The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-10-24
RESCUE WORK,

Captain Blancn Rothrock, Secre-
tary of the Salvation Army Rescue
Home for fallen girls of this state
located at Des MOines, was here the
past week in the interests OF that
institution. 1t has recently been en-
larged and is now in need OF more
funds to carry on the noble work. In
conversation with HERALD reporter
Captain Rothrock gave the following
outline OF the work and pressing
needs of the home:
OF the many branches of the Salvation
Army work, the least known by the gen
ca! public is the vast amount OF good ac
cOmpllshed in rescue work among fallen
girls. From the twenty houses in various
cities OF the United States, over enc thou
sand girls annually pass out to honorable
employment at one of the various occupa-
tiuns taught in Homes. Statistics show
that 50 percent permanently return to re
spectacle walks in life.
The work is necessarily carried on quiet
ly--not as a place Of covering up sin, but
where unfortunates are shielded from undue
publicity 1t is not inherent vice that
causes the downfall in many Cases-usually
environment and surroundings and lack Of
straight moral dealing and teaching are re-
sponstble. Once a misstep is taken, the
way down farther to life Of utter aban-
Gonment to vice and shame is always open
| The way back to an honest life and liyli-
hood is almost wholly closed, without prac-
tlcal help through some Home. Surely if
| there is a missionary work anywhere it is
in giving these unfortunates, often more
snned against than SHINING, chance to
regain q footing where the past mistake
need not be repeated.
| The Home for this state Is situated in
| Des Moines 1t started two years ago with
| accommodations for eighteen-Often twenty
! or twenty-three were sheltered at once.
About fifty girls will this year be dealt
| with.
| Requirements for entering include a will.
lngness on the part of the applicant to
work. and an agreement to remain three
months. The stay may be heightened II
necessary in each individual case. The
average time spent in the Home is from
four to five months. Thus two or three
| oSAS VI BilAo aAS PaSSCN OuL NuAluG Lut
year.
| The Home Is not a place Of ldieness II
is largely self-supporting through industrial
work. From laundry and sale Of needle
work. an average of seventy-ive dollars pei
month Is realized. Habits of industry thu,
inculcated, and ways of working are taught
The latter is very necessary, as frequently
girls have missed not only moral teaching
at their own homes, but are very ignorant
Of common details Of proper bousework
Special attention is paid to teaching such
Suitable situations are found for girl
when ready to leave the Home. usual!
with some motherly woman who will carr!
on the good instruction begun In the Home
The Home in Des Moines has teen car
rled on In a rented house In the suburbs
Now the work has become so widely knowI
throughout the state, and SO many wer
appealing for shelter that a lager hous
becomes an imperative necessity. A large
residence in a suitable location was secur
ed for $6500. This will accommodate
twenty-five at once. making number posslbI
to deal with In a year seventy Or eighty
Des Moines is raising one-half the price o
the property and we expect the state a
large to raise the rest. The money we ar
asking Is for the property and not for tn
work.