New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-02
HOLIDAYS FOR SHOP GIRLS.
WHAT THE VACATION SOCIETY DOES FOR
TOILERs IN THE CITY.
LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN SAVED BY FRESH AIR
AND GOOD FoOD-AN APPEAL TO THE
pI.pIIl, EOR HELP In THE WORK.

PUBLIC FOR HELP IN THE WORK.
One summer. eleven years ago. young girl IN
New-York set TO make $780, TO be devoted 10
particular purpose She had artistic taste. couid
paint and embrolder exquisitely. and she intended
TO realize that sum from the sale Of her handiwork
The wan and detected appearance OF several or the
girls who waited on her from time TO time In the
big stores appealed to her sympathy and she deter
mined that before another season came round she
would arrange to send three or four OF them away
for a little WHILE give them brief respite from
their monotonous toll and physical discomfort.
Like all other girls with indugent parents ana
luxurious homes. this young lady had a large circle
of friends.
What are you dong?" they asked when they
noted her persistent industry She told them OF the
idea that had occurred to her, and added that al
though there were Fresh-Air Funds and other mis-
slons, everything done for the children. and
nobody seemed think of the older girls, working
day in and day out in close, sitting atmosphere,
with never bit OF pleasure to tighten the way.
1--WE will help you" said her girl associates. They
In turn interested other friends In the movement.
and all during that summer at seaside resorts, IN
country houses and In city homes the girls worked
busily
They meant to have a little fair In the autumn.
held In the parors Of OF their number. but
when November came the articles which had been
made when collected together were more than could
be advantageously displayed in any parlor. a hall
had to De nlred IN when 10 hulu the fhl Inc WV
Horticultural Hall In Twenty-eghth-st,. near
broadway was chosen, and In II was held
the FIRST entertainment of the Working Girls
Vacation Society. Instead OF 500, the sum
realized was 5000 Instead Of three or four girls
being sent ont of the city, hundreds were enabled
70 co. Tho young ASSOCIATED were delighted with tho
nuccrrn OF their venture,
Although the matter has never appeared IN that
light before The public. tho Vacation Society Il IN
reality u memorial to tho twin sister OF ts founder
Tho ratorp were slngularly attached to each other
apparently bound by closer tcs than those OF
kindred when the fell ~ suddenly and died.
IA. afflicted one ont Of her own grief and loneliness
was attracted toward others around her Who with
sorrows perhaps as heavy AS hers. had ll-health
and poverty also to contend with Mrs William
Herbert at that time Miss Drummond. was the
originator Of the summer vacation plan for working
girls Thousands have since benefited by her
thoughtful suggestion, and many young working
women. scarcely able from day to day to keep up
under their heavy burdens. look forward all during
the year that fortnights rest and recreation
which have kindly been provided for them.
This Is only the last Of May. and our lists ire al
ready filled with applicants said Mrs. Richard IT.
vin the secretary Of the society. From sixteen
eighteen girls apply at the rooms Of the assoca-
ton every evening. Many who could not be sent
last year because OF the numbers already enrolled
apply early this in order o. be in time II is
very hard 10 say NO they eager for the
chance and when the long, hot days come they Will
.e I'm real need OF a change. but many have 10 be
denied because Of lack OF funds. We could use
srcc II We had IT, in really neeifu cases. Last
year We spent $1,000. This is the first season that
we have ever appealed to the public for aid, but
ing 10 the present financial depression. ~ smaller
amount OF money has come into the treasury than
ever before
I'VE ind throat diseases and lung troubles more
prevalent among the girls than any other form OF
...g.,s tor that Ga
anxious to raise funds for the support Of the new
Mountain House which has just been given us by
Mr. Dodge. The house is at Santa Clara, In the
AGirondacks. and the air there is particularly de-
firablc for certain classes OF our sick ones The
house ls all furnished. and money for its mainte-
nance Is all We need
You see how 1t IS" continued this noble hearted
lady who is an active worker In at least twenty
I'VE charitable organizations; these girls work until
they get entirely down. physically. They lose
nesh and weak that they are scarcely aoie 10
stand and attend 70 their duties from day TO day.
Then they take cold. They are just In the condi-
ton for the cold to take serious hold them and
their lungs become affected. In numerous cases the
brief respite work and worry we have been able
T. give them has restored them 10 such an extent
that although never quite strong. Trey are able TO
continue their work until the next holiday comes
around.
Las, season. Young grl came TO us with note
stor. She was one u the stock girls. large num-
Der of our applicants are stock and cash girls. The
salesgrls get better salaries The stock girls rarely
re, over s. or s. 80 a week This particular girl
looked So white and weary that We could scarcely
bear 70 question her. while she seemed utterly ndif-
feren "a TO her fate She had dropped on the fioor
OF the store that day from sheer exhaustion our
lss were filled for the season. but II seemed such
An urgent case that made the enort To send the
child away | say child. because she aid not appear
10 be- over eleven years old, though she said she
was fourteen and had been working for three years
with never a days holiday. Asked why she had
gone 10 work so young she replied simply that there
were eight Of them in the family. that she was the
Oldest and she had to- An exception was made
such as usually accord where the case Is
grave one and we sent her away for six weeks. long
enough 10 build her up. That trip saved her ne
Had she been unable to have change she could
not have lived many weeks
IAN our applicants are examined by one or more
OF our women physicians. and we try In every case
TO send only those for whom charge Is impera-
tive or for whom It Will act as n preventative or
sickness We generally keep few hundred dollars
as reserve fund In order TO help emergency cases
those who did not perhaps apply early In the sea-
son but who break down and fail really Ill when
the trying days come. II the public could know the
necessities OF these girls. be brought face to face
with their trials and sunerngs We are our appeal
for help would not be made In vain
"a young girl working in one OF the downtown
! stores was left by the sudden death OF her sister
with that sisters three young children 70 take care
Of She earned nine ten dollars week. ana she
supported the four of them on that sum OF money.
Looking after their clothes. sewing ana mending.
taking care OF them when they were sick. ana the
many cares involved In her assumed charge, be-
sides her daily work. proved too much FOR her ana
she fell H. We heard Of the case sent her away
for four weeks providing some one 10 take care OF
the children her absence and In reality saved her
NE Each season we send h'r ana tha niue on OF
/ freedom from care enables her TO bear up during
/ the rest OF the year. although she Is far from
| strong.
| I'm nearly every girls who possibly can dc
| 80 nav a portion OF their expense. some pay rs
much as s3 ~ A week others only 81 80 Often girls
! who have not saved any money ana ma II imposs
bile to pay anything come TO us months AFTER ano
| refund portion OF the cost
! "A large proportion OF our assistance mas come
| from schools The little house at Green's Farms
| conn was given to us eight years ago by the
| scholars of Miss Lucy NJ. Green, In former years
| prcceptress OF a popular girls school here In New
| York The gift intended as n testimonial &c
Miss Green who was living the time OF Its presen
! taton II accommodates only ten or eleven girls