New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-13
A DOWNTOWN NURSERY.
Babies of Office Cleaners Cared For
While Mothers Toll.

With the purchase OF their new house and the
ding Of articles of Incorporation, the Downtown
Day Nursey has turned fresh chapter IN It's
career OF helpfulness Founded about three
years ago, especially for the babies OF the "onl-
en- who clean the great Office buildings oeio"
Canai-st, It long ago reached the limit or elgh-
,esn children which is all the Board OF Health
win allow It to accommodate in its present
rrarped quarters at No 120 Cedar-st.
.-There are three babies the waiting list
now under nine months DID," said Mrs. Z. n.
Yates the superintendent as she lee the way Up
the oilclothed stairs to the nursery
A nretty auburn haired nurse sat In low
chair In the centre OF the front room. bathing
brown eyed baby, bowling in her lap John
didn't Ike II q bit Tiny mite that he was. he
v,riggled and whimpered IN his efforts to set
ayray from that cruel giantess. But when you
are only six months old, and your mother mas
had TO hoard you out TO woman who neglected
you so that there are raw spots on your oooy-
e. In short you happen to be one of the worst
neglected babies any one ever saw. why what Is
TO be done?
Poor little Johnl His mother earns only 50
week out of which she had formerly paid SO for
her baby's board. She thought for that he ought
to be well cared for. When John has been In the
nursery bit longer he will be healthier and
happier. for what with crying with misery ne
hurt himself internally. not to mention falling
down and bruising his nose Just oe1ore ne was
admitted last Monday.
Every little while Jennie would toddle UP TO
see how things were going. Jennie's mother is
a Syrian peddier around the streets OF New
York. Her father has consumption
Although the day nursery was established
FOR the children of office cleaners explained
Mrs Yates, patting Jennie's round cheek. 1t
does quite as much for women who peddle or
work on kimonos. You see. We are right IN the
Syrian section, and as rule the Syrian wom-
an is not a charwoman- (Only charwomen don
call themselves charwomen here. They are
Office cleaners) The Syrian woman seems to
have a monopoly of kmono making. whether it
be the fine silk or the cheaper cotton, the long
or the short Formerly they used to work at
home Now they do the work in shops locking
their children up in their rooms or leaving them
with a neighbor for the day. unless they pr1ng
them TO
time of it than the office cleaner. UGsally she
must be at her building by o'clock IN the morn
ing Considering that these women come from
Prooblvn Staten Island and Jersey CITY ana
leave their little with US before reporting at
their Offices. it is easy TO see that they must ies .
their poor homes hours before the short winter
day begins They sweep, dust and SCRUB from
6 o'clock till $50 9:45. Then many or them
go 10 restaurants. where they wash dishes or
assist the chef till o'clock, when they return 70
their cleaning and keep it up till 80 O'Clock
Every building has a superintendent. Under
him there is a head scrubwoInan, to whom the
Office cleaners are responsible
"A cleaner generally has floor. or SO many any
rooms assigned to her. Her wages average 80
a month. paid fortnightly.
THE older children, who attend ST. Paurs Kin
dergarten came trooping in, and then eVerypo
fodd1ed upstairs to the low kindergarten taDles
for dinner only the babies remaining in their
cribs Folding their hands and squeezing up
their ewes the youngsters besought Gods bless
ing on the meal of which they were about 10
partake and then fell to" on the soup ana
meat and vegetables 80 ne.
Helen was there. looking as pleased Win ne
ss ~ her mother were not in an insane asylum;
T@-Itz was there, too because his father 1eI III
and ell the money went and his poor. ANXIOUS
snnl5en checked mother had to go into res
4aurant And Baby James was there, with ms
father serving a six years term In sing sing
and his mother peddling laces and pins me
man has never seen his baby one American
how comes down from The Bronx every morning
With his pretty young mother, who Is a s'eilos
rapher- ~, -. .,,o under
on holidays these lowly toilers or tne uIueI
world of high finance and great enterprises rare
Ill 81 the little Brick house with the bright
toraes hell pull at No. 80. Mrs. Harry Payne
xyTbi+nev and Mrs. Moses Taylor gave every
'otber a five-pound chicken last Thanksgiving
80 there were potatoes and apples ana cram
berries and coffee in each basket