The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-09-25

Recently in The Star, II,
J. McCarty asked OF the
new "Y" building:
us it designed to meet
the needs of the girls who
are working for meager
wages1 This magnificent
building. erected, equip
ped and maintained by
the public. exempt from
taxation, appears to me is
10 be converted into an ex-
elusive club or a high
priced hotel"
Emphatically, MOI II
does not meet the needs OF
the class of girls who most
need this help. He goes on
TO. say:
"A girl earning 81 a
week certainly cannot pay
So or 81 for n room. and
those are the prices de-
mandcd."
These elegant rooms
will be monopolixed by
the women who earn big
salaries, hence they. and
not ve poor girls. are the
ones who will benefit"
Furthermore. the poor
ly clad girl would not be
in harmony with the ele-
gance Of the building"
H. J. Mecarty plthily and sue.
rinctly tells the truth. but may !
amplify upon tt This very costly
and gigantic prctense ~ philau.
ihrupy. OF paiatlai exterior and alb.
surdly inadequate housing accom-.
~ so worftiliv lacking
In some 81 the most elementary and
conyanienceA. oppor,
tunlties for personal privacy. etc
hat from a practical standpoint, II
Ia failure.
From the viewpoint OF the work.
Ing girls. OF all classes. and others.
FOR whom the good people OF Seat.
lie supposed they were contribu,.
Ing. when the building was erected
md furnished. wish To express
the very great disappointment this
is 70 this large class Of
young women. and to apologize in
their name for their part In uneon.
sciously playing cats paw" when
they Wed earnestly with one an.
other to collect the large subscrip,
ions needed.
Says Public 10 Buneoed
II amounts 10 this. that the pub.
Iic OF Seattle has been "huncoad~
out OF $500. 900 that the structure
cost. not TO mention the palatial
and equipment of the
Interior show rooms.
II II pre-eminently show
place" built 10 impress the behold.
Pr. and IL found 10 be wanting In
many essentials and fundamentals
n the class Of structure that best
meets the needs ~ the business or
working girl. no matter how big q
salary she receives The contrib.
Iting public should be enlightened.
Let us discard the terms work.
Ing girl. etc. and get rid OF the
idea that they are a kind Of third
sex. or freak.
These young women. so brave I'm
diversity. so courageous and true.
IRE the finest In character. often.
hat can be found anywhere. and
take off my hat 10 them.
Designer Blundered
But the designer of tho building
has signal!y and stupidity blunder.
ID in planning for young women. 81
whose nature and needs he seems
10 be in the darkest ignorance.
Nor did those who controlled
the letting OF the contract. seem 10
have any clearer ideas OF this mat.
ter.
In planning for home To be
LIVED in. there are three funda-
mentals which should have been
provided for first. and the fancy
frills should he the last considered
I take M the first fundamental In
this article II is.
SANCTUARY. PRIVACY, SO.
cured by having a sleeping apart.
ment for each girl.
Il could have been planned for
However. while the young women
were 80 earnestly collecting sub.
scriptions. II was given out. and
they thoroughly understood and
we're allowed 70 expect that resi-
dent girls could have board and
room for TWENTY dollars n
month. two girls TO be in each bed.
room. BUT THAT EACH GIRL
WAS TO ENJOY USE or HER
OWN DRESSER AND HER OWN
CLOTHES CLOSET AND HER
OWN BED, without having 10 d.
vide up her closet or dresser with
any one.
This would have been reasonably
satisfactory. AZ II is, however
while each girl may have sep
arate bed, the smaller bedrooms
are not large enough for two dress
ers and two closets. but contain
two beds (perhaps more, but OF
this later.
Says s27.5o Ia Average Price
THE PRICE DEMANDED FOR
ACCOM- MODATfO y
PER OCCUPANT
As HIGH AS $3.50 per
month. the closest a girl can figure
/ have been told by girl who
lives there. and who also lived al
the old place.
This seems TO be the least aver
age price at which one can room
and board at the Y w. G. A.
She mentioned 10 me that II was
l.. a -