The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-09
Plenty of Accommodations
"For Gentlemen Only
None for Female Clerks.
THEY ARE TOO FUSSY"
Women Who Have Rooms to Rent
Close Doors to Their
Own Sex.

An occasional contributor to the
columns of TIE LAKE COUNTY TIMES
and one who has made a close study
of this community. pays attention to
the homeless problem In the following
letter to the editor:
Rooms for Gentlemen Only Lots
of them in Hammond The sign stares
one in the face from numerous win
dows OF homes about town. some Of
them IN the most select residence por-
tions OF the city. But the card Rooms
for Ladies Only is conspicuous by its
absence Why? To the writer's per
sonal knowledge there are scores of
quiet ladyIike young women whose
dire needs would be met and their
spirits rejoiced. could such a sign greet
their eyes. To tell the plain truth.
Hammond folks treat the working girls
of this town in the shabbiest manner
possible. Gentlemen oh yes, they can
find rooms at every turn, and the best
is considered none too good for them.
even though my gentleman is out till
midnight five nights in the week and
comes home, when he does come, with
his skin full of bad booze and
breath like a buzzard's.
But rent a room to a girl? Never!
with big big m A night or two since
along about dusk our door bell rang
and slim bit Of a girl apparently
II or Is years OF age. stood on the
door step, and hesitatingIy asked to
SEQ. the lady of the house. She sank
gladly into a proffered chair and judg-
ing from our appearance. l suppose
that she was in immediate danger
sf assault, repeated the same old story
sf weary tramping from street to
street in search of place to lay her
head and tired body. She worked In
one of the cfty'ss large industrial plants,
received very good wages she said. for
a girl and was able and willing to
pay reasonable price for a quiet room
in any respectable house. Ours was
the tenth house at which she had
called since supper, and her daily work
was Of a character to keep her on her
feet from 1880 to $3.50. and as she ex-
pressed it at that moment she was
Just played out Looking at her face
1t was easy to believe all she said and
them some. We succeeded in securing
for her comfortable room in a neigh
boris house-we having none vacant.
Scores Of girls are in just the posi-
tion OF this caller of ours. They simply
q
Hammond. Why? Well, my wife. who
happens to be a woman. herself ex-
plains it something like this: No
woman wants woman roomer around
the house They're too fussy It's
Mrs. can I wash out a shirt
waist, or can I clean my kid gloves
down in the kitchen? It's this thing OF
that-all the time They are home
ing in everything. or else they bring
a pack Of fellows home with them
and sit out on the front porch giggline
and talking till IL or | o'clock. ther
like as not have to stay home the next
day and nurse a headache. Nc nC
women roomers for me. I'm sorry foi
the poor girls who can't find a hom,
anywhere. but l don't propose tC
turn my house upside down to please
any girl Why don't they set married
and make home Of their own?' Ant
there you arc.
But honest 1t does seem a trift
tough on the girls. doesn't it? WHY
don't some of those Women's Aid So
cieties which never seem TO ala any.
body. turn their attention to this cry.
Ing need Of their own sex under thei1
very noses2
With a dozen churches called Chris
tian. 1t would seem as though tn,
many lady members. with their sof
and silken talk and toss might pu
self aside long enough to see that theiI
honest working sisters have plac,
10 lay their tired heads. Their neigh
bors might talk some. bur Jesus 8
Nazareth would Be satisfied