The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-24
Would Result i'm Perma-
nent Home for
THE FEMININE WAGE FARMERS
The Need of Such an Institution Il
Claiming Attention of Birmingham
Women-Miss Miners Break
fast for Miss Depew.

The department of philanthropy of the
Woman's club is considering the question
of opening lodging rooms for working wo-
men. The plan was brought before the
club at a recent meeting, and while there
has been no definite action taken as yet In
regard to the matter, there are a number
of women who are greatly interested. The
plan is to open lodging rooms in a oonven-
lent locality for working girls and women
who are without protection. The charge for
lodging will be nominal one, and there
would probably be a kitchen opened con-
Yeniently near whore coffee and light
lunches would be served at a small cost.
If the plan materializes there is every rea-
son to believe that the movement would as
sumo proportions that would later on re-
suit in Birmingham having a permanent
home for working women and girls.
There is a great deal of interest in the
movement not only among the women who
are discussing plans but among those who
feel the need of such an institution. With
a small beginning there would be great re-
suits, and beyond question a working wo-
mans home is needed in Birmingham.
In reference to the home for working wo-
men, which is to be built in Atlanta, the
following extract from the Journal gives
some Of the features of the proposed home:
Over the girls home a competent Superin-
tendent will preside 1t Is the great desire
of the noble women who are at work In this
to make the institution what 1t says, a
home for working girls. Not to be merely
a place to eat and sleep In but home, at
tractive, secure. comforting.
1t Is for the home, not only OF those who
have suffocated and starved for years in
the crowded tenements of the city, but for
those who come here as strangers and have
no friends to protect them.
1t will in this way prevent the ensnaring
of many an innocent, ignorant girl who
comes to the city alone hunting for work
1t Is meant also to be the home OF those
novices In the large Industrial institutions
of the city who receive no pay for two
weeks after their beginning to work until
they learn the trade. In cases ike this,
where the girls have nothing and are earn
Ing nothing, the boarding houses generally
ask pay in advance. This being an fmpos-
sibility, usually, those girls are reduced al
most to desperation. The new home pro-
poses to take care Of them, letting them IN
a way defray their living expenses by DO
ing some of the work about the house.
For those young women who are able to
pay more than $1.25 a week, and wish to
live in the home, they will be allowed 10
have separate rooms, II they desire II:
Everything VIII De Kept III suS. -
aecency as to please the most fastidious.
The constitution of the association says
the home Is to be for "wage-earning" wo-
men, There is not limit to the age tndi-
Gated. The only requisite is to be an hon
est wage-earner.
And the constitution does not limit the
benefciaries to those who are self-support-
ing, but only to the "wage-earners;" con-
sequently those who were unable to earn
their own living could at least do what they
could and receive the same benefits OF the
institution.