Connecticut western news., 1906-11-29
NOMAN'S REST ROOM
pRA,.TicAL WORK OF A TEXAS IM-
 PRovEMENT ASSOCIATION.

Houston, Tex.-How 1t Benefits
 Their own Sex.
 To organize body of women into a practical. working body, to meet what would seem an insurmountable item of expense to develop a work of great public moment. to afford comfort to thousands and to do 1t all without dis play and the sounding of trumpets Is an achievement seldom chronicled in these busy days. Such is the record of the Houston (TcX) Improvement league, as reported to the headquarters of the American Civic association Much was printed several months ago concerning the woman's rest room, but since the inauguration of that pub lie enterprise but little has been said of its workings outside of the circle of the industrious women who have made certain its progress. To learn now that from 100 to 200 women visit these rooms evey day, that 1t Is open throughout the entire week and to hear that within twenty-one months time that no less than 65,009 luncEcs have been served to weary )Clen i;- revelation to the public that has no: kept in touch with the progress that has been made by the league, The woman's rest room of Houston. Tex. Tas opened to the public Dec 19. t9J3. and from the day of the ore-iUg the public has practically taken charge of it A day has never passed by that less than 150 persons have been there.
 The Houston Improvement le2-;,2 was about month old when thcy Ge cidel in addition to the;r o,Ler c.v.c club work to establish Il wo2lan's rest room. It being just before Christmas and the season being so crowded with festivities. It was not considered expe- dient to undertake an entertainment at this time, as there was no money in the treasury, and little can be done toward fitting up clubrooms without money. It looked as though a permanent rest room must wait q more propitious sea son. Not so. The ladies of the league came forward with loans to the treas ury. An appeal was made to the basi- ness men of the city, and they respond ed most generously in donations of over $10O, besides nearly every article of furniture that was needed. In two weeks time the rooms were leased. re- modelled and Sprnished.
 The object of this enterprise was a pleasant quiet retreat centrally locat- ed, comfortably furnished with couch es, easy chairs, writing table. desks. etc. with dressing and toilet rooms, dining room for serving lunches for the free use of women who from any cause would need such convenience. The woman in business life can here spend her noon recess with privileges of the daily paper and late magazines. but above all the weary out of town shopper can here find rest, leave her parcels, freshen her toilet. drink cup of coffee, eat a sandwich or get what ever lunch she may want. Five cents is the amount charged for one serving. The business woman of Houston has here found happy comfort and recrea- ton for her tired body as she rests at her noon hour. AS no men are allowed in these rooms, when the couches are all filled she takes pillow and lays her weary self In quiet corner on the floor, which is neatly covered with matting To see a half dozen girls thus taking their little noon siesta is very common occurrence during the summer months.
 The woman's rest room of Houston occupies the entire second story of a whole floor of one of the prominent buildings on Maine street of that city. This floor is 100 feet deep and 34 feet wide, divided into dining room, toilet hnN o,,1 sitting rooms. The sick here find care and some very sick women, not only tho business women, but out of town shoppers have found soft pillow upon which to lay an aching head. Mothers leave their babies in the day nursery, where they are tenderly cared for. Here toys, story books and other amusements are found for the little ones. A close estimate shows that over 65,0O0 lunches have been served, not including the thousands of lunches that have been brought to the cafe and eaten in the dining room with no charges attached.
 During the month of January, 1905, 1t was decided by the members of the league to have a book sociaP' for the benefit of the rest room. In other words, every lady of Houston was in vited to the reception and was re- quested to bring one or more books. About 400 books were kindly donated; also the receptacles or bookcases to hold them. Our library, although in it's infancy, has gathered little month by month and Is now quite library. Books are taken daily, requiring only name. residence and place of business. These books are allowed to be kept out two weeks. 1 cent fine per day after that. Very few were lost.
 On June of this year our rest room had to be moved owing to the expira- ton of the lease. This meant overhaul Ing of building No. ? and an additional expense of $4OO. However, these ob- stacles were easily surmounted, hot and cold baths were placed for the con- yenience of the public larger and more