New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-27
FOR THE MIDINETTE.
Outings Provided by Society of
Wealthy' Parisiennes.

Paris. August H.
Only small percentage of Ptrisian work sirls
are fortunate enough to get a summer holiday. but
when II to her lot the mdinette's enjoyment
and contentnent charming to behold She is at
the station long before the train and tucSs herself
away on the narrow. hard bench which is all that
French railway companies furnish for third class
passengers without murmur There will he
no rack probably over her head for the little par
Gel which constitutes her luggage. and that and
the little luncheon basket will sit on her knee all
the way down; hot will stream upon the low
roof Of the carriage. in which single small square
window does duty for ventilation. but she
finds travelling her and chats to her neigh
bors with unfasging spirits until she reaches her
destination.
Although during the month Of August most of the
railways offer tickets country seaside resorts
at large reduction OF the usual fares-frOm 20 to
70 per cent being taken Off according 10 distance
the humber class of work girl could not afford to
betake herself even to Bougival (haf an hour from
the capitaD at her own expense. Most of these
Young women are engaged some branch of the
dressnaking trades; if not actually dressmakers.
they flower or feather hands. embroiderers but
ton makers. and forth and the middle Of July
finds large number put on half time if the atelier
be not entirely closed. Wages for this kind OF la
Dor being low and living in Paris relatively dear
few able to put aside sufficient money TO carry
them through the dead they call this try
ing period of the year. and leave also margin
for pleasure. often they compelled to cut off
meal a day In order to paw the rent of their
attcs- This year private association Of charitable
women has made effort to meet this crisis in
the life OF the work girl by supplying meals TO those
who need them kind of mutual help system
Through the busy season a small subscription.
amounting TO 90 cents month. was collected from
those who wished 10 profit by the free meals which
will be furnished daily for long as the dead
may last. period differing in the different
trades.
second group OF wealthy women is inter
estng themselves in obtaining for these work
girls a short holiday by the or IN the country.
This is a more complicated and also more costly
affair. and far only about thousand Parisiennes
have been able profit by change of air Far
more could be accomplished II the girls themselves
could be brought TO club together beforehand and
Join their funds 10 reduce the expenses OF the
holiday. OF private phlanthropic enterprise in
France there IS in reality singulary little Yet in
every individual there seems to be natural instinct
thrift. which explains the fact that the French
are per head Of population the richest nation IN
the world In youth. az the beginning OF the "strug-
gle for lfe." there thousands whose earnings
are only Just sufficient 10 provide the daily neces-
saries and who would find IL impossible 20 serape
together anything for pleasure. This is the class
that needs outside help. and Nine Jules Siegfrled Is
trying supply IL.
The Country Holiday Association is in its third
season OF operation and has secured for its pro-
teges six villas in a quiet spot on the Chan
mel coast in the department Of the Somme In
addition 20 these. there two small houses that
have been lent 10 the association nearer TO Paris
IN small country places. The funds az the disposal
Of the association do not permit Of It's defraytng
the whole cost Of the holiday II provides. except
in special cases and a stay OF three weeks, in
GLIDING the railway fare 10 the more distant vii
las works out ct from so 70 H2 The plan OF
operations is simple and well adapted 70 the Paris
ian temperament Each girl finds a small room
ready for her and provides her own food. going 70
market in the morning and cooking her purchases
in the common kitchen In this way, II she likes
=Ia DO a06i zh
wants a tiny outlet she get it. In practice. OF
course the sojourners IN the same villa will fre-
ouently club together and buy not one but a dish
OF outlets. and enough vegetables for all. and in
this way learn the blessings and advantages or
elementary cooperation
In other countries where money for such an
object as this flows in like river, meals are pro-
vided for all the company in common by house
keeper paid from the funds. In time this may
become possible for the Partisan association,
though II is doubtful whether il would be popu-
lar as one might expect The Parisienne work girl
Is extraordinarily particular about her food Black
coffee and vegetable soups are two items that must
daily figure the menu. and very critical and
hard TO please Is she over both Then she has as
general rule a marked aversion to cold meat,
and IL her favorite ''ponmes frites'' be not as
puffy and golden and crisp as she thinks they
ought 20 be she will none Of them Attaching
great Importance to the taste and quality of her
food she does not grudge the time she spends In
It's preparation
At present the founders OF the association are
seeking TO interest owners OF villas in the work
and induce them lend their houses or cottages
for the summer season. In the middle OF August
comes the highly priced tete OF the Assumption.
which gives two consecutive holidays TO workers.
Naturally for this occasion there is great de-
mand for accommodation for short time and
the health OF the would OF course be benefited
IL the workers could be got cut of the hot atics in
which they sleep and the underground ateliers in
which they work for even two days and nights in
the hottest and most trying month of the year
The ons-day excursion is Joy and an excitement.
hut it's usefulness IL doubtful. whole week in
fresh pure air Is infinitely better and the "AssO-
citation des Vilegiatures du Travail Feminin'
seeks 10 extend the holiday OF each city work girl
who applies TO il 10 fortnight or even three
weeks and by beginning early as possible in
the season and a careful dOvetailing of dates the
seaside villas have been made to accommodate
more than seemed possible when the work was
started II Is hoped before the end of the current
wear that a large house may he secured In pretty.
leafy Sevres on the hillside outside of Paris,
which will he kept open all the year round as a
home Of rest for overtaxed workers c. ]. E.
GLE4NINGS.