New-York tribune., 1918-01-20


me the first single room that is vacant. How
much would this be-"
WHAT A GIRL CAN GET FOR 1915
could scarcely believe my ears when I
heard the reply, 1876 for room and break
fasts and dinners" A nice, comfortable room,
with wonderful bathroom next door, and
big trunk closet just outside the door, and two
meals in the bright, chintz-hung dining room,
with the privilege of using "beau parlor" ad
lib! What more could girl expect? felt at
that moment that the trials Of the "pore woik-
ing goil" had been grossly exaggerated.
"What about laundry privileges?" my new
friend was saying. 1t did seem to me that she
was getting her $3.75 worth without any moro
privileges.
"I1l show you the laundry" said our cice-
rome, and we went down into the basement, into
room equipped with ironing boards, electric
irons and row of porcelain tubs.
1--WE charge cents an hour for the use Of
the laundry" she explained.
My friend insisted on my seeing the
sun parlor on the roof, which, on hot summer
evenings, has been such comfort to the girls.
Here were wicker chairs with bright cushions,
TALL shaded lamps and gate-legged tables and
phonograph. A conservatory with tropical
plants and big tank Of goldfish opened from
this sun parlor. There also kitchenette,
with all the fittings and dishes, where the girls
can make cup of tea get little supper.
And all this for 1915 per week!
But our hopes were dashed when the matron
inquired as to the income of the new applicant.
1t seems that the 1915 term is meant espe-
cay for the girl who earns only SO per week.
One who earns the munfcent sum of $40 is
supposed to pay from 81 to $3.50 per week.
All was apparently lost, when I had an idea
which saved us. So long my friend had to
pay her doctors bill at the rate of So per week
her income for several weeks would really be
only SO. This made her eligible for the $3.75
vacancy, and the prize was hers!
COMFORT AT SMALL COST
She was the private secretary of a Wall
Street magnate and she wanted room with
board on the upper West Side, near Central
Park. She was willing to pay $15 or s18
week and she wished to be in a house where
there were other young people, for she was
stranger in the city. She was fortunate enough
to find exactly what she wanted at the very
first house at which we called. Three houses
had been thrown into one in Eighty Something
Street, just off Central Park West. For $14
per week there was a small front room, welt
furnished with steam heat and electric light
and breakfast and dinner.
This time it two friends, one a nurse
and the other paid worker for war relief
organization, and they sighed for the Bohemian
life of Greenwich Village. / was surprised that
they desired furnished room. I should have
thought that their hearts would have been set
on studio, but soon learned that they had
had their experience with studio life and their
one idea now warmth and comfort
The address which they had received at the
bureau was that Of an old house on the line Of
the new subway, and consequently the outside
decidedly unprepossessing. They hesitated
before ascending the ricketty steps and the
presence of perambulator on the wooden ball
cony was almost the last straw, but they went
doggedly ahead and rang the bell. pretty
little blonde woman answered it and proved to
he the landlady.
Once inside the front door the whole atmos.
phere quite different. Everything was as
dainty and clean as could be and the rooms
which she showed us we're most attractive, with
newly papered walls and fresh chintzes They
were also very reasonable, for 81 was the
price asked for the large front one and SIS
for the one at the back, both on the second
floor. No meals were served in the house. but
there was no objection to the girls getting their
own breakfasts in their room, provided they
didn't cook "smudgy" things
Its all perfect" said the war relief girl.
except the baby. We have never lived in a
house where there BABY
The landlady smiled. "That baby saved our
lives during the last cold spell" she said "My
people won't let me send her to my mother in
the country. They almost mutined when I
suggested it. You see, the dealers gave coal
first to the families where there were babies, SO
she came in pretty handy
My days experience convinced me of one
thing, namely, that somewhere in this big town
there is a good, comfortable room waiting for
every working girl if she will only persevere
until she finds ia good, comfortable room
for the price that she wishes to pay, good,
motherly "house mother" to look after her
comfort.
And as for the landladys side of the ques-
tion, no one even in these hard times, need have
an empty room if she will only behave like
human being to the girls who seek not only q
shelter, but home under her roof
And there is always the Bureau of Board.