The sun., 1904-12-06
A CLUB FOR SERVANT GIRLS.
ONE OPENED IN TEE RACK BAY
DISTRICT or BOSTON.

IL Aims TO Promote Mutual Respect he.
tween Employers and Employees
1000 Members Already Enrolled
and 500 Families Join In the scheme.
BosroN, Mass, Dec. "A thoroughly
up to date club for servant girls was opened
Thursday at 542 Newbury street, In the
heart Of the aristocrado Back Bay dis
trict. The, object is to promote mutual
respect between employers and employees,
TO impress on the master and mistress that
the hired girl has certain rights and must
be treated with due respect: also reminding
the girls OF the rights and interests OF
their employers.
The scheme has the backing of fve
philanthropio citizens who hope through
sThe Domestic Service Union" the name
Of the organization, TO promote much
friendlier relations between employer and
servant. One thousand servants have
been enrolled as members, and fully 800
families, including some Of the wealthiest
in the city and suburbs, have pledged
their patronage, declaring that they VIII
engage In the future only members OF the
club.
Branch clubhouses are to be opened In
Roxbury, Cambridge, Dorchester, Newton
and Brookline for the accommodation OF
the servants who live in those districts and
find It difficult to visit the headquarters OF
the union In the city proper. The man
in active charge OF the union Is D. d.
Howell Boston business man. He says
Il at although the scheme Is new one
the hackers have no fear Of failure. They
have sufficient means to maintain H. and
believe that in time the club will be self
supporting by means OF beneht fund'
Besides bringing the servants into more
friendly relations with their employers,
other objects Of the organization are to
better the welfare OF so-called living out
girls by providing them with a clubhouse
where they can meet and entertain their
friends, develop their moral and social
status and provide free medical, legal and
employment departments
sTve been turning this servant girl puz-
zle over in my mind for years. said MIR.
Howell. To be frank, it was my own
personal experiences that gave birth to
the idea, for l have had no end OF trouble
with hired girls. as hundreds OF others
have; but think the influence OF our cluo
will do away with this evil In time and Lil
a load from humanity.
Il had no sooner perfected the plan than
l explained it to number OF wealthy men
of Boston, friends of mine, who gladly
offered whatever fn ancial aid was necessary
They did not wish to have their names
mentioned. I have secured s2o,Wo 70
start with, and can get as much more II
is needed. We figure that IT Will be SELL
supporting after II gets well under way,
and no returns are desired. A oeneht
fund raised by the members can support
il when things are ripe; ,,.
.Since June we have been hard at work.
Organizers have canvassed all the we'll TO
do families in the city proper ana suburbs,
and have secured the names OF 600 DO
mestics and more than 800 wealthy heaus
OF homes who pledge their patronase'
We are bound to succeed, for we are al
ready strongly installed and there Is no
scarcity of financial hacking.
we have leased the house at 5i2 New
bury street because a good location is
deemed necessary. IL contains Ten rooms
which are now being thoroughly furnished,
with a piano and all else TO make a
perfect clubhouse. There are parlors,
reception room, library, and bedrooms
upstairs for girls out OF employment.
Arrangements have been made for beds
in the Carney. Massachusetts General
St Elizabeth and HOMEOPATHIC hospitals;
ali else. no charge being levied on either
uartv for placing girls in desirable posi-
tions and we will give the highest references.
II is ant to prove a grav, rival to employ
ment bureaus. but We do not wish to con-
slider that phase. After time, 4 the mem
bers start a sick benefit, it will maintain
the institution, and In time, with the mem
bership constantly increasing. the project
will expand, resulting in homes for aged
domestics and the like. Fair treatment
is what we seek for the servant girls, ana
we wish to stamp out the impression that
their calling is any more lowly than dozens
OF other honest pursuits followed by
women.