New-York tribune., 1912-01-16
SAVED FOR A PURPOSE
Woman Thinks Her Life Was
Spared to Serve Her Sex.

\ htIs more than third q a century
ago, IN the time when Turkey was drench-
ing Eulcaria with blood ono Of tho last
years before Bulgaria gained her freedom
n party Of her men and women were fleeing
through the mountain fastnessss. One Ci
the women carried baby in her arms
the only child among them.
And this baby, possibly not liking the
change from her warm cradle 20 the dreary
mountains. Hfied up her voice and wopt.
Her cry struck terror to the hearts Of the
refugees. who saw n Turk iu every bush
and stone
THE Turks vii! hear Eo~. ard lind US.
and slay us" they said THE child must
bc killed. Better tina, sho die than all OF
US"
So the child was killcd-as they thought.
Yet to-day she is Twins and working for
imuisrant girls I'm Kew York city. Her
uamc is Miss Donna Panayotova. and she
was orc or the speakers at tho conference
Of the Toung Womcn's Christian Aasocla-
tons Of New England. New York and New
Jersey. at 40. East 18th street last week.
Ms. panayotcva Il superintendent of the
institute for teaching immigrant girls
mainiaired hy the national board of tn"
YoGnG Womcn's Christian Association a.
No 3lS Fast I'D street Tn" institute. which
only has day classes now. is 10 be made
boarding school for immigrant girls shortly.
with provisions for physical training and
instruction in domestic science.
always, from a littlc child. ! wanted IN
be 4 teacher. to show the Girls Of my coIn-
try bow 10 hc good wives and mothers.
Miss Panayoto,a told Tho Tribunic reporter
after tho conference Il had feeling that
1t was frr somc such work that was 80
mlraculoVly saved as baby.
"Or course. ] haven't the slightest mem-
ory OF trc massacre. II IS like story 10
me- But | used 10 get my mother 20 tell
me about it--how. after | was killed as
every ono In az" party o! refugees sup
posed. che slipped away from the party
and fed. with my body in her arms: fed
through the mountains and through VII
laees where 20 many Of her country people
had been slain that when she came 10 her-
self she found tho hem OF her skirt was
caked with blood. Then In one of the VII
lagos a young physician saw her, disccrned
signs Of life i'm me and revived me-and
here ] am.
1--WE were very poor after tho massacre.
Every one In Bulgaria was poor, but, al
my earnest desire. my parents sent me to
school. and then 20 the American College
for Girls. at Samokoy After being gradu-
atcd ! became a teacher there. and then
spent two wonderful years teaching In
Macedonia. where | seemed 10 be following
the footsteps Of the Apostle Paul
IT was some American textbooks that
gave Miss Psndyotoya the thought OF
coming 10 AmeTica-books on domestic SCI
ence. from Columbia University First, she
evolved a course from the books. and
taught Bulgarian girls. Then she made up
her mind TO study a Teachers College. and
70 Teachers College she came. meaning 10
return to her country and found a school
for girls.
But | became a missionary at EUis
Island" she told the reporter. and j de-
cided 10 remain here. My work al Ellis.
Island showed me how much there IS To
he done for the immigrant girls here. All
the time | was there ! kept thinking what
could be done 10 educate and protect these
girls and so when the Young Women q
Christian Association asked me 10 head Its
institute | was very glad.
4 little bit OF a thing is Miss PanayOtova.
dark and pale with curiously intent eyes.
the eyes of a person possessed by an idea.
she says she hopes that when the institute
gets really going it will help solve the do
mestic servant problem in New York.
THE peasant girls who cmigrate 10
America come 20 do domestic service" she
said 1but they are untaught. We wish TO
teach them"