South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-20

others-in store. factory or kitchen
"Sixty-six per cent Of our girls
come from service IN private fam
lilies
There are girls who lose their
situations. Whether the fault be hers
or the necessary result OF scarcity OF
work due 20 hard times the result
is the same-she must soon choose
between starving. begging. or selling
all she has left-herself
THE South Bend circle was or
gained in July, 1910. with 10 mem
bers. and we now have So or 90.
During these eight years we have
befriended more than 500 girls Last
year we had 1875 girls aged from l.
TO %: % Of these were mothers
with young babes; five mothers and
babies were sent 20 the hospital; IA
girls were found employment. eight
were found homes: two were mar
ried and were returned 20 their
homes in distant cities. Four law
suits were instituted; over 400 calls
were made. and $40 articles Of
clothing were distributed.
All Volunteers.
I'VE have no salaried officers,
every worker is a volunteer.
How and where do we find these
girls2 Sometimes 70 is a heart
broken. almost frantic mother.
discouraged and disappointed father.
who comes TO US for advice. sym
pathy and helpful suggestions. some
times a brother or sister, or a more
distant relative, "A riend, pastor.
teacher. neighbOr, the probation Off
Ger and the po-icewoman.
Mrs. Evans is a member OF our
circle. She finds a young girl on the
street too frequently and too late at
night She speaks TO her and gives
her a kindly warning; If the girl is
persistent she goes to the mother
and finds out her attitude toward the
girl and her conduct. and tells her
what the consequences will be If the
girl is not kept Of the street
IF the giri continues on the
street she is picked up by the po-
licewoman and taken before the pro-
=
proves that the home environment
is more at fault than the girl. she is
not placed in Jail to associate with
those who have transgressed still
farther but frequently made a ward
OF the court, a member of our circle
appointed guardian and she is placed
in a home OF good influence. cheer
full surroundings and we have nu-
merous examples OF splendid re-
suits.
About a year ago a little12-year-
old girl who had been in a convent
since she was five years old and
never even been on a street car in
that time, was sent alone from In
dianapolis TO her mother IN South
Bend. A letter notifying the mother
Just when the child would arrive
had been mailed, but unfortunately
10 the wrong address. After being
in the station several hours with
nothing TO eat, and not knowing
what to do. she began TO cry. and
late in the afternoon, a hackman
who knew Mrs. Cotton. chairman of
our rescue committee and knew
that she was interested in an or
ganization that looked after girls,
called her over the phone and asked
what he should do with the little
girl. OF course she had her brought
to her home Immediately and after
feeding and comforting her she sue
ceeded in getting a clue and at once
called Mrs. Evans on the case. She
knew just how to go about IL. 70
locate that mother and within an
hour the little girl was turned over
/ to a grateful mother in Mishawaka
where she had moved since her last
/ letter to the sisters in indianapolis
Not all for JaiIs.
You know as well as does Mrs
\ Evans and the Florence Crittentor
circle, that every girl that must be
/ picked up off the street should uot
/ be placed in Jail.
only a few months ago a young
woman wSs found wandering up and
| down Main ST. late in the afternoon
\ crying. She had committed Nc
/ crime. She was stranded IN q
] strange city and in her effort to ge'
\ in communication with her sister il
| Indianapolis she had spent all hel
/ money A gentleman inquired what