New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-15
THE ELEANOR CLUBS.
C;fr Fed" Hotel To Be Like Them
Founder Praises Tr07cmart Inn.

r,,a a mother ever any child that could com
mare with her own? Never. surely Neither can
Miss Ina Law Robertson of Chicago find any
thing that can compare with the Eleanor clubs of
her city. Of which she is the founder though she
investigates everything IN the way of hotels for
women that are established in this country. She
has Just been looking over the field in New York
and though she couldn't find any Eleanor clubs
she Yves greatly interested in the Trowmart Inn
and the proposed city federation hotel of which
she might be considered the grandmother, for the
promoters or the plan have been in constant cor
reEpondence with her ever since IT projected.
The only practical Information they could get was
from Miss Robertson. and their aim is make the
city federation hotel as nearly possible like the
Eleanor clubs
Miss Robertson greatly admired the Trowmart
Inn The building she considers ideal and the
spirit that pervedes the place excellent but the
most significant part Of the enterprise to her Is
the line Of practical work which Mr.. Martin has
opened tn people of means.
BY accepting per cent upon his investment"
she said, Mr.. Martin has shown persons Of wealth
how they invest their money in q way to do
per cent on II. If there people who Will give
large sums of money outright there ought 10 he
many more ready to invest il in this way II they
only knew that it could be done. I don't know
how II may be in New York. but If any one were
10 give $4,000 to be expended in erecting resi-
Denial clubs for women In Chicago would under
take 70 pay II back at the Of s. co q year.
And It would be impossible 10 evpend $4,000 in
any way that would do q greater amount Of good
Miss Robertson expressed some surprise at the
sloWness with which the money for the city fed
GRAFTON hotel has come in.
IF people only knew the JOY Of it, she said.
The first Eleanor Club started by Miss Rob
er1son ten years q go. and has become a model for
Two more Of its kind in Chicago and for others
throughout the country The Jean Club in Omaha,
established this spring by Mrs Joseph Cudahy, is
modelled after the Elenaor clubs, and Cincinnati IS
now making plans for similar institution
Furthermore. the Chicago Woman's Club. that
peerless worker in the world of feminine organiza-
ton, has recently come forward with a public in
oorsement Of the work Of the Eleanor association.
i desires 10 cooperate with the association in ex-
tending its work, and next winter will arrange
series Of musical and literary entertainments for
The clubs.
All his is an unusual history for an enterprise
OF this kind. for homes for working girls not
commonly regarded with any great degree Of favor.
What is the secret of the Eleanor clubs?
L suppose said Miss Robertson. that the clubs
have succeeded because they give personal liberty
and they run on a strictly business basis for
the beneht Of the girls themselves No club Will
reach the working girl that doesn't give her lib
erty. She would rather put up with the discom-
forts Of the furnished room And no such club
will be successful that is not run on strictly
business principles. The manager should he en-
tirely free - consider only the interests Of the
girls The trouble with many homes Is that they
are used TO make places for the friends of the
managers. Mrs. Jones has given 500, and there
fore the home must be sadded for five years with
IN incompetent manager The fewer people who
share in the management the better. The Eleanor
clubs managed BY a committee Of uhree, which
meets over the telephone"
Miss Robertson started the first Eleanor Club,
she said because she had lots of girls and
wondered where they lived Then she got ac-
ouainted with them over counters and elsewhere,
and they told her where they lived and many other
things
when you are with girls" she said. you learn
LOT learned that they were engaged IN what
wss pra cticaly life and death struggle. II ap-
pealed TO me particularly at that time because
was alone in the city myself For II isn't only the
low selaried wage Garner who finds living a prob
IAN. For my part I wish ne could eliminate the
low wage feature. II Is not easy for the young
woman who earns SO or 81 or SIS a week 70 find
= place where she can live comfortably and safely
End not TOO expensively- I wish we could take
cf her, too. and let her keep her higher wages
for her funeral But while we can only provide
for z limited number feel obliged TO take those
only whose wages lowest. for II the girl who
earns So has her difficulties what must hs the
difficulty Of the one who earns only 81
The Eleanor clubs charge 81 IS a week for room
board IN the Of girls who earn 8 and
less week, and s. p a week in the case OF those
who $ and more. This includes the luncheon
carried % work. And when a girl is out or work
something is found for her 10 do about the club.
Tor which she is paid 10 cents an hour. Thus she
avoids running in debt and the club gets service
that II needs
The government is In the hands of the girls
themselves, and they are just as free as # they
in their homes. II girl wants 70 have
little spread in hsr room there are teacups ana
q puuchbo9yl and other necessities that she can
have. and If she prefers 10 use the dining room
OF the library she can do 50. Laundry privileges
cost five cents. and the girls furnish their own
soap, but the club supplies the blueing in selfde-
fence. Otherwise Il found there would be 4
stream II bIeing from garnet 10 cellar from the
bottles kept in each room There IS a piano IN
the dining room, almost every night after din
there IS dancing The library is supplied from
the earnings Of the club with books, papers ana
magazines selected by vote, and classes are also
arranged by vote. The rooms are arranged. some
with three beds and some with only one.
The maids make all the beds on weekdays, but
on Sundays the girls have agreed TO make their
own Each club pays per cent TO the Eleanor
Association its investment
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