New-York tribune., 1902-04-06
HOME LIKE A CLUB
HOW THE BROOKLYN Y. ". c. A. is HELf-
ING TO SETTLE ONE PROBLEM.

One of the picturesque as well as practf
cal departments of the Brooklyn Young Women
Christian Association work is that KNOWN as INK
boarding department. 1t found that one OF
the most trying problems that the young "ohei
have to face is that of securing refined boarding
houses prices within the limited salaries tha
women, as a rule receive. Early in its existence
therefore, the managers of the association under
took relieve that need as far as tner "ediis
permitted and opened boarding house for mem
bers on a pleasant street in a good nelshooriiooo
The cost of board and room limited to
range OF from 81 30 a week to s. Some years ia'ef
1t became possible to secure the adjoining house
and now the two filled, and there Is waiting
list that would easily fill a third.
The houses are both what known as double
and were formerly occupied by families of wealth.
SO that all the rooms are large, airy and hand
some. A singularity of the establishment is the
absence Of the faintest suggestion of the ooarois
house atmosphere. The caller is ushered through
a marble tiled hall into spacious drawing rooih'
with moquette carpet and crimson plush draperles
and upholstery. All old fashioned, but, being
Of the character that would expect to find In
an old fashioned house the effect is all that couo
be desired. The two great mantelpeces OF the
ornate fashion of forty years ago, are striking
features that add the luxurious air OF the
room.
Eehind this apartment is what Miss Van BUS
kirk the superintendent calls the most i'm
ure gallery. and has dado and floor OF f1ne ola
polished oak. This is the evening resort or the
forty-four young women who board in the mousse
They gather here every evening. and talk or
dance while the pianola, a gift from Mrs Clinton
Rosster, gives them such music as any one wishes
from Wagner ragtime.
They have many little entertainments to which
they can invite friends and last week mas
querade was a source of mo end of fun.
Some of the costumes were lovely said Miss
Van Buskrk. ''One young woman represented
Night in black net dotted with gold stars. Her
hair loose. and. being so abundant that
IT reached almost her feet the effect was quite
that of a cloud
Another was a snowflake and looked very
sweet in her costume of white feeced cotton made
with the ieecy side out and trimmed with swans
There we're Gretchens Bridgets Dolly Vardens
could be, The chairman Of the committee CON
tributed ice cream and cakes. and the pianoa sup
piled as good dance MUSIC as an orchestra, so that
There is library and reading room opposite the
drawing room, where those who wish quiet can re,
a bit Of good statiiary here and there large
dining room: a smaller room for luncheon laun.
clothes may do and one large bedroom com
plete the list of rooms on the ground floor.
Upstairs are the sleeping rooms. They are ar
ranged in the fascnatngIy rambling manner Of old
three steps, and some by going down. Nearly all
of the many windows are embrasured that the
them are without the pleasant bits Of gree green
The small rooms rented to single occupants,
and the large shared by two. Sometimes three
find ample accommodation in rooms of extravag CANT
size where each can have her dressing case
and arrange her own portion best suits her,
pretty screens serving as partitions where neces-
sary.
Most of the express the individuality OF the
occupants in their decorations. and many ex-
tremely artistic in effect. Photographs. colored
prints. oil and watercolor sketches all seen.
while college flags and such souvenirs of good times
fiaunt their brightness from dim corners. which
they help to illuminate.
Even the exterior is inviting In front lawns
[
large sodded yard made of the two yards thrown
together which is used for croquet and has sum-
mer house. The dead walls Of neighborng
houses that inclose the space in summer COW
cred with Boston ivy and add to the attractveness
of the place.
A variety Of occupations is represented in this
pleasant club-for It more like that than a
boarding house. There stenographers milli-
ners dressmakers, clerks. and students in Pratt
| and similar institutions Of lea rning The low
| prices. which include luncheon allow these young
women TO live in an atmosphere of refinement not
| otherwise possible for them. Indeed there are
many high priced boarding houses not nearly so
desirable
There are no restrictions other than those in the
average home Young men are allowed to call