The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-29
THEY LIVE ON s. A WEEK.
FOrR yOCNG WOMEN SOLVE
PERPLELING QUESTION.
s.cur. Rooms with . 'Janitor At the Top Of
Tall Bsiidlng and Adopt u Cooperative
plan Vol Only Have q Delightful Home,
Int Are Mskiss Money BY H..

matter OF rent Statistics show that there
are now in this city nore than 2'o'uD women
and girls working in stores and shops on snl-
aries that on the average amount 10 a week
Some Of the places flled by the class referred
20 command az much ~ 81 and sS a week
There are hundreds Of others that pay a. much
AZ s. and so. but The majority yield from s.
TO q. and the average Ia not more than g.
The bulk of this great army 81 women and
girls live orderly, decent and clean lives and
existence Is not unpleasant or "fhou' lts COM
! pensations. The question or enough 10 eat,
and to wear, and a comfortable room IN which
to spend leisure time, Is not so dlNlcult Tor the
lowly poor 10 solve as is the problem now 10
maintain u large family on one, two or even
three thousand dollars a year, 10 The AMBITIOUS
| heads Of families who want their children TO be
So situated that they can reach me social l'e
| Of the planes above Their oNn
The liberty Of the poor is not known or ap-
preciated by persons above them. where de-
sires and ambitions make slaves OF these who
lose the enjoyment that might cone from
the blessings possessed. Correspondents OF
THESrN are constantly asking FOR Information
regarding ways 10 find apartments and houses
which can he rented A. prices within the reach
Of people Of incomes that do not permit much
outlay for rent And they are furnishing 70
its readers a aide and varied acquaintance
with life in New York ns lived by IN" respect
able poor. Yet nor one ot the many who clamor
FOR houses and apartments, at Nhnt they call
reasonable rents, has manifested any roaIi'a-
ton OF the fact that the difficulty they ey-
perience Is due 10 their own Ignorance, and not
IN any lack ~ opportunity 10 live in New York
on the salaries they earn, and 70 live above
worry, in 80 doing
The true story OF the lives 81 four
women wage earners, who have solved the
problem Of cheap living by cooperation may
be Of more real help 20 the homeless thou
sands who now inhablt boarding houses, thal
Q table Of prices, made up from the reports
OF landladie, or house agents. small incomes
can be- made more efficient BY COOPERATION. and
right management. Four women whose
combined wages are $50 a week, acting on NE
advice Of a woman in better circun-
stances than themselves, who, by reason Of her
larger outlook on He. secs more possibilities
than they could realize. hedsed in, as they ara,
by constant service every day, POSSESS q
home that - the abode Of comfort, Cleanliness,
ald entire los"nC" OF worry over the Iutsuoh
how 20 make both ends meet. This h~ensfar-
tress, who had an ACQUAINTANCE WIN thrse
salesvoInen only az a regular customer IN
a retail store in this city talked with thers
u their mode Of living and mad" herself OF
rae 10 them hy her suggestions ot a hetter vav
u live than boarding in the cheap manner In
W. iCh they were compelled 10 board. Women,
FAR more than men, 'eeI the enforced M
| activity Of boarding. house life. where they
are wage Garner, and fnd no 'elitdrhisl 50
hons occupation would be a rest, II not an IN
spir1rOn. on holidays, sundays and al times
when not in attendance at Their places ot busl-
Ness. When II was show 70 these four women
who were roommatss In an Fast Side board
INK house. that by Intelligent cooperation they
could have a home, IN Us real sense they gladly
accepted the guidance OF their ADVISER. and
WITH her assistance sought and lound, not only
a place 10 live In, but a home, where they live
happily and protitably for not only have they
managed to live on less than when boarding,
but are earning money BY the possession n
their cooperative home They had not when
they reached the decision To keep house 'or
themselves any article Of furniture, lew per-
sonal belongings and no money aid by 10 ex-
pend jIpon rent or turnlshings. They are liv-
ing to-day In a wel-ordered home, managed
in a thoroughly busine~slike manner, and are
successful hey ond their most sans'Iine ex-
pectariOns.
