The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-28
WORKING GIRLS CLUBS.

WORKING GIRLS CLUBS.
Working girls clubs were started to
provide for the large number of young
women engaged in industrial and mer-
camille pursuits, opportunities for educa-
ton, friendship and social recreation.
Like all good things, they have given
much more than they promised and the
young women who have continued their
membership for several years have gained
from them a knowledge of the conduct of
business meetings, quickened intelll-
geDce from serving OH comm ittees and
boards of directors, wider outlook on
life bv contact with young women of
varying pursuits and interests, and above
all n new conception OF that truth
which this century has begun to realize,
the brotherhood of man.
The true principles of self-reliaD1e,
self-government and cooperation that
have distinguished the working girls
clubs belonging to the allied associations
o. the eastern states have deepened the
sense OF response bility in the individual
mem Der and given the best practical
training for good citizenship.
Glasses in sewing, penmanship and the
studies of value to those who we're
obliged to leave school at an early age
are found in the factory towns hut in
cities like Boston and New York there is
.
ing, millinery. cooking, literature, cur
rent events and political economy.
The social evenings give an education
as valuable in its way, dancing, games
and conversation. helping to overcome
shvness and em barrassment and teaching
sympathy aud unseltishness where all
meet on the basis of equality.
Occasional lectures or informal talks
from friends interested in art literature
or industrial problems. or more practical
addresses on home duties, nursing of the
sick and health are given yearly in most
of the clubs. Last winter II series of les
sons OIL nursing was gwen mem bers of
several Boston clubs, by an experienced
trained nurse on condition that these
lectures should be repeated to their res.
pective clubs. The notes taken and the
| talks given after these lessons in several
of the clubs we're most intelligent and
! detailed, showing not only quick com.
! prehension but trained attention.
| Gymnasium and singing classes are fire.
| quently formed by mem bers of various
| clubs in order TO obtain larger attendance
| and greater advantages. The summer ex-
| cursions on several SATURDAY afternoons
bring mem be-s of clubs in the same Vi
cinlty together. Besides there is always
the yearly reunion of the association OF
clubs of the various states which often
bring together two thousand young
women, whose enthusiasm is duickened
by stirring addresses and the hearty
singing of club songs.
Vacation houses, employment bureaus,
| relief funds and benefit societies have
sprung from the allied effort OF clu bs
who individually are working for the de-
velopment and character building of each
single mem Der.
MOTHERS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF a
| COLLEGE SETTLEMENT
Since no two settlements possess the
same environment, the club life, which is
| an outgrowth of the peoples life, is
never in any two instances quite the
same. 1t takes on every possible aspect
to meet the peculiar conditions OF each
settlement district. But in the mothers
| clubs there is one feature which Will al
! ways demand consideration. The direct
! ors of any class know the supreme value
/ OF regularity in work. When they take
up work in the mothers club they soon
! acquiesce in a systematic regularity on
the part of the mem BEES. During their
visits in the settlemer tine Ugh borhood they
| learn the causes of this. Often a few
| minutes tete-a -tete in the hour Will dis
| close abundant excuse Tor non-appearance
| on many occasions. Much as We may
value the mothers club as a potent fac
tor for good in the settlement, we mus:
visit at the houses. The impetus for a
! bs tier regulated household is often given
py these expected visits from the settle
menth house, and in this way the tone of
daily living is perceptiblv improved and
! sustained.
Sewing clubs for young girls from six
to sixteen, meeting weekly with halt
hour for play and occasionally "a real
party" with ice cream, have.have been
found eminently successful.
As to the work for young woman clubs
this will nave TO be determined BY the
kind of young women who come to be
| benefited. The admirable success OF the
working girls clubs'' as shown by their
national conventions latest report, goe.
to prove that thay are no longer expert
mental. The number Of club members
! should not exceed twelve If given only
TWO directors, and meeting weekly BY
this means the Immediate needs OF each
member may be reached, and the natural
tastes aud talents discovered. The result
is helpful as well as developing along
original lines, and these two factors. self
helpfulncss and original development, are
most important in all club lie; in TACT,
they best determine what eacn clubs life
shall be. MAU DE b. FOSTER.
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