Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-25
Georgetown Charity Provides Work for Women at Home.

the women use furnished to them: as
well as needles and tape. when it is neces-
sary- Then too, wagon hire counts up
as the center pays to have anything
hauled that generous citizen contributes.
Nothing is actually given away, since
this scheme is to help all of the
destitute to help themselves. but the
things are put within the reach OF all.
Various schemes have been tried before
the present one and rejected novel,
but not profitable. Material was begged
last year and garments made up for sale.
They were beautifully made by hand and
of particularly fine stuffs, but it devel-
oped that those expected to buy them
preferred clothing cheaper in quality and
higher in cost at the shops.
AS 1t is now. woman sewing stead
lily for about four hours a day, which
is the average. allowing for her weekly
trip to the center and time she has to
devote in her home to domestic duties
and for the possibility of her being too
weak to sit at any great length over a
machine. makes about 81 a week. She
cannot support her family on this. but
it is wonderful help The only reason
enough orders are given the center for
those In charge to provide each woman
with as much as she can do. So the
treasurer claims that those who could
increase this enterprise and fail are in
directly responsible for the want of the
workers concerned.
When woman has become known to
the manager she can have her sewing
called for and delivered by some other
member of the family. This was done in
a very pathetic case the center has aided,
of blind woman with four children. Her
sense of touch is so accurate that she
accomplishes even heater sewing than
sat destitute and miserable until this
charity found her out, for, naturally she
could not enter any of the average ave
nues of support There is very old
woman whose whole life has been that of
the very poor. Her husband is ill and
unable to work and she was almost in
despair when sewing was provided for
her. Now she can earn something each
week to maintain their little home and
yet not leave her man uncared for.
On the list also are a widow with three
children, all too young for regular en-
pioyment, and married woman with
four children, two of whom are SO af-
ficted that the mother going out to work
by the day would mean having to pay
some one to look after them. To all such
this industrial center has been godsend
And even those who give their patron
age to the center are benefited in turn.
since sewing ordered from it is done at a
much lower rate than could be possible
elsewhere, because 1t works without anv
idea of profit. The Bruen Home in
Georgetown. the Children's Hospital, CO.
lumbia Hospital. Founding Asylum and
Washington City Orphan Asylum are
among the institutions sending night gar
ments wrappers and operating coats there
for making. Incidentally, some one al
ways learns the sanitary conditions of
houses to which work is taken.
1t is the hope of the board to give more
than double the present number of wom-
en- employment in the coming year. And
they take much interest in the pride of
sewing which is springing up among the
little girls whose mothers are earning
their stipend from the center. Already
many of them display remarkable ability
to hem and stitch, and it promises them