The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-23

And IFs % Place where Working Girls
Live For 3D. q Week
Cubiclea are English, says Mary Gay
Humphreys in 1he ChautauuuGn. Tho
English system Of nomenclature is al-
ways puzzling. It reminds one of
conundrum. When the answer is given.
it seems simple enough. There are two
derivations Of the word given. Cubical
pertains to a cube. A room is a cube.
even if it does not often occur 60 us so
to regard it. Thus a oubicle is a species
of room. Another derivation of the
word is from the Latin cubioula. little
bed So cubicles are rooms in which
there are little beds.
AS was said. cubioles are English.
They originated in the London lodging
houses designed for working girls and
1 know Of nothing intended for their
welfare more admirablen nor more worthy
of imitation. They are the substitute
for dormitories and obviate even thar
less disagreeable necessity, the placing
of two occupants IN one room
The success of the London cubicles
has inspired the first attempt to intro
duce them in New Y orx. and the loca-
ton chosen is at 17s Suffolk street, iu
the heart Of the east side. A third floor
was taken in a tall building. This space.
which was happily not broken by par
titions and subdivisions, is 200 feet
long and has three windows in each end
and one in the side. One side window
in 200 feet Of the wall does not seela
to amount to much, but in "a city this
glimmer Of light is precious
The cubicles are subdivisions Of this
space confined to one side of the room
They are defined by partitions of wood
between four and five feet high and in-
close feet by 10 feet space. The space
above is screened by chintz curtains
hanging from iron rods. In each oubiol8
are cot bed, a tasteful iron standard for
wash bowl and pitcher. a table and "a
little rocking chair. On the floor is "a
green and brown ingram rug There is
space also for a trunk and any small
furniture the occupant may bring. On
the solid brick wall Of the side hang
picture panels. which some one has
kindly furnished, and the top of the
wood partitions makes a sort Of shelf
Ir will be understood that only the
end cubicle has a window. but the sur.
rounding curtains of the oubioles move
easily, and the vast space is we'll light
ed The great advantage of the cubicle,
next to its privacy and the sense Of pri-
vate ownership for which it allows, ia
its perfect ventilation. Through the
long room the east and west winds blow
sWayinR the chintz curtains and on o.
warm day it is yet delightfully."- cool
But cubicles imply something more
than these coy sleeping and dressing
rooms. Apross the front Off, the room
runs another low partition, breaking o.
make a doorway. This divides Off q sit
ting room, and above the partition hang
curtains Of more imposing chintz. On
the floor are several green and brown
rugs. Tasteful oak furniture and some
prints upon the wall. including a fine
engraving Of the head Of Christ, serve
to make the room comfortable and at
tractive, and such a nook as girls love,
piled up with pillows. has been recessed
by the low partition.
An even more important department
is that Of the dining room and kitchen.
This il a subdivision opposite the cubi-
cles made in the same manner by low
wood parti tions and curtains. Here are
the range and the necessary equipment
for cooking and eating. Here the girls
start off to work IN the morning forti-
fed by a cup of coffee and other comfort
ing things They return here for "a
plain but nourishing dinner, always in-
Guiding a simple dessert. Those who do
not earn enough to warrant their buy
ing lunch take one away TO work. Iu
addition to these comforts there is "a
bathroom, probably the only one in a
large and thiczly populated area.
But it must be understood that this
is not d charity. BY dispensing with
much in the way of wood and mortar.
and by substituting that which is taste
full and inexpensive, cubicles can be
maintained at moderate cost. The high
est price paid is 50. The regular price is
So a week for each occupant The duties
are the care each Of her own room.
There are no rules Each girl is free
to invite her friends to visit her, TO go
in and out at viii. with the earnest
prayer on the part Of the housekeeper
that she will not be out late. as some
one must sit up to let her in. But that
kindly consideration for one another
comfort which it is possible TO cultivate
is relied on to regulate this matter
These cubicles have been under way
only a short time. Walking along the
narrow hallway, we hear inside the cur
tains merry chatter like chat Of board
ing school girls. One Of the girls tells
US she came from home in a tenement
house where she slept in a room with
two young men. two girls and a boy