The Washington herald., 1912-02-23
TRAVELLERS AID SOCIETY
GUARDS SAFETY OF WOMEN
By onrs G. BAKER.


In order to protect girls from the ex-
isting perilous social conditions and to
stand between them and the many nands
outstretehed TO draw them to their rum
an effort was made six years ago to
guard the terminals and docks OF New
York through which so many destined to
other parts Of the country pass. Sixteen
great railroad systems discharge pas
sengers continually at seven terminals
every twenty-four hours. Eleven lines OF
regular transatlantic steamship compa-
nies land thousands Of passengers every
year. Ninety lines Of steamships plying
between New York City and ports on the
coast OF the United States and all over
the world, land thousands more. OF this
never ceasing and ever increasing multi
tude OF travellers. many thousands are
young women and girls. both foreign
and American, vino need protection
Friends and relatives often md II impos-
sihle to meet them. In such cases the
offer OF a stranger who has shown ap-
parent interest and kindness. to escort
the young traveller TO hotel or board
ing house is In many cases accepted
To guard against this danger the Trav-
elers' AID Society, which Is the only nom
sectarian society definitely organized to
cover the entire field Of travellers aid
work, provides information. advice, guid-
ance, protection, and aid to all travel
ers who, through ignorance, illness, or
other disabilities. are in need OF assist
ance. Agents OF the society VINO speak
different languages meet, aid and con-
duct the travellers at any time OF the day
or night to their destination In the city
or to trains or steamships to other points
This supervision is continued by notify
ing societies at other terminal points
IL hay H.
ed the proper destination.
Service Extends Everywhere.
The society co-operates with many
other societies doing travellers aid work
from New York to San Francisco. and
also with travellers aid organizations in
nine foreign countries. Through these
son will leave for New York on p speci-
fed day and train or boat. The society
then assumes the responsibility Of see
ing that the traveller reaches the proper
destination.
Agents representing the society are
constantly in attendance at the Grand
Central and Pennsylvania stations. While
the society feels that its most impor-
tant work is for young women and girls.
men. women. and children OF every age
and nationality are also helped.
In many cases the railroad officials CO.
operate with the society. All Incoming
transatlantic steamships carrying nTst
and second class passengers (steerage
are cared for by the government are
met at the piers by agents OF the So
ciety 10 advise or conduct travellers
needing their assistance to trains or TO
their destinations In the city. Rooms
are reserved at headquarters to shelter
needy travellers in emergency without
charge. Steamships frequently bring
Young women TO be married Many
cases of this kind are turned over TO the
society by the government officials, and
IL becomes the business OF our agents to
see that legal marriage takes place at
once.
More than 5000 persons. representing
thirty-two nationalities and speaking
thirty nine languages and dialects. have
been helped in the last six years For
the past year the number has averaged
more than 1000 a month, the majority
Of whom Were women under thirty years
of age travelling alone. The woman who
has lost her purse. containing all her
money and tickets to a distant point, or
who has been defrauded by shaTpers and
left penniless in a strange city: the
Young girl with the wrong address,
which would have meant at least great
moral danger; the old woman. confused
and unable to find her friends; the boy.
separated from his protector and lost,
and the woman with small children-are
examples of those who stand in need OF
and receive the assistance OF the Tray-
elers' Aid Society
The society is not a commercial enter
prize in any sense. and It's services are
free, irrespective OF race, color. creed
class, or sex The work is no longer an
experiment II even a small percentage
of the large number aided had fallen
into the hands of an unscrupulous per-
son, Il would have been calamity TO
the country as well as TO the individuals