Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-18
coLonIAL TEA.
TO BE GIVEN FOR THE BENEFIT
OF THE GIRLS HOME.

f u
Colonial Teas and Carnivals seem to
be the order of the day.
Those interested in the Girls Home
VIII give for the benefit of this splen-
uid philanthrophy, q beautiful colonial
tea. on the evening of February 22d.
The attractive program Will embrace
a cake walk, and lovely fancy dances
oy Miss Ethel Hardy's dancing class
Besides there Will be Il delicious supper.
and those patronizng the tea will be
received by little lady and gentleman
in true colonial costume.
Being given for n splendid cause, 1t
IS hoped that the public will generously
patronize the entertainment small
5 admission fee Of ten cents will be
charged. -
There are few cities of any note that
cannot claim an institution Of this kind.
Inc Girls home Of Norfolk was start
ed by a number of Christian women in
'lo3O. who realized the need of having
q nome where self-supporting young
women could secure board at O. low
rate. and at the same time find home
comforts and influences instead of hav-
Ing to live in cheap boarding houses.
The question was fully discussed by
these thoughtful women, and 1t was
decided that an Institution OF this kind
In Norfolk for sclf-rcspecting and self
supporting young women was u grow
ing need.
In February, 1890, with n small sum
of money amounting to about $50 and
great faith in the good work they were
starting. they rented n house at 5000 a
year, and established what is known as
The Girls Home. They soon had the
home comfortably furnished by dona-
lions from members and friends, and a
board of managers comnosed of ladies
from the different churches was chosen
TO have special supervision of the
home
Mrs. Luther Sheldon was chosen
president, and served in q most accep-
table manner for one year. Mrs. Will
liam Lauder was then elected to fill
the vacancy, which she has occupied
up TO the present time, and much OF
the success OF the home Is due to her
earnest efforts and Untiring zeal
charge of the home, and act as n
mother to the girls. The home has
prospcred, and ut the end of the first
year 1t was thought advisable to find q
more suitable house in another neigh
borhood. and this was done at n rental
OF SEQ per month.
In 1893 the ACCESSIBILITY of purchasing
building was discussed, and the
board of managers having secured n
charter under the name of 1.-THE Girls
Home" purchased at n cost $3.50
the house on the corner of Charlotte
and Brewer streets. The house is
commodious, having twelve rooms, all
Of which are comfortably furnished.
a mortgage of S3,350 is still to be paid
on the original debt, and the lady man
ayers appeal to the public TO aid them
pay off this debt. The cause is a most
worthy one, and it is hoped their an
peal will meet with q generous re-
sponse
The question has been asked, what
good Is such n home in our city?
Only the thoughtful and sclf-sacri-
ffcing women who compose the board
can answer that question 1t would
be impossible to enumernte the many
times that young girls have come to
the home out OF work and without
friends to help them, and have been
sheltered until work was found for
them.
In several instances young women
on their way to other cities have been
forced to stoD over, and owing to n
Sex OF FUNDS would have been sent to
+ &c station house, homeless and friend
IS, but for the home which took them
providing for their comfort, ana
entually paying their fare to their
estimation. One girl only IL years old
nose mother WIGS dead and whose
'Ather having been married again turn
% her from his door was taken into
ne home and kept until one was found
Tor her In good family. 4 large per
centage of those who have boarded in
the home have married and are doing
we'll e
1t is the earnest desire Of the mana
gers that this home shall be more
widely known. so that women travel
Ing alone passing through the city can
md homelike place to stay Mt mod
crate prices. Also, where yptrIr- W.
men who feel the necessity of coming
to the city to earn livelihood can
ind place to board where they will
not miss the home life left behind.
For the safety and protection Of the
, boarders, no one can obtain permanent
! board In the home without bringing
references.