The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-13
THE WORKING GIRLS, CLUBS.
q Summing Up OF Their Aims, Uses and
Results.

10 the query OIU60 R6arO since the re-
cent Boston convention of Working
Girls clubs, ''Are they trying to equal
ize the wages of men and women fOI
equal work?'' the answer is: Many OF
the clubs are formed entirely of girls
and young women who do what is called
unskilled labor, who are unlettered
and untaught and for whom there must
be an awakening, which comes more OF
less slowly. The very foundations OF
character must be developed that have
not been touched by home influence OF
even in the shop or factory Rough ma
lures have to be softened and every ef-
fort made to awaken thought. This has
been done in a social as well as an edu-
cational way, and to brighten weary
hours has not been the least and small
est purpose of the clubs
Many have learned how to have
healthy, good times, whose ideas were
greatly astray. Dancing is a pleasure
which is often INDUCED in, and in which
girls lose their shyness and difhdence.
Five cent suppers have been a success
in one club. where the girls came di-
rectly to the clubroom from their work
and enjoyed together the baked beans,
fish balls, bread and butter, tea and CO.
Goa. The receipts nearly always covered
the expenses, and after the merry meal
the pretty china presented to the club
by interested friends was washed by
willing hands and arranged in the closet
ready for the next occasion.
The young man is also being cOnsid-
cred, for it must be recOg nized that
young men and young women enjoy
each others company as a law of ma
ture. The society girl has a coming out
time when she is formally presented to
TO
whom her parents and guardians con-
slider desirable for her to meet. But
there is no coming out for the working
girl. She has to meet and make her own
friends and not always under happiest
auspices. A young girl who went to our
club was asked why she so often went
out after a little while spent in the
clubrOom. "Oh, you are very nice, Miss
A, and like to meet you at the club,
but I shall never get a mash in the
world if L dom look round. - Yet she
was a good, honest girl, who simply had
no place of meeting young men save on
the street. She could doubtless protect
herself and parry any insult far better
than u sensitive, unsOphisticated girl,
who had always been cared for and
guarded. One prosperous club has had
several dancing parties to which young
to bring the incest young man she
knows to introduce to her companions
and to those whose opinion she has
grown to value and desire. In this way
acquaintance are formed under whole
some and natural surroundings.
On the educational side there are va
rious classes formed, and as clubs be-
come progressive lectures and talks are
arranged on the interesting and vital
topics of the day. Glasses in millinery,
dressma1ing and cooking have ever been
successful, and these have in view in
struction for the purpose of teaching
girls to do such work at home and for
individual development rather than as
trade classes, although some members
becoming proficient do take up these oc-
equations as means of support. Talks
upon literature and art, upon writers
and painters and prominent men and
women of the past and present have
opened a new world to many club men,
bers, and practical talks upon home
nursing, hygiene, emergencies, savings,
the eight hour law and trades unions are
part of club life With growth and
development come discussions upon
these subjects among members, so that
working girls clubs do stand for every
thing that is of interest to and for the
advancement OF women. First come the
refining and broadening influences. then
the capacity for thought and opinion,
followed closely by the expression.
Vacations have become a strong fea-
ture in the clubs. Too many women
have considered a vacation a luxury
which they could never indulge in, and
an outing or a holiday enjoyable only
at some resorts where crowds do congre-
gate and where there is cheap music.
electric lights, plank walks, pink lem
onade and merry go rounds Nature was
a sealed book which has slowly unfold
ed it's pages and is delighting and
Frightening weary eyes. The rest and
Incorporation derived from the sweet
pure air, the quietness and surround
1ngs of the country, grown so dear with
knowing it, more than compensate for
the loss of time and wages, and what
was thought unattainable has now be-
come with cooperation a possibility.
This brings us to the keynote of this
second convention. The first conven-
ton, held in New York four years ago,
had Tor its message self reliance, but
this convention had for its keynote CO.
operation. To the young woman of for
tunate circumstances and wide Opportu-
nifty working girls clubs offer a chance
to know and work with those who need
her and whom she needs to know.-Bos-
ton Transcript