The Washington herald., 1909-04-22
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

working-giTl OF limited means can live
comfortably II shelters her. It gives her
an opportunity for industrial advance
ment, by Offering courses IN business or
domestic science. II keeps her physically
healthy through courses in the gym
nasiunas, and keeps her morally healthy
through proper religious influences The
! club life for girls who live with their
people. or outside the home. IS centered
IN some convenient building, often n
conjunction with the home, and they may
study, or enjoy the recreatiOns. 70 their
hearts content. The pity OF IL Is, that
with such fine work being done, there are
not more homes and club centers, for ten
or more could be used where one IS now
used, and still be full When the country
has awakened 10 this big work, It may
set every city following the example
recently set by Nashville. where q cam
paign for raising $4,000 for a new 7. ".
{. a. building was successfully inaugu-
rated One hundred such efforts would
be telling strokes in the good work.
The strange girl entering a big city.
with wonder and beVilderment written
large in her eyes IS often apt 10 fail into
disastrous and irretrievable mistakes.
For her benent the Travellers Aid. a
branch OF each large association. is main
tanned. For her needs il sprang into ex-
istence, and thousands Of lonely girls
and women find at the depot waiting
rooms, in large cities. quset-voiced. cap
able mstrons. who are keeping watchful
eyes open for the stranger, and helpful
hands extended for the distressed. When
a new girl has been directed 10 the near
est Y W c. A home. and work found
FOR her. she finds also g certain social
life provided. as an insurance against
loneliness and hOmeSickness.
Philanthropy and Christianity have
found. the country over, that IN sys-
tematic work and thorough organization
lie the paths 70 success At first. as in
all good work, the various pioneers OF
the Y. ". c. "A. got together 10 compare
ways and means. AS the organization
grew, the idea grew. Now conferences
/ and conventions are integral parts Of the
great national and International move
ment- Last year. nine summer confer
ences were held in various parts Of the
! cOUnty-in CapitoIa, Cal: Asheville
n c; Seaside. Greg: Cascade. Colo.
I Silver Bay, n Y; Geneva, Wis
and Mountain Lake Park. Nd. To these
/ conferences came ans delegates, repre-
Senting 676 associations. 20 take part IN
/ the religious work and the social relaxa-
| tons.
/ In this day OF specialists, 20 work in
teliigently as a secretary for any OF the
various departments n domestic or for
eigh field. requires special training. and
I TOT this the national training school has
come into existence. New York. There
are six systematic courses offered. based
on the work TO be done. IN these courses
are included the study OF Bible history.
the life Of Christ. the fundamental prin-
t ciples OF Christian faitn. public speak
I ing, and parliamentary law, current
events. the preparation Of addresses. bus
mess methods. the problems OF domestic
and community life, economics. and The
history, polity and administration OF the
Young Women's Christian Associations
II IS only eighteen years since the first
! conference CT the Young Women's Chris
tian Associations, composed Of delegates
from few student centers in the Middle
West was held al Bay View. Mich
From that first meeting. have grown the
nine summer conferences and the biennial
! OF to-day. OF bigger import is that
further grOwth-that which has brought
the movement 70 bear on the home life
the civic life, and the church life OF the
land.
Copyright. 100. by Frederic J. Haskin)
To-mOrrOw-The Curing of Cretfns