The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-09-16
"A SPLENDID PROJECT
Is that to Convert the Old Business College into Club
House Where Business Girls Can Board and
Lodge and Enjoy Themselves.
BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.
The proposition to turn the old
more recently been used for a Bust
ness College, into sort of club house
for girls on basis similar to that up
on which the Y. w. c. A. is conducted
is an interesting one.
The town needs building of this
character.
And this will be an ideal place for it
since it is not often that an open sit
uation of this sort can be secured so
near the center of city of this size.
On just what plan this would be
carried on is not known to the writer.
But the general understanding is
that it il to be building where bust
ness women can secure board and
lodging and which will offer certain
accommodations provided by club
houses of this kind.
Many such institutions, founded on
the best intentions possible, however,
often fail of their intent because they
are administered as "home," and
those living in them as inmates"
Whether or not it is the original
idea to make it semiphilanthropic
that is the impression conveyed to the
pubic and, naturally, self-respecting
girls do not care to be regarded as
Inmates
Why the Y. M. c. A. is not so regard
ed and the Y. w. C. A. is, is one of
those mysteries that go back to the
origin of sex, perhaps.
Anyway many girls dislike living
in a Y. w. C. A. for the reason that
they are subjected to codes of rules
that are a restriction on civic liberty
and infringe on individual rights.
The writer remembers to have once
gone to the Young Woman's Christian
Association in big city for the pur-
pose of seeing friend who had gone
there a few days before to stay tenn.
porarily while waiting to take a res
ponsible position in library.
She was a young woman of culture,
talent, education and fine family but
concluded to go to the Y. w. c. A. un-
til she got her bearings.
In the meantime her father had died
and the writer, on a visit to the same
city-although in remote suburb-ac.
companied by her hostess, went in to
town to see the young woman and
take the same train home.
They went to the central building
and inquired for the young woman.
They were received with cold and
icy stares and the information that no
such person was staying there.
The writer suggested that they look
round and find out since the young
woman had said positively that she
was.
The official in charge moved the
writer down with a series of scythe
like glances and a general air of pre-
paration to call the police.
Finally, however, another female Of
Acial who had been lurking in the off
ing came forth and held whispered
conference with the naughty one.
The two approached.
The writer was asked to enter an
inner sanctuary She suggested her
hostess come with her.
But this was not permitted.
So she entered this dark chamber
and was there put through the third
degree by the female from the offing
| Minute interrogations were made az
to the writer's name, place of habita
ton, parents, age, affiliations and pre-
vious condition of servitude and like
series sprung on her with regard tt
the young woman she had gone to see
| Refusing finally to submit longer tt
such an extraordinary proceeding sh<
left without ceremony to be joined b,
her hostess, who flushed and irritated
stated that she had been subjected tt
q like process in the outer citadel.
| The two retired to the lobby ant
there consulted together.
1t was necessary to see the youni
woman.
For it was doubtful whether or no
she had received the news of her faith
er's death.
While they thus consulted they wer,
watched through a small opening b.
another woman-presumably detec
Itive-who scanned and measured tn.