The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-01
woMAN's SHELTER Is OPENED
Salvation Army Starts In a New Saystem of
Relief and Charity.

New York, April 30.-The first Wo-
mans Shelter established by the Saliva
ton army in America is now in opera
ton at No. "a Bayard street, few doors
from Chatham square and the Bowery
The start was made about three weeks
ago, and the reason that no public an
nouncement of it has been made here
tofore IS that the officers thought il
important that what information did
get to the public il should come in
clear and accurate official statement.
The experiment is now 50 well under
way that the plan of operation and the
nature Of the work done can be given,
as we'll as the result thus far shown.
The building. which was offered 10
the Salvation army for this work. IS a
eix-foor house. with an excellent base
ment, but il IS narrow and not very
deep Thus far only the lower floors
have been fitted UP and they have been
filled every night. The present ar
rangements can Accommodate only about
forty-two women, and it is thought that
at this season OF the year II was doubt
full whether even that number would APP
ply. The result has been, however,
that women have to be turned away al
most every night, and will be during
the summer until the army is able TO fit
up the whole building, when they can
accommodate seventy-five. Whether this
will supply the demand or not cannot
yet be told. The work can progress
only through gifts, as the Shelter is not
yet self-supporting, as ii will be later.
The funds of the army are short now,
owing to the recent troubles, and there
Is nothing to apply to this work
In addition to this building there are
very large rn0r1S n h1Iildfrrr in
the rear. AS soon as these rooms can
be fitted I'D forty-fve or fifty beds Will
be put in, two feet apart. There are
now twenty-five. The other room VIII
be used for private meetings for the in
mates and as a general sitting room for
them. In the basement is a good wash
room. AS soon as money enough Is
received for this purpose this is TO be
converted into a regular laundry, so
that the women who seek shelter in the
institution may be able to earn enough
TO pay for their food and lodging, ard,
perhaps. something more, Now they are
allowed to bring any Of their own cloths
there that they choose and wash them.
On the first floor. besides the dormitOry
in the rear, is a kitchen and sort of
restaurant containing fOuro tables and
a counter, from which the women get
their food as they enter. The next
floor is for officers. 1t contains three
rooms, and now holds five officers who
are working there.
The third floor is not yet filed UP. As
soon as the army has money enough %
furnish Il. it viii be a slum post for Of
ficers who Will make their regular work
visiting the poor Of that neighborhood
and doing the regular work of the Stun
brigade In region where It is thought
10 be particularly needed. On the same
room is receiving room for the Rescue
Home. This home fer abandoned wo-
men Is in Harlem. There has been 4
good deal of decentralization in il caus-
ed by. ple presence Of women who pre-
tended 10 be patients in order 10 get
lodgings. This receiving room is in
tended to give a chance 10 test the sin
cerity of these women before introduce
ing them into the regular home. The
fourth floor viii he divided up into small
hooms for the more respectable women;
for those applying represent all kinds,
Each viii have separate bed. wash
stand and clean towel The fifth floor
Will be divided in the same way, and on
the top there will be a dormitory OF a
cheaper kind.
The army charges for the acCommo-
dations and food given the women in
order 10 prevent demoraltZing effects OF
pure charity. Women who take the
beds in the general dormitory pay %
cents. For this they SCI. besides 4
lodging. a breakfast and supper. Al
present these meals are very light. con-
sisting Of a pint Of tea and bread and
butter for supper, and a pint Of coffee
and bread and butter in the morning.
One Of the first uses OF any gifts which
arc received for This Shelter viii DO "a
give more substantial meals The wo-
men who take the single rooms VIII pay
Is cents. The doTmitory now in use
has white iron single beds Instead Of
springs or mattresses they have a piece
of canvass. laced at the head and foot,
with a comfortable slant which makes
pillows needless. A blanket is given
each lodger, and more than one on cold
nights.
All sorts OF women are admitted. even
those who are so badly intoxicated as
20 seem dangerous. Some who come are