The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-25
GOOD WORK BEING DONE in
INTEREST OF YOUNG WOMEN.

In this age OF philanthropy and be-
nevolence nothing is more apparent than
the great work which is being done In
all large cities for young women, work
ing women especially.
IL Is distinctly encouraging TO note the
progress that is being made along this
line for there never existed a greater
need to stretch forth the helping hand
to the working girls of the land than In
the present, when each passing year
swells the great army OF women who
toll for their daily bread.
In Providence as elsewhere exists the
most pressing need of lifting the burdens
OF the young women of the stores, the
factories and the shops whose one
dreary monotonous round becomes Oft
times intolerable and whose resting
spaces are few and far between. To all
such as these and to others also whose
opportunities have been greater
Evangelical Young womens Christ
Ian association at 25i Washington street,
is a veritable oasis in the desert
haven OF rest where physical. mental and
spiritual upllft can always be found
AS is we'll known the society was or
panized for the purpose OF carrying on
religious, charitable and literary work
for and among young women and 1t has
not only accomplished the purpose Tor
which IL was organized In large degree
but has branched out i'm many other di-
rections I'm the offort to brighten and ele-
| vate the lives OF young women and chill
| dren. In a recent report OF the work the
general secretary gives the Following
| statistics.
INTERESTING STATISTICS.
There are In this city $4,000 self-sup-
| porting young women-not including mar
! ried women who wholly or partially sup
| mort themselves and their families; bo9I
are EMPLOYED in shops. factories and
4 mills SeSS are I'm domestic service; 1900
| are clerks in stores.
| over 1000 are girls under Us years OF
| ace \ much larger number OF them ar.
\ away from their own homes than any
| boarding home could accommodate; and
4 large number of these who live with
| their friends have no healthful home In
| fiuences.
tween the ages OF 10 and l6; and of hun
| dreds OF even these the same statement
| could be made-that no one cares how OF
! where they spend their evenings.
| "The police records tell only too plain
iv 90 the results OF the evenings spent II
aimless wandering about the street.
locking for amusement. We cannot begii
too soon to draw them in 20 spend tn
hours out OF school where temptation
cannot lay hold upon them"
| II viii be seen from these figures hov
great is the need of association worl
among young women and-as the gen
| cdal secretary adds:
.''rhere is no part of our work that !
bearing richer fruit than our girls dc
partment"
BESIDES the Saturday afternoon sewln
classes open TO all girls under l6 thi
work now includes four sclf-governin
clubs two meeting on "Wednesday an
| saturday afternoons, the others com
posed OF girls who work meeting tw
evenings I'm the week
'lts 2oi members include all classo
and oil naiionalities.
some arc from the very poorest fan
nies others are from comfortabl
| homes.
THE EDUCATIONAL WORK.
of great importance Is the education'
4 work During HE year ~ evening -els'~'s'
. have been in session With an enroilmei
, ! "a tts different Young women The lal
/, ,est class was that of millinery, with
, | members. other classes were Englls
branches. penmanship. bookkeeping
I shorthnnd. ciocution languages. instr
d mental and vocal music. practical dres
/. making ombroidering. cooking etc. W
4 ! struction has been rivcu in au thc'
. brnnches fnr un Insignificant Zee.
/, lectures on physiology aud hygicf