The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-13
FIFTEEN HUNDRED WOMEN.
They Will Sleep Under One Roof at Chi
cago Next Summer.
Especial Correspondence

Il 500 women, all slumbering restfully
under one roof.
Fancy the cloalroom that will be re-
quired to safely provide for 1900 dainty
hats, bonnets and wraps. Fancy the
styles, the colors and materials of 1900
dresses. Fancy the pile of choice linen,
and of embroidery, and of sundry lingerie
that forms part of various articles dear
to the feminine heart that could be con-
tributed by such houseful of feminini-
ty. Fancy hotel over the threshold OF
which the foot of man is not to pass as a
guest, hotel in which the cashiers and
the room clerks and the bell and hall
boys-perhaps that's an Irish bull-and
all the other Of the small army of at
taches will be women. That is theykind
of hotel that is to be one of the striking
features of the Worlds fair.
How unprotected feminine youth as
well as old age might be enabled to visit
Chicago next summer with the assur-
ance of quarters and surroundings IN
which safety would be combined with
comfort was one of the earliest questions
to engross the consideration Of Mrs.
Potter Palmer and her associates on the
board Of lady managers When the ma
tional commission, after the board had
been brought into existence by act of
congress, undertook to prescribe its spe-
citic duties, it laid down the general rule
that the ladies themselves should have
full charge and management of all inter-
ests of women in connection with the
exposition. This is what might be re-
garded as a scope at once broad and COM
prehensive, for the general interest OF
the tens of thousands of women that
Chicago expects and hopes to welcome
and entertain between now and Christ
mas cannot by any possibility be con-
fined within the limits of jackson park.
Ample provision for the education, en-
Eghtenment and entertainment of the
sex has been made through the plans
adopted for the Women's and Children's
buildings, to say nothing of the special
attractions of particular interest to wom-
ankind that will have place in the
other structures; but something, it was
held, should be officially done to insure
for the expected great army of women
especially those that might be classed as
industrial workers. wage earners and
working girls, or students, teachers and
others engaged in various professions
the benefits and advantages of good,
clean, safe homes at reasonable rates.
How this aim might be accomplished
was question to which the ladies gave
prolonged thought and consideration.
The views and advice of influential
friends Of the movements beneficial to
women were sought and given, and as
result came the formation of the Wom-
ans Dor1nitory Association of the Column
bian Exposition. While the funds for
this enterprise have been contributed
from outside sources as matter of pure
necessity, for the board proper has use
for every dollar appropriated to its treas
ury, yet at the same time it regards and
designates the der1nitory enterprise as an
auxiliary.
Among those who are prominently
working in it's behalf and identified with
the active management are such women
as Miss Frances Willard and Mrs. Ma
tilda D. Carse, who have blessed human
ity by their work in connection with the
Women's Christian Temperance union;
Mrs. James A. Mulligan, widow of the
famous soldier who gave his life for his
country on the field Of battle; Mrs. James
r. Doolittle, widow of the only son of
Wisconsins venerable ex-senator; Mrs.
Charles Henrotin, the better half OF the
noted Chicago banker and consul for the
Belgian empire; Mrs. General A. L. Chef
lain, Mrs. Helen M. Barker and Mrs.
Ben G. Truman, names all of which are
familiar to those interested in move
ments beneficial to women.
The rooms of the hotel will be fur
nished with comfortable beds and toilet |
and the structure will be
divided into sections, each presided over
by refined and motherly woman, who
will exercise watchful care over I'M
protected girls, whether they come alone
Or are part of a group. The rate for ac-
will be a remarkably low
one. Large numbers of working women |
md girls have subscribed for shares of |
stock, which are to be taken in payment |
IF the bills incurred for accommodations.
and to these the rate per day, SO it is es-
5imated, will not exceed 40 cents. The |
ute selected is within few stones throw |
If the exposition entrance, and the struc-
lure will be in readiness for the enter |
,ainment of guests before the LIST of May |
Very much on the same principle and
practically under the same auspices is
5he Family Dormitory association. Most |
IF the ladies already mentioned are iden- |
5ifed also with this enterprise, while to the
list may be added such names as those
Of Mrs. General Logan, Mrs. George M.
Pullman and Mrs. J. Fl. McVicker. The
family domicile will be to women with
children what the other structure is to
,he lone woman, save that male heads
IF families will be acceptable as guests.
provided only that they have their fam