The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-19

are Iessening every year; that the life in
the country town or on the farm has not
fitted her for the new and untried fields
She meets encouragement at every turn,
and the rOseate dreams fade one by one.
Modern progress demands much of the
people who serve. and is not tolerant OF
the ntried and the unframed. The girls
money disappears like magic, while she
YEARLY tries place after place in the hope
OF securing employment Loneliness and
despair ma her a ready victim, and It is
little wonder that when she has reached
the depts Of disappointment she too often
turns to the glitter OF the half-world and
is lost TO her people forever.
To meet the case of this girl. and Of the
thousands Of other girls like her, bands
OF loyal devoted women are working in
each big city OF the United States. The
Women's Christian associations have
taken the working girls and the business
woman to their hearts and are helping
them make a night for better opportuni-
ties and better living Preaching and liv-
ing the gospel Of helpfulness the women
Of these associations are loyal TO their be-
lief in the womanliness Of all women,
and in proof Of IL stand ready to help
them al all times.
When the country girl comes into a big
city nowadays, bewildered by the unusual
noises. the cry OF cabmen. the rattle Of
baggage trucks, and the roar of passing
trains, there is invariably a kind hearted
woman in the employ Of the ". c. A who
is waiting TO give her advice, 10 watch
over her and protect her If necessary. If
she has arranged for no place TO go, this
matrOn viii send her TO the association
home. where she viii be we'll cared for
This wise move on the part of the associa-
tons has saved many girls from piuful
fate. The depot matrOn. with the police
and the railroad officials. supporting her
on either hand. has become most power
ful influence in The suppression Of vice,
The W. c. \. home in the big city is
practical argument for more work like IT,
As a rule it is for working girls who
have no homes OF their own, whose means
are insufficient 10 live comfortably in
boarding houses. who are working for
small wages. or who have no work at all
In some cities provision is made for
women who are travelling alone. and
transients find these places like the
shadow OF a rock ia a weary land for
they offer protection and comfort. and
always at q most reasonable figure. The
homes are made as livable and attractive
as possible, and include many club and
school advantages. Gymnasums and
reading rooms are especial features. as
wei as classes in domestic science Eng
lish branches. and business methods. that
allow the unskilled and ignorant 10 pre-
pare themselves for paying positions.
aTs.Er 10
kind is so great in some cities, that
q girl who earns a good salary cannot
be taken In, and when some inmates
have been promoted TO salaries Of a
certain figure, they must pass on into
boarding houses or private homes. and
so make room for other girls who are
less fortunate in a financial sense. In
some places the entrance is governed
by an age limit. Women thiTty-five or
forty years old are able to take care
of themselves and be their own chap
erones, so they are asked TO leave the
homes and make room for young, un-
sophisticated girls who need the pro-
lection these institutions offer
This is only part of the work that
these associations have undertaken since
their beginning nearly fifty years ago.
Originally spiritual improvement was
the object Of the coming together of the
members; then as times advanced the
necessity for a practical demonstration
OF their general Christian spirit arose
They were ready. and the spirit spread
through colleges. schools churches, fac
tories, shops. and mills. One might say
OF the organization, as Miss Jane Adams
has said Of settlement work, 1T is not
for the rich only. nor for the poor only
but for all classes as the Lord mixes
them; not only for those who toll, but
for those who suffer from idleness.'
Rescue homes have been an important
factor in the work of the W, c, A. foI
twenty years. They have brought into
these homes women and girls who have
been weak and unfortunate. and have
helped them TO live better. cleaner lives
They have spent much time working
among the prisoners in jafIs and prisons
and the good done there is not to be
lightly estimated. The associations among
college women do much for the girls and
women. welcoming the strange and home
sick helping the ones who are working
their way through school. and at Christ
mas time making a happiness so wide
spread IN many poor families that the
faith Of the little ones in Santa Claus
is justified.
In the year book Of the Young Women's
Christian Associations of the United
States of America. the Oldest of the fed
Grated organizations is given as the
Ladies Christian Union. of New York,
which was founded in 1855. Ten years
later associations were formed in Akron
and Cincinnati. Ohio. Many of the West
ern associations were an outgrowth Of the
Co-educational movement When the girls
had affiliated themselves fer a while with
the Young Mems Christian Association
and saw the good work they argued among
themselves that a ike plan would be good
for women. Many societies sprang up IN
the colleges Of Ohio Illinois, and Michi-
gan, and by 1889 there were enough in
many of the States for centralized or
ganization. In 1856 these State unions
were represented al a meeting at Camp
Collie. Lake Geneva, Wis. and a national
organization perfected Last December
all the branches in the United States
were consolidated in one great working
body. the National Society OF the Young
Women's Christian Associations Of Amer
lea. The influence Of the order is nov
felt in every country in the world. while
the national order represents thirty de-
noninational bodies, whose aggregate
membership IS estimated al 100000
The International Sunshine Society
came into existence among the exchanges
and ink and paste and general disorder OF
a daily newspaper Office Probably, be-
cause of this. or because the woman