Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-11-07
ABOUT REST RroMs.
What One Towns Club Women Have
Accomplished.

the fedefatltn Ul cluoS was oue w
Mrs. E. H. Greeley, Of Manhattan, on
"Rest Rooms" 1t was as follows:
REST ROOMS.
Our REST Room" at Manhattan
was between blacksmith shop aud
a meat market, with telephone pole
in front where we're fastened the
horses Of some dray or farmer wagon
ana facing a dusty street opposite a
ware house, an alley and the post
office.
The reasons for renting this little
three room cottage we're, it was cen.
trally located, easily found, was on
the ground floor and the rent only
500 a month.
Like Topsy, this "Rest Room" was
not born, it "growed," or, il it were
born, twas conceived and born from
the brains OF four Minervas at once,
who, at the Chsutauqua Assembly,
listened one summer to the history
OF the Burlington "Rest Room"
aud each Of the four listeners de-
cided it was a good thing for Man
haitian. Two Of these listeners talked
this matter over. One interviewed
prominent business men and found it
would be, in their minds, desirable
thing. The two visited the Grange
and the Grange voted it good" and
what was also equally desirable, voted
to furnish fuel for the coming winter.
These same two interviewed the own
ers of empty rooms and then an organ
ization was perfected. These same
two solicited aid from merchants who
gladly donated about fifty cents a
week for expenses. Then work be-
gan.
The little cottsge was rented, the
woodwork wa. painted a.cleam Color
the walls papered with blue 'in's and
the floor covered with a gray and
brown carpet. A lounge was loaned
and this, with ioot.rests, covered with
blue cretone. Lounge pillows OF yell
low silkoline with vines Of wood color
and dainty blossoms OF blue ard pale
pink. Pictures for the walls, easy
chairs, tables, clock, well stocked
work basket and mirror, were given
or loaned. The window shades were
of darker color than the woodwork
and the sash curtains were dainty
and white. On the stove, all winter
long, the ,ea.kettle sang cheerlly,
and a few cup, aud saucers, plates
and earthern teapot, were easily
placed on the "drop leaf" table with
its clean, white cover, so that any
who desired could sit down to a cuzy
lunch brought from home or pur-
chased in town.
Literature was generously donated
and many a farm home was bright
ened and gladdened by the reading
matter taken for the tired house
mother or little children. Women
from fifteen miles from town visited
the rooms, while those from few
miles were regular visitors when
they came to town with husband
father, brother or friends. Mothers
with little children expressed them
selves as glad Of place where the
children could be taken to q less pub
lie room thon the store Of the grocer
or drygoods merchant when the toilet
needed care and attention. lnvalids
we're often glad to come and rest, and
aged parents often waited for the sons
or husbands who we're attending a
stock sale or having farm machinery
mended.
The rooms, though furnished mex
pens vtly, were delight to strangers
on account Of the harmony aud rest
fulness OF the tints, half-tints and
quiet shades Of both rooms. One lady
opened the door and afterwards re-
mark ed, that it was SO pretty that
she thought she had made a mistake,
so went to the market to inquire il
that was the Rest Room. One woman
in England told her friends about this
Room and across the waters the
friends organized an association and
furnished for themselves Rest Room
also.
In tight months nearly thousand
names we're placed on the record
book. The Rooms we're open three
and four times each week and the
la gsst number on any one day was
folty-two; the least number recorded
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