The San Francisco call., 1896-11-09
TO HELP WORTHY WOMEN
The Associated Charities Are
Trying to Arrange a
New Plan.
Laundries and Workrooms Have
Proved to Be- Most Practicable
IN the East.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, !
9O8 Broadway, Nov g.

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
SOo Broadway, Nov. 8.
Having successfully launched a wood
yard where men can earn at least food and
lodging, until other employment can be
obtained for them, the Associa ted Chari-
ties is now directing its attention to I'M
employed women.
There are in this city quite number of
women who are able and willing to work,
but who are denied the privilege. By the
records kept in the office of the Associated
Charities it is known that they are in
every respect honorable and worthy. By
corresponding with other cities, the in
formation has been gained that the most
practical method of putting these women
in an independent position s by the
esta blishment of hrst-class laundries.
The public have, where the experiment
has been tried, been very generous in the
patronage OF such places, while it does
not appear that any alternating hardship
has been worked except probably by
throwing a Jew Chinese out of employ
ment.
Now that the desire of our hearts for
years has become fact" said Mrs. S. c.
Borland of the society, yesterday, land
begin on the other side of the problem and
provide work Tor women also. We refer,
of course, to unskilled laborers who need
just such an opportunity to work as the
woody ard affords to the men. We have
long feIt the necessity of this move, but
we have to proceed very slowly, as our
n cans are so limited. We have discussed
this question occasionally with the benevo-
lent and phllanthropic women of this
city, and we have every reason to believe
that as soon as they understand that the
association is ready and anxious to in
augurate such a work, they will respond
nobly to our plea with most generous con-
tributions.
Getting started in any business enter
prise is The hardest work. In con suiting
the reports which have come to our Office
from various cities we find the successful
and favorite plan for women is the estab-
lishment OF laundries and workrooms. In
Brooklyn the quality of work done in
their several laundries is first class. The
clothes are all washed and ironed oy hand
and no in furious chemicals are used. The
laundries are thus not only benefiting
those employed in them, but are render
| ing useful service in the community. In
| the various workrooms women are taught
| to repair and make over garments from
clothing donated, the garment then be-
coming their own property. Meals are
served at the rooms and women take their
| turn in preparing them. They are taught
the most economical way OF cooking, the
| setting of bles and house cleaning. Those
who cannot do heavier work cut and sew
| carpet rags. The result of this experiment
has been that a marked improvement has
| been noticed in the order and General de-
pertinent OF the women thus helped.
"Whe her laundry in this city in COM
| petition with the Chinese would be self
supporting we are not prepared to s. ay
| just now, but that some such work for
women is a necessity through the comi ng
winter is a self-evident tact"