St. Paul daily globe., 1896-02-03
SERVING OF FOOD FOR THE
POOR.
THE DRESS CLUBS OF THE x. L. sps.
RESPONSIBILITIES Which Are Laid on
Little ChiIdren-Washing, Iron-
ing and Nursing.


care so tenderly for those younger and
more helplessEwho looks after them
The Tribune's fresh air fund provides
for the children, but these older ones,
who scrub and keep house and mind
the babies while their parents are
away at work, cannot be spared for
an outing. That is why their little
faces look so wan and old and un-
childlike. I wonder If 1 couldn't lift
their burdens a little?'
FORMATION OF LITTLE MOTHERS.
This lady was influential, and she
soon brought a number of her friends
into sympathy with her views regard
Ing the tenement house children. AS a
result of her meditations on Stuyvesant
square and its infant battalion and at
tendants. the present Little Mothers
association was formed, numbering
scores of small unfortunates from any
and every poor district in the city,
from the tough quarter on Thirty
ninth street between Eighth and Elev-
enth avenues, known as ''HelPs Kitch-
en-" to the darksome, crowded lanes
and alleys in the vicinity of Delaney,
Ridge and Hester streets.
The Little Mothers have recently
had dispensary provided for them
ct their headquarters on Third avenue
where for 10 cents can be procured a
Hose of medicine that costs IS cents
Now generous friends have arranged
series of cooking lessons under the
direction of the bureau of domestic
science. A dress club, tending to in
c111catn correct ideas fpoar6i,1cr II,
dress, is one of the new features of
this seasons work; sewing schools
they already have, but these practice
lessons in cooking are altogether the
pleasantest and most practical aids in
the way Of self-help that have fallen to
their lot.
we are to make biscuits to take
home on Saturday." said one little
midget, in gleeful tones, as she un-
fastened her white apron after the
class was dismissed
Yes, amt that nice?" agreed the
stoop-shouldered miss who stood next,
but like the potpie best The meat
all steams through the crust and makes
it SO rich and juicy"
DO you carry your samples home?"
asked visitor, who had watched the
experimental lesson
Sometimes" was the answer. "The
other afternoon we each had peach
pie, and once before we had cake all
round"
Most of the Little Mothers are from
eight to fourteen years old, although
exceptional cases have been known as
young as four years. There is an un
n Ia in, h.
only girls from a family where there
Is a baby are eligible as members, but
OFTEN the ladies infringe on this rule
and mako girl a Little Mother whose
younger brothers and sisters are walk
Ing and talking, and have outgrown
babyhood
1t is pretty sight to see these fort
unate little unfortunates at their cook,
Ing lessons, and note the interest they
take in every word and movement of
their teacher. Blonde. black and brown
tfesses are alike tucked neatly awav
under. white mobcaps. Long white
aprons are fastened about each child
ism form, and the row of prospective
COOKS, with their bright ewes and
peamlng faces, is as promising q LOT
OF material as any instructor might de-
sire.
YOU slft in the baking powder So"
demonstrates Miss Sickels, land n,t
In this much salt'-measuring tha
quantity-"and, what do 1 put in next
f5r biscuits?''
=, Inc butter" answers the smallest of
Ihe class, breathlessly eager for faar
,ohle one might answer ahead of her
ana so the lesson goes on. a cantain
ana Two assistants being appointed each
day before. VI Tie
IT is in the cooking and serving Of
plopei LOU Tor the poor that the true
secret OF reform lies" remarks Miss
Slckels, as she turns her little nrotegas
over to an assistant, who will further
drill them in their lesson.
IL is my opinion that more than half
OF the men and women. too who have
recourse to the grog shops, go there
because their bodies are starved. Good
cooking is an art; an art little under
STOOD and seldom practiced. These chill
dren have not much to do with not
Hluch material to cook; but thew can
pc Taught to prepare it in such a wav
that 1T Will be appetizing and benefi-
cial." "eiieii-
*. L. MS AND DRESS CLUBS.
"I have been much interested IN tho
dress club started this fall" said a
woman well-known in charitable work
1t Is among the X. l.. Ms that we
nope to do the most good with that
ana who, or what, are the x. T..
MS? was asked.
They are the eX-Little Mothers who
have outgrown the office Of Little Moth
ers and become breadwinners. The as
soc1atlon does not wish to lose influence
over them, so the social organization
called the x. l.. Ms was formed to
Keep them together. These young girls
nave little money to spend and seldom
know how to spend it wisely. They will
buy cheap finery for their outward
adornment, and be absolutely witho,,t
necessary underclething.
1t is our custom to take the LITTLE
mothers each summer on little trims
TO our country house, at Pelham Raw
Park. Associated intimately with them
there, we learn these little details re-
garding their dress. One of our chan
erons in the Jewish quarter the other
DAY discovered that a Little Mother, a
en- cnlid OF delicate physique, was wear
ing no less than four petticoats pinned
tlght about her waist, all soiled and
bedraggled, while her outer skirt was
or SILK, trimmed with cheap tinsel. the
jacket being OF some crepe material all
tr1gged out with cheap lace. The cost
OF tnat outer suit would have got the
child two good strong dresses and all
that weight about her hips was actual
ly suicidal. We want to try and ex
plain to them the comfort and suitable
ness OF healthful dressing, and so the
Dress club has been formed as a part
Of our work for this winter.
"Often when we adopt new Little