Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-25
THE REST ROOM

Inc Woman's Rest room has now
been open for a year, and the time has
| come when the committee in charge
| must give an account OF it's steward
ship.
! During the past year CAST persons
| have visited the room. The greatest
| number in any one month has been Tin
December) s97: the greatest number in
one day 1876, the smallest number in
| one dav. H.
| These figures, in the opinion of the
| committee. speak for themselves, but
some further details will, it is hoped.
! be of interest to the community. OF
these visitors, two-thirds, it is esti-
mated came from out of town. They
We're OF all sorts and conditions. Tired
women, thankful to sit down after their
| shopping expedition in an easy chair
| and rest for half an hour before the
+. long drive over rugh roads; patient wo-
men with an hour or two to wait be-
! fore he" would have finished his bus
mess: busy women, with half an hour
between one appointment and the next.
| and no desire to spend it in the shops;
eXasperatcd or discouraged women,
| VINO have lost a car. and must wait
| half an hour, or an hour. as the case
| may be) for another; suffering women.
! to whom the comfortable couch, SEEM
ed n veritable haven of refuge; mothers
with infants or little children, weary or
frctful. confused by the hustle of street
and shop, but soon composed and
| soothed by the quiet atmosphere. the
rbp ,,,1 toll 10 x,f he,
matron.
These came. and continue to come,
but these are not all. At noon, the
High school girls who live at dis
tance have formed the habit of going to
the Rest Room to eat their luncheon
and stay through the noon recess.
| Here are magazines. a few books the
| committee wishes there were moreD
! daily paper; here, far more important,
! is a kindly welcome, friendly word,
a place whore they can feel safe and
at home.
These are the people whom the Rest
Room chiefly benefits; but which of
US has not ROW and then been glad to
slip in for visit, perhaps a cup of
tea Or cocoa, and sit a while to draw
breath before climbing the hill?
From the most material point of
view. the Rest Room would seem to be
| benefit to our community. Over six
thousand women, tWo-thirds of them
from out of town, This means, it may
fairly be supposed, a good deal Of bus
mess transacted. good many articles
purchased, a good deal of shopping
done. in Gardiner instead of in Au-
CT jcfn Thn
therefore, is an asset for our mer-
chants. and as such should meet their
! hearty comlnenda ton and support.
Looked al from a higher standpoint,
the benefit is seen to be even greater.
The renarl, which the matron hears
! most frequently, over and over every
day, is how could we get along with
out this Rest Room? How did we man.
aCe without it, In a letter recently
| received. a gentleman, while renewing
his generous subscription, says: Il am
very glad to renew my subscription to
the Rest Room. This is doing good
work and has been well managed. l
have noted many of the school girls
going away from there at noon, and
this alone justifies its maintenance"
The membership is small and the
dues $50 cents a year, have brought in
this year but $3.50. The refreshments
sold pay for themselves and no more.
All these things being considered the
committee feels itself justified in APP
pealing once more to the community
to support the Rest Room through the
coming year. and trusts that this ap-
peal will meet with a cordial response.
The following subscriptions and
gifts were received by the Rest Room
Association in 1915:
Cjty Of Gardiner S50 10