Evening star., 1939-06-18
Story Of a Girl
Who Found Shelter
From Despair
Hospice Member Drive
Under Way, Reports
Set for June 2o
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

BY GRETCHEN SMITH.
A frail girl stood at the door OF
the Girls Club and Hospice, 1925
Sixteenth street NV. Timidly she
touched the bell, then turning, as
though afraid, she started toward
the street. AS pouring rain, with
intermittent flashes of lightning
drove her back, the door opened, and
q young woman smiled welcome
The girl hesitated, then, drawing
clipping from her shabby purse,
spoke with marked foreign accent,
"The Entire Nous Club is here, yes?
should like so much to see the
lady in charge"
Within the reception room ladies
Of the Entire Nous Club were hold
ing a benefit card party for the
hospice. Mrs. Charles P. Keyser,
president of the club, greeted the
young woman as she entered with
Mrs Franklin G. Sartwell, "house
mother" of the hospice.
You have come to play?" she
smiled.
The girl appeared bewildered.
"Play! No-I don't think so."
Shoes Ooze Water.
The two women suddenly noticed
the girls shoes. They were worn,
and water oozed from the thin soles.
They exchanged glances.
Perhaps you have come to see
me-" said Mrs. Sartwell. She real
lied the girl was in distress. She was
the type welcomed by the hos
pice-girls of education and pro-
tected childhood; girls unable to
fight the hard grind of foodless days
and roofless nights; girls trained for
desk jobs, who, through ruthless
layoffs of hard times, found them
selves without the means to pay for
the small room called home" dur
ing the days when they had worked
in the position which had brought
them to Washington. These were the
girls who were too proud to ask re-
lief-too thoughtful to write to rel
atives with curtailed incomes.
The little French girl followed
Mrs. SartWell to the Office. She
poured forth her story. She had
come to Washington from Canada
as French governesS to a foreign
diplomat. Political upheavals had
left the diplomat without coun-
try. He had been forced to dis
charge his household staff. For
month the governess lived on saw
ings, vainly looking for work. She
reached the end of her resources.
For three days she slept in Union
Station, lodging from bench to
bench fearing arrest as a vagrant.
She read paper left in the sta
ton. She noticed the announce
ment of club with a French name,
Entire Nous.
They are French" she thought
"They may help me to find work" :"
They were not French, but they
did help her. For five weeks she
remained within the friendly shell
ter of the Hospice. 1t seemed un-
believable to her that without
cost, merely friendly cooperation
In household duties, she was permit
ted to occupy the attractive bed
room, enjoy the comfortable living
room on the second floor, and the
wholesome food served in the little
dining room.
Gets Job as Teacher.
At the end of five weeks, through
efforts of Maj. and Mrs. H. Mills
Eroh, local commanders of the
Volunteers of America, which oper-
ates and supports the Hospice, and
Of the Entire Nous Club. she re-
ceived a good position as Ian
guage teacher.
In the ONCE of the Hospice. Maj.
and Mrs. Eroh told of its work and
aims.
This Hospice is unique" Maj.
Eroh explained. washington and
Hollywood are probably the only
places in the country that have the
problems we are trying to care for.
The girls We are hoping to reach
frequently come from good families
and face tragedy and despair be-
cause they are out Of work and
have no money. We find them re-
sorting to all manner Of expedients
to keep soul and body together"
More than a hundred girls have
been assisted in finding work and
self respect by the friendly shelter
of the Hospice at time when there
is not sufficient money in their fiat
tened pocket books to buy car
token, authorities stated. When
they find work, they go elsewhere.
"Only one girl out of fifty has had to
return after going forth to a new
Job" Maj. Eroh said.
Formerly the Emerson Institute,
the building, now the Hospice, was
purchased three years ago by means
of a legacy left to the Volunteers of
America. The need of such place
was recognized at meeting As
sembled three years ago to greet
Maud Ballington Booth, co-founder
of the organization. At the meeting
were Mrs. Lloyd w. Biddle, then
president of the District Federation
of Women's Clubs; DR.. Edith Seville
Coale. Capt. Rhoda Milliken, Maj
Christen Eroh, Mrs. Sartwell and
Mrs. Josephine O'Hare.,
Began With IA Beds.
When the Hospice opened its doors
last year, there were beds to care for
IA girls, with additional emergency
accommodations for transients.
Rooms on the first and second floors
had been renovated and furnished
by contributions from friends. Ur-
gent need is now felt, Maj. Eroh
stated. for completion of the third
floor, Which will provide greater
sleeping accommodations, and for
renovating the basement to install
the kitchen, now on the first floor.
Under the leadership of Mrs. Bid
die, membership drive is now under
way to secure an increase in men,
bers who will subscribe to the sup
port and expansion of the Girls
Hospice. June 20 is set aside as
Hospice Day, when ladies of the
various groups working will meet
and report results of the drive At
Y,rosnrt there iS a poomhorchin 0f