TO Accom-
mODATE gHBM
No Absurd Ruies and neutrality-suspicious.
sivs Espionage WIZ not be Tolerated
Under Feminine Rule.

nalists. book-keepers. stenographers an
students scattered around IN dlngy boar'
ing-houses and dark fats. there is certain
ly great need Of at least one commodiou
structure that shall be well lighted, we
ventilated and well appointed. where VIC
mankind can have freedom and comfof
at moderate cost. and where climbin
stalrs-that bane Of woman's health an
consumer OF woman's strength-shall CIV
way 70 the restfulness Of an elevator
says the New York Herald.
II Is peculiar fact that. while all ave
nues Of work and study have been opene'
up 10 woman and she has demonstrates
her ability to earn her own living an'
take care Of herself. there has never beer
any cognizance taken OF her individuality
no place provided Tor her 10 live.
Bachelor apartments. with elegant en-
frances suggesting the luxuries witnln'
display their aRgravating signs In every
quarter: old-time mansions, In convenient
locations. have been thoroughly renovated
and rcarvangcd in suites and single rooms,
for gentlemen only" and even the high
toned boardinc-houscs imagine it adds TO
their dignity 10 advertise gentlemen pre-
ferred."
what. then, is the business woman 70
do7 A single woman looking for desirable
quarters in New York at present will
have some very amusing as ven as an
moving experiences. She viii find II hard
10 get into first-class house unless 1t IS
so late in the season that the landlady
las no hope Of securing another man,
and she will not seldom find that she is
paying a dollar or two more by the week
than did the man occupying the room be
fore her-tO cover gas used In crimping her
hair, extra service required of servants
etc A woman asking accommodation for
two will be met with the utmost gracious
ness until the landlady discovers that
the second party Is not a husband. but
another woman; n en- there is crawfshins
and irally a fat statement that sine
makes IL rule TO take" "only in families
and gentlemen.
This sort OF thing leaves the woman
little choice and usually drives her into
an ordinary house where she must pay
s.. 50 or so n week for board and a hall
bedroom she can't turn around in. These
hall bedrooms have no means Of heat
except from the halls or by gas stove
al 81 week extra. The cosiest OF them
all have a mantel. bed and two chairs, but
81 is obvious that to see callers in such
quarters is out Of the question. 1t is not
a home In any sense Of the word.
Perhaps the woman rents square
room. furnished; here at least. she can do
as she pieases. But she is compelled to
go out for her meals, in all states Of
health and weather; only bachelor apart
ments have restaurants attached
The only alternative is fat at from $50
10 so month, with steam heat
and. perhaps. gas. In the fiat there will
he one light room, the front one. 1t viii
glory IN the possession Of two windows
while the kitchen in the rear will have
but one, and the rooms between, none at
all, unless there happens TO be an air
shaft or skylight. And by the way, these
makeshifts are advertised as Tight"
rooms New York being built up so solid
ly that every inch Of light space Is vail
liable in proportion 10 the ground space.
The halls of these lat-hOuses are dark
and dank; there is a sepulchrai cioseness
about them, and resurrected odor Of
departed dinners; nine times out of ten
the plumbing is chcaply done, the janitor
half-paid and the house overrun with
children OF all nationalities and degrees
OF civilization.
Men have no such uncongenial sur
roundings; bachelor apartment-house is
free from all nuisances, except such as
the men bring I'm themselves and is con-
Quoted with all the air and style of a
modern hotel-without the meals. A bach
elor apartment costs from $500 to 81 800 a
year. according to location and conven-
fences. prominent apartment-house
right In the heart Of the city has several
suites OF parlor, sleeping-room, reception
hall and bath, with steam heat, electric
light, gas elevator and janitor service
Tor 500 year, while many a woman pays
the same price for only one good-sized
room at climb of three or four fights Of
stairs
II Is woman bachelor-apartmen
house that business women are clamoriug
FOR. All the world knows that a nodin-
cation OF such a building has been talked
or time and again by people with differ
ent axes 70 grind. and that one expensive
actually was erected i'm thu
name OF the working women Of New York.
Everybody knows. too, that the A. n.
stewart home was a blind and con-
sructed for Just what II has been used
Tor since-a hotel. Hence the no canary
bird. no piano. no sewing machine no |
callers no latch-key rule. OF course, no
self-respecting, self-supporting woman
would submit to such regulations, and
the man who pretended to carry out the
Stewart scheme knew il and acted ac-
cordingly for private gain.
There are two or three worlen's
homes. They are conducted on the prin-
'ipit pl CHARITY ana CnflSldn protection
and are mainly for students. Two girls
are required to share a small room and
pay five dollars each week Cor the ,rivi-
lege. ana though the table is meager il
is considered great favor 10 be taken
In at all. \ young lady living in one
OF these institutions must walk as straight
a chalk-line as though she were out on
parole. Lights are out at 10 and she can
not even go 60 the theatre without asking
the house-keeper 10 sit up for her. be-
cause lGtch-keys are impossible enorni-
ties end the women under that roof are
not supposed to have arrived at years of
discretion.
The Margaret Louisa home or "Tbe
Woman's hotel" as II adveruses itself
is on slightly different order. II IS an
elegantly appointed gift from one OF the
Vanderhits ana is designed for transients
only. The rates are very reasonable. in
deed, but II you desire 10 take ADVANTAGE
or them for the month allotted each guest
be sure 10 bring with you a letter from
your minister certifying TO your Chris
tian character, and be also ready 10 give
Two New York references as TO your So
eiai standing. These are absolutely i'm
perauve and even these viii not save Won
from answering all manner Of questions
as 10 your age. business and other de-
,@is the woman philanthropist delights in.
ana please remember that no Roman
catholic need apply at the "NIargaret
Louisa" under any circumstances. 1t is
run for protestants only.
Inc young woman who has revived !
ana focused the interest of business |
women In a particular abidinr-place
KNOWS all about the foregoing experiences
ana bell & an energetic young woman with |
irnuentiai friends, determined 20 pioneer |