The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-25
BROAD SCHEME
FOR A NEW WORK
Mr. Rohledcr Suggests Purchase
OF y. NJ. c. r. Building for
Use OF Young Women.
RETAIN PRESENT FEATURES
Among Them Gymnasium. Where
Young Women Employed
May Find Recreation.

The suggestion is made in letter
which is printed below which viii oven
up the situation between the youne men
and the young ladies % Richmond
The idea. in brief. is that ccrtaiS we'll
to-do citizens OF Richmond purchas.. the
old y. NJ. a.. 4. building at sixth and
Main ~ soon az she young men can
give up possession. and after reffttiuc
tle building turn 1t into "a club FOR tho
Younger ladies OF Richmond. somewhat
after the plan 81 the y. NJ g. A. Tie
proposition includes the retention of the
gymnasium features in tic hands of "a
competent physical Instructor. with night
educational classes and social features.
tie institution being specially designed
as g. club for the great army of women
iu business ste nographer-s. bo0kkc cpsr s.
clerks and teachers- whosa occupation
creates "a necessity Tor scieutif- physical
exercise. The conception % Mr RON
l'der az course. presents some financial
difficulties. As every Improvement lu the
municipality does. bat % also offers it,
advantage.
The Y. NJ g. \ wound mot object ON
the contrary. tae plan offers them g.
ready sale Tor % buiiding.
Tho educational classes ass at present
conducted in the building would be- re
Nised iu accordance with The demands.
st"noEraphy and bookkeeping belrg
taught IN tho evenings The Christian
character made prominent IN Y NJ a. y.
work could also b. maintained in the
hands o. q competent lady iu charge.
who could conduct ladies' Bible classes
and meetings of similar character
IL is possible that the building could
( Do. rearranged 10 include rooms for tne
Richmond Art Club. thus bringing au-
other element among IN. Younger ladies
p Richmond 20 "a permanent home
Mr. Rohleder's Letter.
Nr Ronicdors letter is as follows
FOR TO-NIGHT-PEoOT TO S B W T
Editor of The Times u snatch
Having "A suggestion 20 make 90 the pun
JIG. which 7 think "a most timely one. 90
well as one deserving the most hearty
support Of all publlc-spiritcd men and
women. and feeling assured thar no bet
ter medium can h., found for tile intro
duction Of same than the columns az
Tho Times Disnatch. beg 10 submit for
your publication. and also 90 recommend
3 90 your special consideration. the follow
/ ing.
/ IN th- midst OF the excitement and
! enthusiasm attending the great work 81
T building q larger Y. NJ G.. A. hall. tho
, question arises. What is 90 loo done with
/ the old Y. ~ g.. a. building?
| 10 occurs 10 me that III. most natural
Do
/ use would Doc 20 convert this building.
/ which for years has been such comfort
20 its members into an un-to-dato gym
nasiun and school OF arts Tor women.
/ whore the voune. the middie-agcd and
3 oven the elderly women 81 our town
might be given the opportunity for special
training i'm those higher branches Of learn
ing. which appeal TO them. and where
ticv might also develop. as the Young
men OF our town have done. healthier
bodies. steadier nerves and all all-rOund
/ physical perfection.
That there is not only room here Tor
such institution. but that Richmond
mas actually grown to such uroportions
: that Il is an absolute necessity. is at
tested by the brave efforts tlrat are even
now being made by individuals 10 supply
? some one. some another Of the advan
tages suggested in the above plan. W,
have physical culture teachers i'm various
& parts OF the city. who are doing then
best with their limited facilities 20 i'm
prove the standards Of hygiene and cor
rect living among their pupils. There are
4, achers of art. Of history of languages
of music. each ono Individually doing h':
best. but each ono necessarily limited IL
/ his advantages. Think what IL glorious
thing il would bc for these Individual
60 combine their efforts so as 10 prOvid
better facilities for all;
But } must not allow myself to cXpatiat
bilitics Of the scheme at This time. / vii
confess that ANA very enthusiastic. an'
my tendency may b- 90 take zap too mucl
of your valuable space. so ] Will conhn
myself as much as possible 20 tle outlin
OF the plan in mind
would suggest that one OF more o
uur wcalthiasf citizens buy This old Y NJ
g. A. building and turn 10 over to
carefully lccted board OF governors a.
' supervisors. for definite number q
ycars-ten years would. Jon my opinion
br a sufficient time TO demonstratc th'
value Of tho scheme-to be tscd as q wo
mans gymnasium and school Of arts. pro
vision 90 be made for classes iu all tn
practical sciences in woman field. suci
as cooking. housekeeping etc. as well al
in the high arts. painting. singing. etc.
and the gymnasium to be put u charg,
l Of a competent Instructor and maintaine,
in the most approved manner
Tho plan is entirely feasible There