The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-07-29

make themselves klHuly USEFUL.
! believe most sincerely that for the
daughter OF Q mechanic or day laborer
who must earn her own living there
Is no way in which she can so easily
| accomplish that end as in domestic
service. Especially is this so here,
! ! think, for in most houses
| where woman would be
employed japanese or Chinese
man does the heavy work A self
respecting maid servant, who could
give intelligent care to young children,
act as housekeeper's assistant, seam
stress, or mothers helper could GER
tainly find ready employment. The
cash wages might not be very large,
but when the board, room and washing
are added to the ten or twelve dollars
month the total is not small. The
girl will find in addition that she gen.
orally has her evenings free. In most
instances the use of a sewing machine
will be readily given, so her clothes
need cost very little.
| should say--take into the home,
at first some girls in their early teens,
let them be taught that no work need
be mental If the worker will dignity II;
let them learn. under wise guidance
and from daily experience, OF the needs
Of little children: teach them the care,
the best care of household furniture,
linen, etc, etc; let them learn to do
laundry work and make them intelli-
gent and useful with needles and scis-
sors. When these first girls go from
the shelter supply their places, II pos
sible. from the grown up babies who
have had years of training and who
will have many less false estimates OF
life to contend with.
For the little children let there be
place made in the free kindergarten
for foreign children and later let
them be sent to the public schools.
Should any child show evidence OF
any especial gift let II be cultivated,
that the mature life may benefit by the
God-given talent VIII Oh without an in
telligent discovery and training might
have lain buried. | should think IL
might be quite practicable to admit
some baby boys, but they should be
removed at an early age TO one of the
boarding schools for boys.
realize that my mind picture is al
most ideal, but ! believe it possible
of attainment. All will depend on the
matron. the superintendent, the moth
ar--call her what you willard upon
the governing board. The woman In
charge must be blessed with Christian
common sense, n steady nerve, a heal
thy body. and out of necessity, be a
cultured woman. She must be one who
has worked and believes in work,
Then all who advise and mould the
policy must clearly understand the OBJ
ject--to take girls from the street and
10 fit them for a useful life. not lie
OF ease. not for school teaching, not
even. of necessity, for matrimony:
life of dignified self-respecting Christ
ian service. Do not misunderstood
me- would not train them away
from marriage, but that should not be
the goal. Many of them would IN
6oubtedly marry and create wholesome
happy homes; but many would not.
Let them look forward to a life of self
reliance. Show them that certain
part of the money received, II saved
each year will provide them with
ample means for years OF old age and
times of illness. Make them realize
that no home could quite suit their
taste: show them the great advantage
OF a-home with a private family. Pro-
lection. kindly interest, care during
illness. and for most books and papers
TO read; and cultivated home life in
which they may have part and
share of respect so long as they are
worthy OF 1t. The independence of
- 49, tn1
compensate for the protection and care
which she might receive in private
family.
Now as to the organiZation-l know
that the present demands upon this
Board are many and call for large
output of money and strength. but |
remember that II was here that the
Free Kindergarten and Children's Aid
Society was formed cared for and guild
ed till II could stand alone and now |
would appeal to you this second tine
for the good OF the children. should
suggest a simple organization. A gen.
eral secretary for children's aid might
be added to the Executive board. She
should have four women appointed
from the membership OF the Society.
"h's WIN Nl~ s''i'NtlN u
committee of five) should be respons-
ible for the property, policy and de-
tails of work. They should bring TO
this Board quarterly, or monthly. re-
port, NJ which time they should ask
Tor questions or advice The difficult
problem would be the finding Of n
matron. When she has been dscov-
cred should say 1T is time to begin. ."
My thought represents a plain, simple
home. where there Is happiness and
| mutual service. 1t viii be continually
| necessary to guard against IA loving,
! sympathetic interest, which will tend
/ to furnish surroundings Of convenience
! and comfort superior to those which
the waits will find in the homes where
they will later serve. When there are
larea siNteen-year-old girls living in
the home ! should think there would
he no further need Of hired servants
So far as possible | should do away
with the customs which frequently
make such institutions conspicuous.
There should be no uniform dress. 40
distinctive grades. The lie should be
as nearly as possible modelled after
the family life, each helping, each
adding to the common comfort and