These women began their housekeeping eI-
perience, not IN a fat, but IN the top OF a great
ONCE building near their place ~ business. and
the view from the windows Of their rooms
embraces the tops ~ ncres OF houses, the Hudson
River and The Jersey fields beyond The ami
tors aoor in this building Is large and lofty,
and there IL an abundance Of living rooms
Having no children The lanltor and his wife
were gao 10 rent TDOUl- % lIlrSF NbUlrI4 mo
wore IN business and out Of the house Al. day,
The roof OF the building was fat, Offering pOssi-
bllltles OF gardening, and drying clothes, and
very soon they were a. attached 10 their little
home at the top Of the tall building as they
could have been anywhere The stairs are long
and they are FAR from the ground. but tho fire
escapes are adequate. and there Is such sunday
quiet up there n all times that II - pleaSanter
than any Hat could be possibly. and they have
home and Independence, and are from week 10
week improving their condition and making
fhair futirp br right nv rpasBD of their prp apn Z
prosperity.
honest and courageous enough 10 De- -ell deny
ing and INST. Not ion. after they had Succeeded
in paying tor All the furniture they required
they bought a sewing machine and set apart
one Of their rooms FOR sewing There AZ night
and in early mornings they did their own sew
ing and found Themselves able t. dress better
because they could make their own garUent
Busy in the evenings. they had no sense Ot l0nel-
ness. nor did they realize that they vera cut
of from the society that gathers IN boarding
houses or MSS the entertainments provided
for the die In such places. These women were
less than A year IN tinding out hat they could
I've and dress comfortably on their salaries, and
save a lIttl" for u common !und, and IN another
six months one OF their numh"r had gwen ~
her place in tha .tors and opened a Dress
making and general sowing department IN their
SKY parl9r and had oil the work that she could
do Tor the empowers of the store. VINO gadlr
avaAad themselves ~ tho chance To ha,e heir
clothsnR well and simply made This depart
mant. ike all others IN TINS COOPERATIVE home,
was run ipr ln'lT mutual D'UFlI, ana AI 'nelr
earnings were pnt INTO II 10 max" q successful
start. ~ present they employ the I|anltOr'S
wl'a 70 help them sew, and have Two glrIs en-
pl we'd rs vpu And their servant not only
kpeps their homo n order and comfort, but
they take IN rha laundry work NJ two Of their
associates. and bv 50 doing earn the servants
wages each month
None ~ th'-e yorlen 5 remarkable for
mental gifts, nor are they exceptionally lnGus-
trous But they hav" been fortunate IN the
fr en. ship Ct n woman whose > ucatlOn and
leisure enable her TO help them 70 form the
best plan. AMI 10 get IN" rght place 70 i've n.
an / 10 make he attempt without getting INTO
Cpb'. Ant the. we're al ol enough 10 know
forCrrness e bCardluG-htusn 40 enc ~
them. Dy herself, 'Olu. not have -rI,rre -
IN starting a home four ,ftheul together cou.u.
an their wise fr'n, , rsG no r,r them he-
fore tho ATTEMPT va I'M " y written agree
mrrt h." which Each ln"Hmc "a hiutr b,uul
TO % nor share Il the work. an. 10 lake nsr
Uart Of the resv'n-tbnltv an. to make the prom
SO that IN" cooperation nlan ,houiu he con-
tlnueI for three y"nrS They hHI no ,arge
eaS Of getting into the best ICCnitv-they
ola not seek Hats with a., the moGern conven-
iences, for thny could not pnv a months rent
Of one 81 them But they htrpf three rooms IN
n lanlfOrs garret Apartment where thera was
no suggestion Of a garrett but larga ana Chcer-
shl ne. anQ where thev oculu bs rot reI and free
from interruption when they CIa not want
others about them Paving a small rental
they were enabloI 10 buy sCneth ng from tine
TO time for thor rooms an hIrlrg from he
common purse thrv cou,u Iay cash "a ger
gnoi nruC.s> The" ha NOT money at first
for al Their nece-sIties, but they hal the l.Sa
Of thar IanIOr's range 10 cook her fcOi on.
an lhey ouck!" ma . n worth the while u
the ~lanI'Crg wife 20 take hem ~ table boar =
ers until 'hev Ccuti gpt NJ thalr own estno-
Ishment. Am when Ihev reasc ncl ou' that
one a. was enough for Goth families. tho m