Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-28
LONE GIRLS SAT-
INDEPOTSHERE,
SAYS MATRON
Only Three or Four Attempts at
White Slavery at AtIanta'S
Terminal Station in Year.

When it becomes necessary for a girl
N travel alone. here are two rules,
--..icb. if observed, will aid her to avoid
flugeT.
DON'T speak to or ask questions of
strangers. Always get your infor-
nation from a uniformed railroad
employee or q policeman. II pos
sible, 90 20 a travellers aid.
DON'T travel without a definite Idea
Of YOUR destination. II you are
1oina 70 a certain address, have
the number and name of the direct
written down.
,Iu the last year there have not been
more than three or four instances
where men have tried to force their
acouaintance upon young girls in the
terminal station!"
I, with this remarkable statement, Mrs
| T. W. Payne, matron in charge Of the
station branch of the Atlanta Womens
Missionary Association, crowned the
work Of six years and stamped Allan
-a's great railroad station as one of the
safest places in the United States for
Urls who are travelling alone.
The few instances Of attempted white
slavery that came to the attention Of
Mrs. Payne happened during the early
mart Of the year. In the last eight
months not single case has come to
her attention.
Mrs. Payne has accomplished her re-
markable work by being able to detect
the appeal the longing for companion
ship and sympathy, that invariably ap-
pears in the countenance of young girls
whom circumstances have compelled tc
travel alone; and last but not least, by
"mothering" the young girls who come
TO her notice.
Gets Girls Confidence.
q try to get the confidence of every
girl" Mrs. Payne said to-day, "an5
when / have obtained that the battle
is won. / watch each incoming train
and through long experience have
learned to distinguish the girls who
seem to need care apd advice, and
Try to give my personal attention tC
every girl who appears to be travelling
alone.
MY manner of approaching the girls
Of course, varies with each one; so thai
] can not say have a definite method
OF procedure. I always, however, learr
first Of all if the girl is a stranger il
4 Atlanta. If she is, l ask whether she is
i expecting any one to meet her. II she
4 is not, then have q basis to work on
4 and If later l see her with a man or z
n woman, I investigate and learn the
4 identity and, If possible, the character
Of her companion.
"AIl of the young girls who come I'M
der my notice I try to get a seat neal
my desk, where can mother them Il
my hearts content
Finds Their Relatives
IF gill has come to Atlanta to visi
relatives and has forgotten their ad.
dress, locate them for her; if she ha!
come here to find work usually try t.
induce her to return to her home.
Atlanta is already overcrowded witt
Inexperienced girls who are working Il
factories and laundries for wage
scarcely large enough to pay room rent
and more are coming every day. IL tn,
girl persists in her deterpination t.
find work, try to send her to goo,
boarding house and aid her in ever!
way possible.
1T has been my observation that tn
Danger to girls in railway stations 1
somewhat exaggerated, though there il
no doubt that considerable danger ex
sts Nine times out Of ten, however, i
girl attends strictly to her own busi
ness she will be in comparatively littl
danger.
Aid 500 in Year.
Il am never uneasy about a girl VIII,
is frank and open and who places her
self unreservedly in my hands, bu
when girl refuses to talk I Away
watch her and aid her whether she de
slres it or not
The number of girls we aid varie
rom two or three to twenty-five O.
thirty each day. We have a record .
more than 500 cases for last year, al
Of whom we're helped in various ways
We have done our best, and 1 thini
we may safely say now that the Ter
nina! station in Atlanta IS as safe 70
Young girls travelling alone as any plact
u the country"