Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-27
TRAVELLERS AID SOCIETY
MAY ENLARGE ITS SCOPE
Planned to Form National Organiza-
ton, With Uniform Badge
and Rules.
MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HELPED
Inexperienced Girls, Travelling Alone,
Find Agents of Society Their Only
ShelteI-Art Club Pupils Win
High Honors at Exhibition.

s heveled. bewildered mountain girl came
into the Main Street Station in the
early morning. after having travelled
all night ClutChcd in one hand was
an antiouatcd bag and in the other Il
note. written by herself, Informing tho
reader that she had never Travelled he
fore: would appreciate any ones as
sistance. and signed Your Friend"
That there was n friend there 10
answer that pathetic appeal was duo
10 the efforts OF an organization re-
Gently formed in Richmond and just
now asking tho City'S aid in it's work
of mercy-the Travellers Aid Society OF
the city.
Miss Bcardsley, secretary Of the
cicty, and a trained worker with several
years Of experience, was there in the
deserted station in the early morning
TO xtcnd i helping. cheering hand to
Just such bcw'ldcred uufortunatcs as
tho mountain girl. She gathered from
her confused and disconnected MARIA
tive that She had very little money and
nowhere to go, very little experience
II any kind and no prospects OF en-
Uloymeut. SO the secretary guided her
through the maze OF unacCustomed
scenes and confusion 10 the y. w. c. \.
.\fter several hours OF rest. she was
much restored In body and mind. and.
with the help of her new friend. soon.
found n home with u family in the
suburbs. where. III the capacity OF
mothers helper, she has become n
useful citizen of Richmond.
ONLY ONE INSTANCE OF
MANY THOUSANDS
This girl is only one OF many thou
sands mostly women and young girls
given guidance. aid, and especially pro-
lection. At what is often 4 pivotal point
in their lives. wherc lack OF protection
from evil influences might have changed
their whole histories.
Few people realize the dangers sur
founding women, young girls. and even |
men, travelling alone in the United
states The number of them who simply
disappear, prey TO human wolves who
take advantage OF their inexperienced F.
and ignorance. is appalling. 1t has been
estimated that 10000 disappeared thus
III the past year, beyond all hope of |
finding or rescue. 1t is terrifying to
think how much larger that number
would have been had it not been for
the help OF the agents of the Travellers
Aid. extended AT just the crucial time
when ii was most needed
The Idea of forming society to
aid inexperienced travellers originated
twenty-five years ago in Boston. Later
travellers aid societies spranE up all
over the United States. wherever the
need was greatest. Sometimes they
were independent organizations but
moro often they were branch of
some larger one, nine times out OF ten
or the y. W. G. ~. AS time went
on It became apparent that their WORT,
was getting too big to be branch of
anything, so more and moro OF them
were organized independently.
WOULD ADOPT UNIFORM
STYLE or HADGE
The model independent one was at
New York. and was the inspiration of
Miss Grace Dodge. It was impressed on
her. more and more. as well as on other
70 rrr,,
they should come together into n ma
tional organization, nonscctarian. sim
liar In methods, cooperative. and cs-
pecially using the same badge. which
would then come TO be recognized all
over tho country. There are at pres
cnt nifty different STYLES OF badges used
resulting in endless confusion ana in
Unite opportunity for deception.
The Travellers Aid OF New York.
therefor offered the services OF lis
secretary 10 go from city 10 city and
rcorgan!Ze tho societies according TO n
fixed standard. III this way about 10
per cent OF the associations have bccn
organized and made independent OF tho
other societies OF which they wcrc for
merry part. The next step was to
bring all these newly organized clubs
together into n national organization
\ meeting was called for the purpose
last January, but'pos tpdred on occo,,nt
Of the sudden d eath of Miss Dodge
Since then the Pacific Coast problem
has been such an enErossinp ono maj
the idea OF convention has bccn Fo,'
the moment. ovnrshadowcd II vii,
however. undoubtedly be taken mn
again soon, and this time pushed ON 10
completion.
MISS BEhRDSLEY IS
ENPERIENCED WOItI,EIt
The most experienced worker for Tho
h:aSeleTs Aid In Richmond is Miss
-
travellers Aid and Employment srcrn-
tary for the Y. ". .. A. When ,hc :,
soclation, feeling the work too n,,,rb
i"F II 10 do just!c" a branch OF i,s
oMh' l"F heu a committee representing,
se'erai other civic organizations I'm ~,
city. and separate Travcinr., 49,
society was formed. Miss Rctrdslov ,ynt,
put In charge. The association -, 60
frahcisto is Just now making siren
uous eHortS 10 entice her OUT thcr. .Ji,
.'e' I" heip, with her experience. i'm
sowing me difficult problems II has IN
nandi" Meanwhile. the pr,sid.r, :
the FOCAL organization, Henry : JJr,
Ter. has asked the city to give M 49,,
hua! appropriation Of $1,000 10 MOI,
carry on the work II il "a, >
financed by private contribution 1fdai
considerably by the railroads who =
so convinced Of it's value thar mo-.
VIKING 10 make il regular appronriy
alton ''' ''' i
CHILDREN's FLORAL p,u.nr
IN GINIEIt pAHk
The children's floral parade a, -.
lawn fcic given by the GiDte~ Pr,
Womans CLUB last week was ON. 80
me most picturesque events Of IA.
season There were nve prizes off.r.I
which gave chance OF winning 10
every juvenile in G!ntcr Park from ~.
youngest babbler to the alInos,-dot.,,1
tante. There was Il prize FOR the nrot
Nest baby carriage occupied by bis
majesty, the baby himself; ana ono
Tor the most prettily decorated DOH
baby carriage wheeled by the taste
another chance 10 wiz: Oh the pr.iti..s,
tricycle. while the BOYS cam. iu on
reiocipedes ana bicycles
The prize baby-carriage was lin,