The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-02-14
OUR GIRLS CLUB.
Where Young Women Students
Find Many Comforts.
IN PARIS WITHOUT PROTECTION.
Expenses of the Club Met by Generous
Amer. cans-Married Women Not
Admitted as Lodgers.

The Rue de ChevreuSe is narrow
street, only a block in length. which
Run Notre Danes des Champs
with the Boulevard Mont Parnasse.
From the boulevard one sees its COM
buildings and, rising above
them, the red-tiled roof of a convent,
where statue of Our Lady Of the
Fields looks down on the dormer win \
dows and clustered chimneys of the sur
rounding houses On the left il large
four-story building shining in a fresh
coat of cream colored paint. When
the great porte opens we catch n
glimpse of sunny court with garden
behind. The house extends around
three sides of paved court; in the
center is large flower bed filled with
scarlet geraniums, hollyhocks, and
roses; an old well has been covered
over and transformed into pansy bed.
and here and there are boxes overflow
ing with gay nasturtiums. The tall
trees and shrubs in the garden shield
the court from the view of neighboring
houses. and in the pleasant seclusion
the noisy, dusty boulevard seems far
away.
This is the American Girls Club, an
outgrowth of smaller one which was
opened three years ago in the Rue
Vavin. The idea of the latter club
originated with the late Rev. W. w.
Newell and wife. who, from their many
years of faithful work among the stu
dents, were thoroughly acquainted with
their needs. Through them Mrs.
/ Whitelaw Reid became interested in
the plan, and she assumed the entire
expense of the maintenance of the club
1t consisted of a reading room, a small
library, and a reception-room, where
tea was served every afternoon at 8
o'clock. Situated as it was in the
midst Of the student quarter, many
girls would come in for an hour of rest,
to see the papers and magazines, and
have chat with acquaintance over a
cup of tea. On Sunday evenings q
short service was held, followed by an
informal social gathering.
This club proved to be such success
that last October the Rue de Chevreuse
house was opened, with the addition
of bedrooms and much-neede(
restaurant. The girls pay fair price
for their rooms and in the staurant
but the club cannot be supported by thu
income derived from these sources
Mrs Whitelaw Reid has made hersel
responsible for the rent and taxes
while other expenses are met by othe
generous Americans. The bushes
affairs are controlled by gentleman
and committee of ladies living il
Paris. and the house staff is compose,
of directress and chaperon, who man
ages the house and restaurant. house
, keeper, concierge, and women domestics
|, In addition there is the president O
the club. usually one of the students
who has general supervision owe
the reading room and library, preside
at O'Clock tea, and takes prominen
part in the social affairs of the club
The present club is intended only 70
girls studying in Paris without tn
protection of relatives or friends; an
although married women are not ad
= mitted az dodgers, the reading room all
restaurant are open to all students
, Not only does the club give a charm
!. ing home life to forty girls. but other
9 share many of its privileges. 1t is tn
, nucleus of student life i'll the quarter
= and from the very existence of this Gel
q ter of American life in strange Ian
o the lonely newcomer feels a sense c
= comfort and protection.
, The restaurant does much to remov
z the difficulties of student life for CIR
# in Paris. The charges of most of II
pensions are too high for many, and
!. the French pensions the newly arrive
d American misses home comforts an
v suffers from neglect of the proper san
n tsry conditions, while a continue
o course of small restaurants is sure
II end in dyspepsia, mental and physica
Some rent apartments and try hous
{. keeping, but, ignorant of the custom
d and the puzzling intricacies of Frent
o law. this frequently involves them
II difficulty and expense. There is II
l. conflict. also, between health and one
Q work. in which too often the heal
r suffers.
With these drawbacks to economic
o living, it is no wonder that the cl,
l. was welcomed gladly by Americ;
r students. The house has been flu
II most Of the time since it opene
e. Already the rooms are engaged for Il
3. coming winter, and the well fill
d restaurant last year showed that it W
ID fully appre lated by the students. T.
Q. charges are rather less than in Il
10 cheap restaurants of the quarter, viii
the quality is much superior. One
At the menus will give an idea of t
:, prices, which, however, fluctuate wi
TO the season and the conditions of {
< markets. Vegetable soup, 4 cent
r hoiled fish, white sauce, Q cents; file
re Madeira sauce, with Vegetables,
Of cents; mutton braise, o cents; salad,
e. cents; baked caulifower, cen
1t cream cheese. 4 cents; rice cake,
o. cents: preserved cherries, 8 cen
Or coffee. 4 cents; tea, cents.
On the second floor is the drawn
= room. or "blue room." so called fro
- the prevailing tone Of the furnishing
5. The club is "at home" on Thursd
y evenings, though visitors are not CO
" fiDad RI that dow Sor,o oho;.. -, =.