Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
No Actual Charity

with all that the Young Women's Christian association has to
do, there is nothing that puts the institution in the actual attitude
of giving. Every young woman who patronizes the institution can
accept her share of the service with the full realization that she is
paying for what she gets-but she is not asked to pay for more.
So 1t has come about that while to some it may mean an economy,
it is to all a place where alone are available those little feminine
touches which mean comfort.
To the outsiders the Young women's Christian association is apt
to bring up a mental picture of rather dry lectures and plattudes on
the moral life. But the association Is not alone content with pro-
yidIng 81 much of home life, it proceeds to teach those things which
At the Young women's Christian association the gentle art of
cooking from the basic facts to the last refinement of the chatting dish
is taught. There the domestic learns to serve and the rich girl upon
whom she waits at home is taught the mysteries that attend the con-
coction of the successful rabbit or lobster a la Newburg in the sill
The Young wOmens Christian association is mother to them all.
A special department finds proper rooming places for girls coming
into the city and places many Of them at work. The institution
itself does not furnish domftory accommodations.
The pursuits which pertain to material and physical beterment
do not. however. predominant to the exclusion of the finer things of
life. Through the Young wOmen's Christian association the girl
may learn OF music, the languages and fine arts.
The gymnasium suit is great leveler," remarked Miss Florence
D. Alden. director Of the department of physical education, speak
ing Of the social features of the work OF her department.
A view OF the gym occupied by a class composed of the demure
young women one sees across the desks of the downtown omces
would be a mirth-prOvoking sight. The prim young miss who spends
bustnng hours in the Offices will be seen there in the lively reaction
of frivolous play-and it is good for her. too, says Miss Alden.
Just Picture the Scene
Picture a bevy of such stad young women engaged in FASTING
each other with a missile resembling a bean bg.
Screams. sQueals and giggles.
In the gymnasium play hour they are all Just little girls again.
The probabilities are that a mud pie and doll department would even
gave its CHAINS for them. They have put workaday life clear out
Sf existence for the time.
In the introduction of medicine ball" Miss Alden handed these
girls some real exercise in a sugarcoated pill, and they take it and
like IL.
Nobody is allowed to get lonesome in the gymnasium. They are
altogether too busy. Then, too, many friendships are struck up
there that prove of value. the leaders say. beyond all that formal
EFFORT would accomplish. 90
The training of the gymnasium emDOdies a n admixture of scien-
tic drills as we'll. but only in such measure. combined with play,
that they do not prove irksOme. There are plenty OF wand drills,
Swedish movements, classic and folk dances for grace Of movement
and the like. but they are not allowed to freeze out the fun.
The spirit of this work is we'll illustrated a remark of Miss Alden,
referring to the apparatus:
They call it a medicine ball, /" she said. But that is a hOrri-
Bile. distasteful name. Why. It sounds almost like something that
one had TO take"
While the gymnasium offers relief for tedious hours and physical
development Of more lasting beneht. the EFFORTS OF the Young
Womens Christian association extend beyond this. Glasses in short
hand, arithmetic and business courses are offered TO young women
who would at themselves for betteTed conditions Of employment