The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-29
NEW GOAL
IS SET At
1000
Membership Now Totals 400
and Review Shows Mucl.
Work Accomplished.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.

DIV II xt<AINIA A44Na
Following a year Of activities
demonstrating the influence Of the
organization as a social uplift
factor in Washington life, the Big
Sisters, which includes some four
hundred Catholic women of the
city among its members, has en-
tered on a membership drive.
According to officers Of the
organization, at least 1000 Wash
ington Catholic women should be
affiliated with the Big Sisters as
active and contributing members.
No limits to the membership has
been set, however, and If the
drive results in an increased num-
Der of members being secured the
addition, they say, will be well
coined.
Formed Two Years Ago.
1.-THE Big Sisters was organized
here two years ago." said Mrs. S.
". Farling, vice president, today.
"Since then it has become a factor
In carrying out missions or
charity and aiding scores OF
women and men in finding employ
ment for which they were fitted.
'sYou know in a city like Wash
ington there are many families
who need assistance but dread
making their condition known even
to the organized charities. and
much less to the authorities. They
suffer silently all kinds of priva-
tons and are only heard of when
some understanding and sym.
pathetic friend learns of their cir
eumstances. Even then it is ex-
tremely difficult to render the cid
they require; to make them under
stand that there are those who
wish to help them and to do so
without in anyway causing them to
feel embarrassment. During the
past year we have been fortunate
enuogh to render assistance in a
number of such instances, and the
results in every case have war
ranted the interest taken and as
sistance given"
Important Results.
But aiding the unfortunate
victims whose past has frequently
been one of easy circumstances
and who feel an insurmountable
reluctance to asking charity is not
the only work in which the Big
Sisters have accomplished unpub-
Hshed. but important results.
Scores of young girls who came
TO Washington seeking employment,
but ignorant OF the ways Of the city
and the dangers lurking on all
sides, have found them to be true
friends in their hour Of need. Many
q young girl 1t is declared, will
look back with feelings of deep
gratitude to the sisterly advice and
care experienced through the Big
Sisters, when otherwise she would
have fallen a victim to the alluring
inducements held out by those who,
placing a cheap valuation on
chastity, are pastmasters in despoil-
ing innocent girls. i
These records of the organization
are a sealed book. In such cases
the right hand knows not what the
left hand doeth. 1t is the realiza.
ton Of this which has made the Big
Sisters so successful in combating
the pernicious influences and condi-
lions surrounding innocent girls in
q strange city.
Two Girls Rescued.
Only recently Mrs. Farling,
formerly Washington's first police
woman, to whom many private ap-
peals are made for aid in such
cases, succeeded in rescuing two
girls who would otherwise have been
hopelessly lost, while she is now
causing an investigation to be made
which may bring to justice a clique
of men charged by their victim, girl
of tender years, with treatment
making them liable to long prison
terms.
1.-The little butterflies come here
from the country" said Mrs. Far
ling, without any knowledge of
the city and fall easy victims to
the practices of INSCRIPTIONS men
and women. Every little while we
are successful in finding them in
time to prevent their being ruined.
1t is a work that requires delicate
handling, for not only is 1t neces-
sary that those undertaking 1t
should understand girls. their am
billions, their circumstances, their
weak and their strong points, but
they must be gifted with the ability
TO get their confidence and with
the added ability to make them