The Washington herald., 1908-02-16


ent Sex-work In Washington.
One Of the most deserving charities IN
this city, and possibly given the least
publicity, is the National Florence Crit
tenton Mission and Training School. on
Third street.
Designed particularly TO help homeless
and friendless girls and women, it has
carried on this good work for many years
with ever-increasing usefulness
The home includes a training school, a
sanatorium. a children's guild, and the
home itself. Each department is strength
ened and made more valuable by its as
sociation with the others.
There are two large. eommodious, and
weIl-equipped buildings. The school and
guild are located at 218 Third street north-
west The home for girls is at 90 c
street northwest. All are under the su-
pervision OF experienced and trustworthy
sUperintendents and attendants
Trained ia Earn a Living.
The training school is for the purpose Of
training young women of good character
to earn their living. either in Christian
work or business vocatiOns. Among the
branches taught are domestic science,
nursing, bookkeeping, and stenography.
in the sanatorium women and children
are received for treatment under skilled
physicians and nurses.
In the department Of the children's
guild little ones are temporarily received
until their parents can make permanent
arrangements for them. In this depart
ment il is the aim to aid mothers tenn
pOrarily under clutch Of circumstances
until they can once again gather their
little families together in their own
homes.
The large number of deserted wives and
women out Of employment makes this
most important work All departments
are largely self-supporting.
But the most important feature. and for
which appeals are sent out TO the public
for aid. is the work for homeless and
friendless girls and women,
About s. per cent of those who remain
in the home the allotted time are perma-
nentiy reformed.
Girls Who Keep the Faith.
A number Of those cared for come 10
the home from the Police Court. Some
are sent to the home instead Of being
sent to prison for the same length Of time.
Through the chains Of homes some girls
have been sent away from the District in
order that their old associates might not
tempt them back into evil ways. In not
one single instance have they broken their
parole. although beyond the jurisdiction
Of the police.
Many are the pathetic cases that come
10 the mission. Some of them show that
even the most vicious members Of the
under world" still have hidden away in
their hearts touch Of the better self
Recently a young English girl, fourteen
years Of age, was received at the House
Of Detention, and then transferred TO the
mission. She had been brought 10 this
country in violation Of the contract labor
law, and had sworn she was seventeen
years old
She had been enticed to leave her work
at a factory ~ith a man. she was res
cued and sent TO this city through the
| generosity Of philanthropist
Caring for Mothers.
Expectant mothers who come or are
brought to the home are usually young
and unframed, the majority in their teens
These require educational and economic
| training.
Daily classes are taught for their bene-
/ fit. They are kept until such time as
they can earn a comfortable living and
| suitable home can be found, Tbey take
I their children with them when they 20.
There are more applications for help Of
this class than the home can supply. in
/ spite Of the opinion that once prevailed
| that a mother with baby did not make
desirable domestic. The girl often re-
I turns home: she may marry the father
/ of her child; others are SO capable they
are fitted for positions Of trust; and none
are allowed to go until the best possible
| has been done for them, mentally. spirit
ually. and physically.
| The success of the methods employed
/ at the mission. which has received The III
| dOIkement Of the leading philanthropists
/ and sociologists Of the country, is largely
/ due to the fact that the home receives Ihe
/ girls when they are in need of q friend;
/ that they come Of their own free Will and
/ that there are no bolts and bars 10 keep
/ them in-only love and sympathy.
/ They are received as members of the
/ family. and not as criminals. From the
! AiSl Jay tleS are given 10 1-4u-l SeSA-AA
/ their past will not stand in the way OF
/ their advancement.
! Many Memorial Rooms.
| one interesting feature of the home in
this city is the number Of memorial rooms
that have been furnished by different per-
/ sons.
! The mission is chartered by the United
States government. and is an Undenomi-
national missionary society for the up
/ lifting Of fallen girls. It also conducts
homes for working girls. and maintains
preventive departments where young. un-
! protected girls are sheltered and from
I which they are placed in positions
| The home supports itself by voluntary
/ contributions. The national society is
now making an effort TO raise LOCO 0o0
members. each one paying 81 a year
Sixty-five homes have been opened in
4 the last twenty years, and most OF them
( in the last twelve years. Tens Of thou
/ sands of girls and children have been
cared for. The estimated value of real
| estate decided to the National Florence
! Crittenton Mission in trust that can never
/ be used for any other purpose than for
/ helpless wOmanhood is 100000
| These are the officers of the Florence
/ Crittenton Hope and Help Mission:
Charles n Crittenton president and founder; Mrs
/ Kate ". Barrett. general superintendent.
Officers james T. Petty. president Thomas Jarvis
/ vice president. Alfred Wood, secretary; Thomas T.
Robertson treasurer eos Seventh street northwest
Miss Belle johnson superintendent; Miss Glenuis
| A. Parker matron AIrs. Margaret White. nurse.
| AUXILIARY Committee-Mrs. MaTy X. Simpson.
chairman; Mrs Emma ;. Ellis, secTetayi Mrs.
/ Emma L. Robertson chairman house committee
] Physicians-DT Ada X Thomas. the Thomas: DT.
/ Anne Wilson the FafIagut; DT. Louise TayIeT-