The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-16
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
Blu RE AU
FREDERIC J. HAsKIN. Director,
Washiustou. d, c.
MARY JANE IN WASHINGTON.
Washinston. D. c

Washington. D. c., Oct. 12.-"Oh.
here Is my civil service appointment
cried Mary Jane as the postman hand
ed her a long white envelope. She
ions, II will be leaving for Washington
in a few days. 1 do hope you all get
your appointments soon, SO we can be
together"
But the other two girls did not re-
spond to her enthusiasm. They said
that they had decided not to accept
appointments in Washington because
of the stories and rumors they had
heard of crowded rooms and expensive
poor food.
"Oh, yes. I've heard all those things,
too said Mary Jane. Il probabl will
have hard time; it will be hard to get
used to-but SO are the trenches. This
is my big opportunity to do real war
work and 1 am not going to turn it
down just because of few rumors
or because it may mean sacrifice on
my part
So Mary Jane left her comfortable
home in the middle west and Journey
ed to Washington to take her place in
the war program. If her friends ex-
pected her to be discouraged they
were disappointed. Mary Jane did
have troubles, but it turned out to be
a case of the the last laugh being the
best. because she found out that the
hardships were only temporary.
The United States employment serv-
ice of the department of labor is look
ing for more Mary James to come to
Washington to fill government posi-
lions as stenographers, typists and
clerks. 1t would also like to tell Mary
Jane and her friends that thru the
housing bureau of the department of
| labor every effort is being made to
provide suitable accommodations for
all women summoned to Washington
o. =
ficient' accommodations will be ar
ranged so that girls will find them
| selves in as comfortable an atmos-
| phere as prevails in any city under
| war conditions.
The first thing the war worker sees
| when coming out of the union station
| is a group of unfinished buildings
| which lie over to the right between
| the capitol and the union station. To
| the left of the buildings and the sta
| ton is huge frame structure which
was built last winter for Billy Sun
days campaign in the capital. 1t now
| bears the familiar triangular sign of
| the Y. M. c. A. Adjoining this enor-
nous hut is a large and very reason
| able cafeteria maintained by the Y. w.
| c. A. for the benefit of those who have
| come to Washington for war work.
| But the newcomer will be more inter-
| ested in the unfinished buildings. She
will be infoSmed by the person who
meets her. whether friend, relative or
| a representative of the room renting
| bureau, that these are the residence
| halls which the government is erecting
| for her and her fellow workers.
Each residence hall will be built in
| fourteen units and will house two
thousand girls. One of the halls will
| be completed and ready to be occu-
pied by December.
No ho1 IC hn
only to workers in the government de-
partments. Application for rooms may
be made thru the heads of the depart
ments. No individual applications will
be received by the housing bureau.
Uncle Sam does not propose to
| house his girl workers in barracks
Neither does he expect'them to live in
dormitories with all the restrictions
| that the word implies. OF course, the
girls will be chaperoned. Arrange
| ments will be made for a house
mother or matron for each unit, but
| this does not mean that the girls must
be in their rooms or put lights out al
| a certain hour, or that they will not
| be allowed to entertain friends. The
4 new residence halls will be operated
on the plan of an apartment hotel
Two meals a. day will be served, break
fast and dinner. There will be a die
| kitchen in each unit where girls com
ing in late at night may prepare thefl
own suppers This will be of specia
interest to those girls who are assigned
to night work.
The rooms are eight by ten. There
will be a few double rooms. but those
who have studied the problem have
found that most of the war workers
prefer to room alone. The furnishing
will be simple, but everything is to be
new and comfortable.
Not only has Uncle Sam turned
I h H. l1,,t l,O 1c-f
turned his attention to entertaining
the girls, or rather to giving them {
chance to entertain themselves. TIL,
government knows that place t.
sleep and three meals a day, alone
are not sufficient to keep young girl
satisfied. Each unit of the residence
halls will have large auditorium ant
ball room, where moving pictures
lectures or some other form of amuse
ment will be offered every night
When the Man from Home comes t.
see the Girl That Left Him Behind
they will not have far to go for en-
tertainment.
Many of the girls who come I,
\ Washington have given up their col
lege work. They will be glad to TAX
advantage of the evening classes hel,
! by the George Washington university
There are also several other institu
, tions giving evening instruction. Boil
. the Congressional and Public librarie
are open in the evening.
This housing bureau is also 1ookinl
after the girls health. In city a
crowded as Washington this is an i'm
portart consideration. The hospital
are filled In case of sickness, the CIR
l who shares rooms with several other
, has no one to attend her needs AM
is forced to mingle with people con
tinually. This situation is dangereu
E for the patient and equally so for he
roommates.
Arrangements have Just been com
pleted for the establishment of a
emergency hospital for war workers
S A house in a central location has bee
taken over which will serve unit
larger quarters can be obtained.
Washington offers an opportunit
for real service. The girls who com