The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-15
CHICAGo,s JANE CLUB.
The Dainty Cooperative Life Of Forty
Working Girls.

New York Sun.
When a New York woman. for whom no
the one out West in Chicago she doesn't
know where to begin. 1t is such fairy tale
of impossible good things made possible.
The real starting point, however. is the
name. The club was named after Miss Jane
Adams, the well-known and well-beloved
founder of Hull House, a Chicago institu-
ton similar to the College Settlement,
down on Rivington street. Miss Adams
has been the good fairy, at the waving OF
whose wand the Jane Club sprang into
existence. She obtained the house, a big
double one, quiet, SHADY street, and
she got 1T at a very low rent. Then, as
godmother of the project she furnished 1t
There are about forty lucky young women
who belong 10 the club. A candidate must
be backed UP by the written guaranty of
two members, and, this affidavit having
been accepted, she must receive a two
thirds vote of all the members of the club.
The successful candidate then makes her
triumphal entry. She finds that affairs aro
in the hands of a president, vice president,
recording secretary, treasurer, librarian
and last. and most important, a steward.
The president and the steward form the
house committee. general meeting OF the
members Is held on the second and fourth
Tuesday of each month, when all ''cranks"
and "kickers may present their grew
ances. This affords a safety-valve for the
institution, but IL is getting rusty for lack
of exercise. Tuesday Is pay day. when ev-
cry member is required TO pay a weekly
due of s..
But would you know what these girls re-
ceive in return for those So? 1t is enough
gasp from sheer amazement. In the first
place, she has large and well-furnished
ton rooms. a library stocked with good
books, a music room, three large dining
rooms, a kitchen, four bath rooms, and
the basement The club employs a cook
for 81 a week and two housemaids for s. a
week each. AT the table are served the
or fhn cfn - orad cl.sa
the choicest fruits, and buildings and cakes,
and the lightest biscuits.
The steward does the marketing and is a
very important parsonage. At present She
is represented in the person of Miss Kitty
Ryan, who was indicted into Office with
ago Fbe nre rev. incm1nhns S hd TINE
out of town a good deal, and had left COOK
In charge of the commissary department.
large bills with the butcher and the grocer.
Steward Kitty saw that this would never
do. SO. although the officers of the club
are not salaried, she herself took charge OF
the purchasing department.
She could the more readily do this be-
cause she was a dressmaker and had given
up her business down town in order TO de-
vote her time exclusively TO making pretty
gowns for the club members and their
lrlendS. Thus she is in the clubhouse by
day and night, and can keep sharp watch
over things in general
me members must be unmarried, or
else widows without small children. The
age limit is from eighteen TO forty-fve
| years. There is one rerson living in the
clubhouse who is more than forty-fye This
| Is the sixty-year-old mother of one OF the
| girls, and she is chaperon and coddler for
the entire household. This is not a club of
| old maids, sour or otherwise. The present
| membership are all under twenty-eight
years of age, and are q well-dressed and
| jolly company. They are stenographsrs,
typewriters, mflliners, bookbinders dress
| makers, shoemakers and so on.
They have plenty OF friends, and sweet
| hearts. too. The best proof Of that is that
one or their number was married Just last
| week. Cupid evidently fears such schemes
as the Jane Club. for he has wrought much
havoc in its ranks. He probably thinks IL
| will make girl bachelorhood so attractive
| that uatrimony will look fiat stale and
| Improbable beside IL. Perhaps he is right.
| There is. alas, no Jane Club in New York
| TO put in evidence on this point
| The club members entertain as II they
| were at home, which, in reality, they are.
| Small dances. informal musicales end occa-
| sional receptions do not disturb but enliven
| the even tenor OF the Jane Clubs way
| Naturally enough, the next thing TO recon-
| is that other Chicago young women, be-
| fore whose envious eyes the Jane Club has
| sprung up and hourIshed. are about TO or
| ganize more clubs of the same pattern.
| The spectacle OF a large household, whose
| members share and share alike in the ex-
penses and the benefits. and among whom
| there are no wrangles, no quarrels no
| fights, no jealousies, but where all things
are as merry as the marriage bell occasion
| ally heard therein-such a spectacle Is an
| example whose light might shine even a:
| far as New York.