New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-03
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LAUNDRY WORK AS AN ART.
TAUGHT BY GOOD INSTRUCTORS UNDER
CHARITIES AID AUSPICES.
IT Is ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE SER
WANTS I.EARN II OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TON or THE METHODS OF

THE INSTITUTION
New-York has rs yet no schoo where laundry
work is taught 20 pay pupils. There is class at
Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. and In Buffalo the
Woman's Club house has a classroom fitted With
all tho appliances of the modern laundry. In the
classes that graduate therefron are the daugh-
.,rs as well the housemaids. of the club women.
Some teaching is done however at the laundry
,peraied ny the Charity Organization Society. at
No $50 Park-ave.. Sixty-third-st. From the
eleven districts into which the city is divided by
the Charity Organization. the agents may send
deserving women TO learn the mysteries OF the
laundry This establishment opened for the fall
season only last week For eight years the work
has gone on.
Mrs. julia Dufield is the matron and general in
siructress and the women who have this especial
work under their supervision are Miss Annie Stone.
Miss Josephine Hamilton Miss Louise Caldwell,
Mrs Everett +. Wheeler and Miss Edith Bryce.
w +. Brush and e. NJ. Grinnell are the male
members of the committee.
ROOM FOR TWENTY TO WORK.
we have accommodations here for about twenty
women" said the matron to Tribune reporter
"Our reports show that we enter more thah TWO
hundred and fifty women at our laundry IN year
We pay them each to cents a day al first. AS
they learn how to work pay them more Oh
the whole number only 20 per cent remain long
enough to learn and are thus able TO go out TO
work 10 earn 81 % for washing OF 81 q" per GA!
for house aiming. We have constantly more de-
mands for workers than we can supply.
MANY of the applicants are indifferent ana
have no notion whatever Of learning anything
We have some to US actually not knowing
how to wash an apron. and sOre OF THESE very
ones are mothers of large families Then some
come knowing all about It and when th'y nav
to learn to do IL the right way they leave we
allow no washing compound used on the clothes
and sometimes they leave on this account we
employ only good old-fas honcd elbow grease. ana
we furnish the Charities Aid great test as 10
whether q woman really wishes TO help hersell
not.
THE CURRICULUM.
The first step in the instruction is t"e WASH
tub where they have wash tee coarse thirss'
such as towels and sheets. Tnoy have to ruo the
clothes until they clean. After 'leY nave
learned 10 wash they put 20 he ironing OF plah
things As they become proficient they are set TO
doing family clothes. later 70 ssrched thngs an, ana
learn how wash hanne.s and 10 60 the ihc
How long does it take? Well thai depend. n
tirely upon the She may earn in three
m meH Then. asain she win never learn. When
We find that woman l. indinereht We are no
allowed TO employ her more than TWO days IN a
What work do they consider the hardes; Of all
the branches OF laundry work.? was asked a.,
They ali complain u internal trouble and insist
that they cant do this So We have woman
who does that work and hangs on, the clothes.
ness OF the wasAToom agrees with hcr joints and
ire exercise q the wrnger-crank - ike oil 20 her
arms and shoulders. So she hangs out all nc
Clothes ara II She gotS We Il helps her rheumlt.s
This seems contrary to all the hygiene avs; now
ever she seems 10 know by experience
I'VE give them "A good meal at noon: Formerly
we gave them only tea. and they brought their own
hra1d bur the poor things Were only half fed and
could hardy work. about TWO years ago We h'.
gan 10 serve them a good not stew Of meat and
tSge,ablcs and bread and butter ana bowl Of tea
AN UNSATISFACTORY BUILDING.
Tho park Avenue Laundry "a this Institution Is
called i 2 very primitive affair The matron said:
This Mace IS a house fitted UP with the necessary
,iun,biug and the snall-sized rooms render i In
possib.e for many women to work at one time.
She led the way into the washroom. ana here.
&, room less than twelve feet square. four women
Wore rubbing at the tubs. In the front room,
which Is also small. half dozcn women were