Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-11-07
THE WORKING GIRL
A Woman Adds Her Tribute TO the
Subject Discussed Saturday.
Communicated


One reader of sour Saturday Night"
was pleased to note the fact that busy
editor could find time to come down
from the discussion of higher subjects
to give the one under consideration
even g passing glance. 1t is subject
Of vital importance to the best interests
Of many individuals Of the present, and
increasing muItiiudes Of the future.
AS has been suggested in "Onr Satur-
day Night" many Of these girls are to
become future wives; to WELD 3 power
for good or evil which will be multiplied
and remuliplied as long as time lasts;
and through eternity the gain or loss
Of humanity through them will be felt.
Tremendous responsibility rests upon
the friends and patrons of the working
girls. What can be done to enrich
their intellccts. cultivate their hearts,
elevate their social station, cheer their
often dreary, overburdened lives re-
moving as much as possible the enyir-
OnmenIs which tend to the ''slow pro-
cess of degradation Of the intellect,
bunting the social and moral faculties
and often destruction Of the character"
are questions paramount in importance
to other vexed questions which are
awaiting satisfactory solution.
We recognize the fact that the work
ing girl is sailing through narrow
channel where rocks and whirlpools
sbound;n sailing too, often in rudder-
less craft, tossed about by the waves OF
adversely, neither expecting nor receiv-
ing a word of guidance nor q moiety Of
assistance from their superiors in wis
dom or position. Many so-called
christians seem to forget that 1.-The true
church is where one hand strikes aB-
other helpfully," thus the working girl
treads the weary round of existence,
suffering ostrscism from more fortunate
individuals, often, not so much in cob-
sequence of moral or intellectual infer
inrity as by the accepted rule of society.
The honest-hearted girl ever hopes Il
be sympatbized with, to find some
heartbeat responsive to her own; il
those who are able to assist her to iris
by stepping stones of her dead self 10
higher things" stetch not out to her the
helping hand, she falls an un willing
victim to lower associations and II
swept on by the current circumstance.
Much is being done in our large cit
les for our working girls, and may not
the philanthropic ladies of Salem enter
upon some feasible plan TO promote the
higher development Of this deserving
class of citizens.
We would suggest that the minister's
wives or other appoited parties, in each
church, ascertain the number Of work
ing girls in their respective churches,
and see how many can or are willing 10
organize union for mutual improve
ment.
such q union, we think, would be q
great benefit to the participants as well
as 8 reflex benefit to the community at
large.
1t has long been a cherished plan Of
the writer, TO have formed in our city
q "Woman's Christian Association"
the object Of which shall be 10 unite
the efforts of the most jealous workers
in each church, for the betterment of
our city generally. believing that organ
lied effort, in al directions, not making
the suppression of any one evil the cor
ner stone Of the structure, is bound to
become a power in our midst, before
which the devOtees Of evil must trem-
ble and the citad-ls Of vice must fall.
The future only can eliminate the
stupendous advantages gained by such
an organization. Let church lines be
from outside this great center for good,
not In theory, but in fact, and future
generations will look upon the sublime