New-York tribune., 1905-06-25
VACATION HOUSES FOR WORKERS.
Holiday Opportunities Enjoyed by Fortu.
nate Club Members.

With the drawing near of the vacation season
friendly interest questions concerning the working
womans vacation-a rare week or two set in the
midst of fifty devoted to stenography typesetting
saleswork, and. similar occupation. How shall the
problems Of railway fare and board be met and an
opportunity to live nationally and well for the brief
time be gained? The skilled working woman with
good salary faces no such difficulties: but the girl
who works for five six dollars a week searches
almost hopelessly for cheap hotel within reach of
her city at moderate fare. What is there for her
need? These questions, raised by a group of wo-
men recently. brought from one of the number
some interesting facts regarding vacation houses
for women workers.
In New-York, Pennsylvania Connecticut Massa-
chusetts, vacation or holiday houses have been
established in places accessible from the larger
cities for fare varying from ten cents 10 perhaps
two dollars. Several of the houses represent the
benevolent activity of individuals. In one charm
ing country place near Boston the owner virtually
eatertains groups Of eight to ten women for week
or so at a time all the sammer-women who enjoy
whole-heartedly the simple abundant food, the
wide old house the woods and the lake, and who
pay two and half dollars week for board. which
covers only the table expense In special cases the
guests are simply guests cases where monotonous
lives need relief from the daily grind.
Many Of these vacation houses represent the ef-
forts OF working -women's clubs. directed usually
by women Of leisure who workers in or friends
Of the clubs Philadelphia clubs maintain Whitford
clubs have their houses Long Island; Massa-
chusetts supports houses at Princeton Sauantum
and Bayside; Connecticut clubs have established
q house at Madison Here the value of Organized
efforts tells. The rent and certain fixed expenses
ot the house are raised through the winter by
club entertainments. and the running expenses are
met by the three or four dollars. approximate
amount, paid week for board As q rule, in these
houses the guests care for their rooms and put
them IN order for the next conner; in several OF
the houses cooperative system is followed in ac-
cordance with which the guests wash dishes set
and wait on table in turn. The work required is
decided upon by an executive council representing
the ellb or clubs having charge Of the house which
tration-
But most houses, states the informant, owe their
existence TO the affection and cooperation Of the
working women themselves. and To- the devotion of
the women OF leisure who work with the clubs
through the winter. The position of housekeeper
Is invariably filed by some cultivated and inter-
ested woman At many houses one or TWO hostess
as assist IN furnishing initiative picnics dances
oramaucs. and In fusing into delightful whole the
ecore or more unacQuainted guests who are thrown
together for a week or two The bousekeepers or
hostesses IN such vacation houses find their sum-
mere ful OF opportunities. The number of vacation
houses is small in comparison with the vastness
9, lhe need; but the number. however increases
from year TO year.