El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-05


than the opportunity to help in broad
eniner the social outlook of women less
| fortunately situated The club move
ment is developing a spirit OF Irater-
| nitH among women IN dlIIerent class
&c in life who cooperate for the sake
! of being helpful to each other. Some
times the wealthy women can only aid
! in working out reform by carrying
| out plans which the poorer women
originate In one Of the larger cities,
where A special child welfare crusade
was in operation under the auspices
| of the most influential wOmen's club,
| a woman belonging to one of the
school social centerS, suggested to a
club member a new line OF work which
has been found most helpful.
A few years ago, when the adYan-
tages of the free hospital service for
obstetricaI cases were first urged,
! there was a difficulty in inducing ex-
pectant mothers to take advantage of
| it. VI in this particular city, the
, other extreme had been reached The
women planned to go to the hospital
for their conflnements, and because OF
| the numerous charities, which supplied
even the needed clothing for the in
FAINT made no preparations themselves.
! During their absences their homes
were disorganiZed, their other children
neglected and in many cases, the huS-
band, even during the period of two
or three weeks, spent too much time
at the corner saloon and perhaps be-
gan a period Of intemperance.
New Club Is Formed.
4 little investigation showed that
this woman, who despite her own
busy life, had yet time to consider
the conditions Of other women Of her
neighbOrhOOd, was correct in her
statements, so a new club was formed
in which the women of the larger club
helped TO put her ideals into effect
A new mothers club was formed to
which all the expectant mothers in
week. Patterns and materials for
making infants clothing were prOvid-
ed and all of the women seWed upon
them, with the understanding that
they were to belong to the first wO-
man who needed them. As they
sewed, they listened to lectures given
by physicians and trained nurses up
on the care of infants, with special
directions as to bathing them, caring
for their eyes and preparing food in
cases where the mothers milk was
insufficient. Y means of these lee
lures, the women, working under the
direction Of the physician and visit
ing nurse having charge of the case.
were able to take proper care of each
other in their time of need and thus
ObTiate the necessity of leaving home.
This club has now been in operation
for several years and has been of the
greatest social benefit to the cOmmun-
ity. The women have developed
neighbOrly spirit which did not exist
between them before. The health of
the young children of its members
has materially improved and many
other good results have been OBJ
served. The club was located in
manufacturing district and many of its
members were women of foreign birth
who in this way, were helped to
realization Of ideal American woman
hood
The Social Service sections of the
clubs always work largely In cOnnec-
ton with tn public schools. They are
greatly interested in the formation OF
the Home and School associations, the
School Social settlements and similar
organizations which aim to improve
the social conditions of the people
whose own resources are restricted
the clubs aid the work of the Asso-
clated Charities although this IS not
the club WOman'S idea of social SER
vice. They do not want to give char
ity but they do want to give the kind
of help which will enable the poorest
working mans wife not only TO help
herself to higher ideals but to do
something towards improving the con-
ditiOns of her environment.
Vacations For Working People.
The subject of vacations for work
ing women is a matter to which many
club women are giving attention In
New York City several organizations
of women have arranged to help girls
secure their vacation fund by laying
dSlQ6 Il SLud4l sum tdGu MGGAs uGE III
ming as soon after Christmas as pos
sible. One branch of the Council of
Jewish Women which is interested in
a group of girls working in artificial
flower factories at wages which seem
to make any saving impossible, have
added a bonus of % percent of what
the girls themselves are able to save
Then this vacation committee secures
4 list Of boarding places at reason
able rates and in many cases secures
special concessions TO make a vaca-
ton possible to some poor woman, who
if left to her own resources would
be unable to secure a days rest or
change from the daily grind. This
charity as possible The people bene-
fitted are stimulated towards helping
Themselves by a careful planning for
the future which many of them IN
aided would never achieve.
AS a matter of social service many
of the clubs are taking up the sub
ject Of amusements, especially for the
young people The Minnesota state
federation has been one of the first to
give this consideration. The club wo-
men of st. Paul held a recent public
meeting at which it was unanimously
decided that the city should have
recreation department sas well as a
health department. Such a depart l
ment would be responsible for the
establishment of parks and play
grounds and their proper management, /
also for censorship over moving PIC
ture shows and other cheap entertain |
ments. The public playground which :
a quarter Of a century ago was hes
itatingly inaugurated in a few towns, I
chiefly through the influence of wo- /
men, has now become Of recognized |
value to the health and mortality of I
the city. Chicago is now spending
SIS. 600, 900 a year upon free play 1
grounds and it is considered an econ /
omic Investment in keeping the chill +,
dren in better health and lesseninS I
the cases of the juvenile court.
Social Betterment of Young Girls.
In Connection with its recreation (
work the Minnesota state federation !
also urges the need of club women J
taking an interest in the social bet I
terment for young girls in small ;
towns. The dangers arising from .
their custom Of gathering at the de- /
pots to meet incoming trains and I!
making a social meeting place OF the .
railway station or drug store soda !
are worthy of their consider I
alton. While the dangers Of a small \
town are less than those of a large /
city, many girls have Oeen harmed /