New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-19
WORKING GIRLS HOMES.
THE P4IILANTHROPIC CLASS LISTENS TO
TWO ABLE SPEAKERS


A WHOLE DAY DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF LIFE
IN MENT-HoUsEs-rHp MODEL
BUILDINGS VISITED
SO vital was the interest IN the major report Of
Yesterday mornings session OF the philanthropic
class daily held IN the United Charities Building
that women no. on the programme availed them
selves Of the privilege OF talking out in meeting in
such a frank spirited way tina; the director sus-
rested that there might DO truth in the statement
he had read Of the existence Of female libelNAS
society"
"New-York Working Womens Homes WAS the
subject comprehensvely treated by Miss Mary
Bowley. whose wide and varied knowledge Of the
subject was splr.tedly supplemented by the per-
sonal experiences OF several members Of the class
NOT altogether complimentary TO the management
OF working womens sbodes Miss Bowley is one OF
the active movers IN the long contemplated WON
ems hotel
only about one-fourth Of the $4,000 working
women Of New-York." said Mics Bowley, have
ANYTHING Ike home However humble these may
be- they are homes. while the other three-fourths
have nothing suggestive Of a home despite they
NAV have many more comforts in their boarding
places than their sisters who live with their fan
lies but even these comforts do not make a home
The word home attached 10 any boarding place-be
II an Astoria or a eo-called homo for working
women at 81 30 ~eek. or the ordinary boarding
house-is misnomer. libel on tho sacred name.
The associations 70 any one who knows what Il
is TO have homo. too sacred 10 be desecrated
in this way. I learning said young woman
70 me 70 the astonishment of another Of different
social standing 10 despise and avoid place that
has home" Christian attached TO It Any
one who has lived in these places can appreciate
the girls feelings. Call these boarding places any
thing you please make them as comfortable an
homelike as you can but DO not call them homes.
Let me talk 20 you" continued the speaker. "of
the boarding places occupied by one hundred and
fifty thousand working women Of New-York who
have no homes There is no more interesting sub
feet deserving OF the attention OF thoughtful
Eew-York than the provision OF comfortable.
healthy places for the working women 10 I've us
the duty Of every citizen help put in the way OF
these hard-working hard-worked, self-respectng.
proud unselhsh. accomplishing women an oppor-
tunity TO 1--we comfortably and healthfully within
their limited means There ie not one Of these 80
called homes in New-York TO which there Is not
some decided and serious obje ,ton-
The chief trouble IS in the management The
rnatron is generally a woman too old. mentally de-
tective OF incapable for some reason Of filing any
other position. I lived in house OF this kind
where the latron because she needed the place for
self-support retained by mo managers. who
upheld her in many wrong things, despite com
plant At another home the matron got on sIrees
In other respects however she was far euper1o: 20
most women put at the head Of such establish
ment.. being pleasant kind and sympathetic when
she sober
Houses occupied for this purpose are usually old
residences In some unfashionable Improbable part
ot the city not repaired for years and TO b had
for li,tle rent The sanitary condition is generally
bod and the appearance Of the whole dingy and
uninvit!ng. Recently there have been improvements
in these directions.
THE W. c. T. o. HOUSE
The womans Christian Temperance Union has
built a new house IN lieu Of the two II hae occupied
for number Of years in Washington Square II
accommodates twenty women. II has baths on
each foor light sitting rooms and a pleasant din
ing-room the ground floor. instead OF the base
ment. The charge Is s. g week for single rooms ana
u each when two occupy room. II is great az
vance In the right direction. would suggest that
the matron Of such houses be not all object OF
charity. failure In all previous UNDERTAKINGS ano
given the position because some manager wishes to
md q place for her and get her off her hands She
should be woman Of sympathy and love TOR her
IMslow-women. Tact and Judgment SHOULD be hers
with All can ne led but they will not be driven
ms Is the secret OF the whole mansgement OF the
,so, with the business world. but. The contrary.
saIa ne xSrid pays her ansr FEELINGS o,oo, &,
=, ne woman who works from or o CLOCK IN
ne morning until or sometimes or 10 a. night
J Icy ise.s she earns her independence she ASK
respect and consideration The minute you hedge
her IN win all sorts Of unreasonable rules you cha-
,ehge her claim 20 respectabiity, and she reHents II
mere ar" only twelve fifteen OF those so-caHed
homes for me working women Of New YORK Atos
Sether, they cannot accommodate one thousand OF
me one hundred and hfty thousand women who are
boarding
TEMPORARY ABIDING PLACE
The Margaret Louisa Home Is the largest and
oest managed. II is only temporary abiding
pace Thirty-nve days In a year is the limit Tor
one person. Women crying out against the dis
comforts of the cheaper boarding houses The num-
per 81 working living in boarding houses
increases yearly. The Young Womens chris
.tan Association has from ten thousand TO tweVe
thousand applicants year for board at their BOARD
omeeetory The philanthropsts OF New-fork are
,mehehlns 20 their great need. No subject mas tne
teies OF 50 many classes OF people, nom the MIL
..1leite 10 the working man or woman me clergy
.ne ATTY. because all have II brought 10 their I'M
raeeolate attention by knowing some one personaIV
VINO needs such place TO live in. Soon we nope
70 nave hotel for women, that will supply "nat
se DINERS 40 not provide. Let not these oliieTeht
hShos OF abode be COMPOUNDED. No one wou!d c%
yect working man have time 10 COOK ms inea4s
IAo citan up his room. Why should woman VINO
acS position that takes from eight 10 Ten houls
VI nsr ine be expected or attempt TO DO any mousse
INC personal expressions Miss Bowleys interest
Wy paper evoked put the class In the proper nooo 10
us,en 10 the speaker OF the day, DR.. E. Il: L. Gouid
foruo NJ ondG