The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-05
AMERICAN GIRLS. CLUB
How Our Young Country Women Live
in Paris.
A Successful Institution on the Rue de
Chevremse-some of the Incidents of
trdn

A Successful Institution on the Rue de
Chevremse-Some of the Incidents of
Students Life.
The Rue de Chevreuse is narrow street,
only block in length, which connects hue
Notre Dame des Champs with the Boulevard
Mont Parnasse. writesm Paris correspondent
of the Churohnan. From the boulevard one
sees its place buildings and, rising
above them. the red-tiled root of a convent,
where statue of Our Lady of the Fields
looks down on the dormer windows and
clustered chimneys of the surrounding
houses. On the left is large four--story
building shining in a fresh coat of cream
colored paint. When the great porte opens
we catch glipmse of a sunny court with a
garden behind. The house extends around
three sides of a paved court; in the center
is large flower bed filed with scarlet ge-
raniums, hollyhoeKs, and roses; an old well
has been covered over and transformed into
pansy bed, and here and there are boxes
overlooking with gay nasturtiums. The tall
tree and shrubs i'll the garden shield the
court from the view of neighboring houses,
and in the pleasant seelusion the noisy,
dusty boulevard seems far away.
illiS 10 LILO aiitEIiSuh 0lIl Siups GIL oul-
growth of smaller on which was opened
three years ago In the Rue Vavin. The
idea of the hitter club originated with the
late Rev. W. ". Newell and wife, who,
from their many years of faithful work
among the students, were thoroughly ae-
quainted with their needs. Through them
Mrs. Whitelaw Reid became interested in
the plan, and she assumed the entire ex-
oense of the maintenance of the club 1t
consisted of a reading room, small library,
and a reception-room, where tea was served
every after noon at 5 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 a chat with acquaintances over cup
of tea. On Sunday evenings short ser
vice was held, followed by an informal So
cial gathering.
This club proved TO be such a a success
that last October tine Rue de Chevreuse
house was opened. with the addition of bed
rooms and a much needed restaurant. The
girls pay fair price for their rooms and In
the restaurant. but the club cannot be sup
ported by tho dncome derived from these
sources. Mrs Whitelaw Reid has made
herself responsible for the rent and taxes,
while other expenses are met by other gem
erous Americans. The business affairs are
controlled by gentleman and committee
of ladies living in Paris. and the house
staff is composed of direetress and ehape-
ron, who manages the house and restau-
rant, a housekeeper, concierge, and women
domestics. In addition there is the pIesi-
dent of the club. usually one of the stu
dents, who has a general supervision over
the reading room and library, presfdes at 5
O'Clock tea. and takes prominent part in
the social affairs of the club.
The present club is intended only for girls
studying in Paris without the protection of
relatives or friends and although married
women are not admitted as dodgers, the
reading-room and restaurant are open to
all students. Not only does the club give a
charming home life to forty girls, but