New-York tribune., 1906-12-26
AIDS IMMIGRANT GIRLS.
Branch of Municipal League Helps Them in
Many WAYS.

An investigation Of the condition of immigrant
girls made in Philadelphia last summer under the
auspices of the Intermuncipal Research Commit
tee has led TO the establishment in New York.
under the auspices OF the research department of
the Woman's Municipal League. Of something
that seems to be quite new in the line OF phil
anthropy.
After looking up about six hundred cases, the
Investigator, Miss Rosa Fried. came to the cOnclu-
sion that what the immigrant girl needed was not
so much 10 have something more done for her as
TO be put in touch with existing opportunities. Ac
cQrdingly, little settlement has been started at
runs past St. Marks Church, for the purpose Of
couple of her assistants and directs a corps of
half dozen assistants. They have obtained a
between the ages of eleven and thirty. and are
ng TO adjust al % Wn0 or they g a Ga m a1 E 20 na
knows has never been done before. Neither has she
ever known of any one having access previously to
the records she is using
NEW WORK AHEAD.
After all the one thousand cases have been IN
vestigated, somo new work for immigrant girls. in
the way of boarding houses training schools or
whatever they may be found TO need, may be
undertaken. but mean time they are simply being
helped to make connections.
when we find girls satisfactorily situated we
let them alone" Miss Fried said in speaking Of
her work When they not try TO help
them to better conditions by getting them
them in touch with educational facilities, oil Of
wnCn, ny reason or their ignorance or the COun-
try they are unable TO do for themselves. We
have found people living within couple of
know that it existed The other day young
woman came to see me- and after talking to he. her
factor1ly employed and pleasantly situated In
lessons, for which, OF course, she could not af-
ford 10 pay a large price She did not know
were a Gozen places where she could get her les
Of these, and she went away happy.
GOOD DRFSSJAKFP COT%C. To WASTE
"a few weeks ago I found girl who had been
here only short time. employed at dressmakng
at 81 a week. I discovered that at home in Russia
she had been earning good salary at dressmak-
ing. knew that most dressmakers are suffering
for competent assistance and that the Clara de
Hrsch Home always has more demands than it
can supply So IT quite easy for me to get
work for her at more suitable wages.
iMterate and often their relatives or friends do
not encourage them 70 go to night school. They
husband. without knowing how 10 read and write.
iish-speaking friend to go with them to be enrolled
prevents their going 10 night schools. ! know Of
five times to be enrolled without succeeding nWinG
to her inability to speak English. and her reluCt-
trying to get ahead Of her Naturally under such
circumstances. girl gets discouraged and gives
REsCUING LITTLE GIRLS
quite number. too. are under school age, but
they go to work instead Of TO school I found
little girl Of eleven, stoOp-shoudered under sized
little thing. working from o'clock in the morning
until or o'clock at night She earned 81 3S the
week took her away, and Of this she paid 81 TO
her aunt for board. reported the case TO the So.
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
when we ind the girls living with strangers
usually try to get them other quarters and occa-
sionally we find some very bad cases Once we
discovered a girl Of sixteen living in room
occupied by man and his wife and twelve board
ers. Again. found two young girls sleeping O.
gether on lounge The lounge had been the bed
charity
MANY times. of course, are not able to find
population that is only TO be expected. Even when
girl hasn't moved 1t isn't always easy to tnd her
generally isn't known to the other people in the
house. The investigator often has TO rap at every
door, though the house may be six stories high,
with five families floor
Miss Fried is graduate of Barnard College, hav-
ing taken her degree this spring, and began the
present work during her last summers vacation