The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-08-22
TRAVELLERS AID WORK OF THE Y ga
@ GREAT ASSET TO CITY'S WELFARE WORK

: If you come into the city a perfect
stranger, probably with baggage and chill
dren, you are greatly bewildered at the
difficulties you must meet. Then con-
slider the wonderful advantage of having
some sweet faced woman come up to you
and offer assistance and information.
Why, it's like lifting a great burden off
your shoulders The babies are quiet,
the porter is called to assist with the
luggage and soon aagin you are placed
on the "other train safe and comfort
able.
Suppose you are young foolish,
city-seeking countrq girl, bewildered
1t the maze of noise, the cars and the
people in large city station. just simply
not knowing what to do and ready to 60
right back home, except you haven't
enough money. The first hand held out
to assist you might be the awful pitfall
you have been warned against and how
are you to tell? Out of your bewilder-
ment comes kind, gentle person who's
very presence gives you sense of pro-
lection. You are helped to find a place
to live until you get job and are safe.
Maybe some one has been taken ill on a
train and needs a physician. AT once,
the kind faced lady that hangs about
the station is called, a pjhy stefan is
summoned, and all attention given the I'M
fortunate traveller.
These are a few of the emergency cases
that are daily arising during the busy
days work of the Travellers Aid secre-
tary.
Work Began Eight Years Ago
The Travellers Aid work in Birming-
ham was begun about eight years ago.
10
Aid secretary, having been placed in the
Terminal station by the Young Womens
Christian association of this city. The
station authorities recognizing the inn
portance of such work at the station Of
fered to pay part of Mrs. Walpole's ex-
penses, and this offer was accepted. At
present two women are employed at the
Terminal in this capacity and one at the
Louisville and Nashville depot.
The Travellers Aid work originated in
Boston, under the Young Woman's Chris
ton association, and for many years was
carried on exclusively by that institution
Z At present 81 organizations are doing
this work. Often it is done in cities
where there are no Young Womens Chris
ttan association, and for many years was
of churches, the Kings Daughters, Cath
olic and Jewish societies. There are las
paid Travellers Aid workers in ~ cities
There are 800 cities where one may be
met and assisted In 70 of these cities
She Travellers Aid secretary Is given
police power. There is some kind of
work done in AZ different states along
these lines.
In the European countries the work is
cider and more extensively carried on
than in the United States. In New York
there are 10 Travellers Aid workers speak
ing 81 languages meeting the trains and
ships. The Young Women's Christian as
ISOLATION and the Council of Jewish Won-
en- have international associations that
aid any girl in finding friends and get
ting located on coming to this country.
The work of the Council in the Immigrant
Aid has probably been the most far
reaching and stupendous work of the kind
ever attempted. The work is carried to
q wide proportion. Not only is the girl
taught to know the customs of the new