New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-23
HASN'T ROOM FOR A BEAU
But Spanish Maids Don't Have
EN-. So Casa Maria Is All Right.

Casa Maria. the new Spanish Settle
ment house and boarding home" for
working girls established at No. 25l west
14th street, conducted by the Womens
Auxiliary Society of the Spanish Church
Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe, was formally
opened Yesterday afternoon The rooms
were blessed by Monsignor NJ. j. Lsveiie'
and then the crowds of visitors were al
lowed TO inspect them.
In the back parlors the visitors were
waylaid by numerous sellers OF fancy arti-
cles and vendors Of chances on a gor-
geous pink gown which held an honored
position in a corner Another scheme was
to induce those who were good sports TO
see how many pieces OF money they could
make stick on piece Of white cloth COW
cred with mucilage. like fy paper.
Every one good naturedly allowed HIM
self to he drained OF all superfiuous coins
and then went conscience clear through
the shining new rooms.
The house is FIVE story brownstone
front. bought last year at a cost OF
s2s. 900 and remodelled recently at the
cost Of another 81 900. On the main floor
are the reception rooms and the Office OF
Mrs. NJ A Lopez. the presiding genius or
l0e cSldplisltHcHts <ab'ft NtN
and bedrooms, while on the top floor are
three dormitory rooms for girls who could
not afford TO pay for a private room The
cost Of living here will vary from s. so
10 Sc a week There are accommodations
for about thirty-fve girls in all
This boarding home" as Mrs. Lopez
calls IT, differs from most Of those now in
operation in the city in that many of the
4. hat 1ixy-
ing right there in the sewing rooms Or
ders are taken for all kinds of handmade
garments and embroidery, the money from
which is all paid to the girl who did the
work on them.
The house conducts also classes in art,
languages. music, stenography and type
writing, sewing millinery and cooking.
Two or three women experienced as laun-
dresses are in charge of the familys
washing. and no girl Is allowed 10 go near
the Laundry, even to wash out handker-
chief. as IL takes ume, Mrs. Lopez ex-
planned from her work or her studies, or
else from her necessary recreation hours.
and the house laundry is done at half the
price charged outside. so that all can sf-
ford it.
II is not all work by any means in this
family Of Spanish girls for once a month
they give an entertainment and once a
week there are dancing classes-for girls
only
Don't you allow men 10 come here at
ALP" Mrs. Lopez was asked, and then she
laughed
Well, to tell the truth" she said. that
Is situation I've never had 10 face. Span
ish girls. you know. don't have friendships
with men. If IL should happen that one
of our girls should have a beau, / should
y ant him 70 call on her here, Of course, in
the drawing room. / believe il is very
bad TO force Young girls and men to do
| their visiting the streets. But. OF
course, such state Of affairs wouldn't
| last long because inside of a month the
| Spanish couple would be married. II We
should get our house full Of girls with
other customs. l suppose We would let
them have their callers here, but dancing
| together-never.'
Casa Maria will be open for inspec-
ton all this week. and in the evenings
there viii be entertainments Of various
kinds Among those present yesterday
afternoon were DR.. and Mrs. ". j. Mar
suach who have been generous bene-
! factors of Casa Maria, Miss VI. z. kel-
ley. who is carrying on similar work in
| the parish of ST Vincent de Paul: Mrs.
Jose Navarro. wife Of the former Consul
General from Mexico, Mrs. Adolph Eek
hardt. Mr.. and Mrs Manuel Martinez and
| Ninssand Rodresky. a musician.