Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-07
WORKING WoMENS HOME
INSTITUTION IN CHARGE OF SISTERS
OF MERCY.
New Building fnoCOurse of COnstruc-
ton I'm Thfs city-A Train-
ingsSchOOl.

More than seventy years ago Catharine
McCauley. an Irish slady of rare accom-
| plishments, founded an order whose object
| was to provide home for working women.
To the Sisters OF Mercy Washington Is In
debteo for their services at the Douglas
Hospital during the civil war. and now that
| the city offers so fair field for the work OF
| the order, they have returned to establish
| home for girls employed or seeking en-
| ployment l1ere-the Institution being named
for the lady mentioned. The Elliott house
on North Capitol street afforded them their
first shelter, but the requirements OF the
institution soon outgrew Its limits. and
they moved to their present habitation on
East Capitol street.
The new st. Catharine's Home in course
| OF erection stands on picturesque corner
formed by the juncture OF North Carolina
avenue and E street at list street southeast,
and is prominent amid it's surroundings Tor
the grace and dignity of Its architecture.
The main entrance Of carved white sand
stone fronts the point and opens upon the
lower floor into long corridor to the leit
of which stretches the dining hall the full
length Of the fat side facing North Caro-
lima avenue, and Is lighted by nine large
windows. Beyond this are the sisters re-
fectory the furnace room and several small
rooms convenient for culinary purposes
The kitchen. a one-storied structure. opens
upon the court. and Is SO constructed as TO
prevent the usual evidence OF meal time
throughout the house.
To get back to the entrance is easily ef-
feCted over the smooth cemented moor or
the hall. and a broad stairway leads 10 the
parlors and reception rooms ABOVE. a sioe
entrance opens upon the first hoor from
North Carolina avenue for the convenience
Of the girls going to and coming from work.
Beyond this are their rooms on both sizes
Of the long hall. Back Of the side entrance
is the main stairway, which leads above to
the third floor. Here a hallway separates
on the right another line OF rooms ana
leads on the left to the chapel. A small
doorway behind the altar opens into the
Vestry rooms and apartments for the clergy.
forming something Hike mystic maze with
two other rooms, whose possibly belated oc-
eurants might be found trying to trace
their way out into the narrow passage
which connects with the main hall.
The sisters apartments and community
room are upon this floor, and above on the
fourth are twenty-eight other rooms, FORM
ing in all accommodations for over one hum
dred boarders. On all the floors are tiled
bath rooms fitted with perfect sanitary
plumbing. narrow stairway ascends to
the attic.
For Those Getting Small Pay.
Washington, 1t is contended presents all
the difficulties Of climate without the COM
pensating cheapness Of the tropics. and
the stranger within her gates faces the
problem OF how to make a moderate sal
airy meet the expenses of comfortable liv-
ing. To young girls. for whom such diff
Guilty is fraught with untold danger, St.
Catharine's Home offers a pleasant refuge,
where refined surroundings will enable
them 20 keep up with accepted standards
Of culture at very small cost. Here, too.
those whose expectations in the way of
employment have not yet reached realiza
ton may spend the interval OF waiting
proftabiy by applying themselves to indus
trial pursuits which the sisters purpose to
carry on in their new home.
A training school for girls whose early
rearing and environment have given them
small chance Of earning livelihood will
be esta blished. where they will be taught
systematic methods 81 work and placed in
communication with those who may be in
need OF their services. thus proving a ben
eft to both classes Of society. Reading
circles will famiiiariZe with the best
thought of the age others who have hith-
erto been deprived OF the advantages at
tendant upon proper guidance in the Sc
lection of literature. To accomplish this
good work, the sisters have courageously
placed themselves under very heavy finan-
cial obligations. No expense has been
spared to make their new building as COM
Portable and attractive as possible