The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-02-19
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Of Interest
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! The wonderful work of Miss Maud
f. Miner is doing at Waverly Home,
New York, in saving the girls of the
city streets is told in Leslie's Weekly.
A short walk from the court of Jeffer-
son street, back from the thoroughfare
Ia laundering elevated Of Sixth avenue,
is quaint old house nesting among
apartments buildings, shops and room
ling houses, in one Of the oldest parts
lof the city, at los West Tenth street.
This is Wayerley House opened Febru-
airy 1908 through the efforts Of Miss
| Maud Miner. formerly probation officer
LOT the city magistrates courts, and
known as the friend of the women of
the underworld Gentle born, college
bred and little more than a girl herself
Iher association with erring girls has
Imade her one of the most familiar fig
ures of the night court Let lis tell it
Ito the probation lady, plead the girls
when they realize the Judge may inn
pose the sentence of work house or
Bedford rather than a fine.
Ali women have a chance. Careful in
iquir9 is made BY the Judge or proba-
ton officer, and when the woman shows
any inclination to leave the wretched
life and go to work, the opportunity is
given her.
Four years ago Miss Miner was ap-.
pointed probation officer and this opened
the work she longed TO enter After
that. when the night court was institut-
ed. to separate the tremendous wreck
age Of human life, one from another,
she asked for home or refuge where
she could take the girls of whom she
had hope. These girls, if discharged BY
the magistrate, would otherwise go back
to their old Iaunts in the early morning
hours. They had no other place to go.
The girls feel that Woverly House is a
real home, and when i'll or out of work
or i'll need of help or counsel they re
turn as often as they desire. All summer
long window boxes bloom with geran-
iuins and aowery vines. These window
boxes are known all down West Tenth /
street and are heacons of welcome to
many an unfortunate girl who comes
for the FIST time to look for Miss
Miner. On entering you see large,
comnodious office with telephone and
stts} graphefs. A door opens into a
more private room used for consulta-
tions, investigation and kindred needs,
and fitted I'D as a library Above stairs
are the accommodations provided for1
The girls All manner of charges have
rested against these girls some are de-
tanned as witnes ses. some guilty Of petty
larceny Vagrancy attempted suicide.
But once there, all Festige Of the old
life are swept from their vision Bright
ness IS infused into their withered ex
isteliee. Each girl is made an individ-
ual, her troubles are listened 70 BY real
friends and She gfasps at The reality of
such friendship. Everything is done to
occupy the minds Of the girls, and the
time is spent doing house work, cook
ing, sewing, basket weaving and gym
nasties.
..We are in touch, says Miss Miner,
with one hundred and nineteen girls
out Of the hundreds bcfriended at Wav-
erley House. Many Of them are work
ing III good positions in the city, others
have gone TO their homes where their
disgrace is unknown.
There is Hillcrest arm, an adjunct to
House. Some Of the girls sent
here had never seen the country before.
BIT the quiet life, the blue sky, the pure
lii and flower strewn meadows do more {,
toWard uplifting the crushed and de-
spondent than anything else on earth.
Many Of their ills are cured simply out
If doors. Courage and hope are re-
lenfed. Mothers and babies play in the
and give strength They are
given a chance.