Year: 1872

/. There are many benevolent institutions In New
York about which very little is ever heard, but
which, nevertheless, continue to do noble work In
the cause of humanity OF this class scarcely one
can be mentioned that mas better record for use
fulness than the Workingwomen's Protective
Unio1, in Bleecker street, or one that has higher
mission to fulfill Experience, all the world over,
has proved that the poor working girl is the most
defenceess being on earth, and that in regard to
her the most cOwardy means have been resorted
TO- II not absolutely to deraud her, at least 80 to
depress the value OF her services as to make them
count for almost nothing. Although much has been
done to ameliorate the w0rkingwOmans condition
and place 1t on a more equal footing with her
brother toiler, yet the most earnest efforts In this
behalf have not entirely succeeded and to-day, In
this city, there is a constant need Of vigilance In
the protection Of the poor working girls rights.
This is the more plainly seen from glancing at the
records Of the Protective Union in Beecker street,
where females Of all ages and all nationalities
daily tell the story OF their wants and their
wrongs, and seek for advice in the almost
beref condition in which they find themselves. The
community little knows to what hard straits many
poor respectable girl is driven to make an honest
days living and has still less idea OF how much real
distress and actual suffering are undergone pa
tienty and with brave hearts by young women frail
and weak In body, but noble and strong in mind
and purpose





q want which Is felt generally throughout the city,
but which Is one of those needs that everybody ac-
time to me vasions . associatons
have been started for the purpose helping women,
but 1t Is noticeable fact In connection with them
that the publicity which their founders and sup
porters get by their prominent support OF them are
Commensurate with the length Of time they con-
tinue to give their services, and much more might
be said on this point. The Protective Union how
ever, has now been In existence eight years, and
the work 1t has done speaks best for It's worth The
Union whole
lection for women for 1t would be simply impossl-
Bile with the means at Its command to do 80. Its
and assist them in obtaining employment.
and to enforce by legal proceedings the payment OF
wages due to women, and, in general way, to help
them in every way possible 1t frequently happens
worth even more than money 1t saves and sup
ports and nerves the weary woman to renewed
has been OF incaculable service. Hundreds OF re.
spectacle young girls utterly without the means Of
the ladies In charge OF this institution that new
lives have been opened for them and sure means
and an W s Wives %s
sick husbands have been cared for and so sustained
that the their heavy load was made much more light
diture OF any money by way OF relief; for the chief
am, o. the Union is simply to help women to help
IMMENSELY ted to see that they are not harshy or


The working Of the Institution is in the hands Of
Susan Y. Seelbach, Assistant superintendent. with
Miss II. Morley and Mrs. M. ]. Waterman as finau-
Wolfe, President; James w. Gerard Vice President;
William B. Crosby, Secretary; Moses s. Beach,
Both the superintendent and Assistant superin.
tendent attend daily at the office In Bleecker street.
and Sos here at al M hours may be seen motley crowd
extremely well devised, and the best care is given
to each case, no matter how lowly or desolate the
subject may be. Every application for work Is en-.
tered on the books is also every application OF
the employer needing help. The popularity Of the
sort Of work which the applicant is best fitted for
In the complaints OF women who have been de-
complaint is stated the offender then being no
tined that unless the wages are paid within
ylse Gays Hs ne WIZ De the legal ad
once week at the office to give advice to all who
may need It, and is In constant communication
there is a large amount Of money saved to the
working woman which would otherwise assuredly
be lost for In nearly every case Is the defendant
beaten In the courts. There are many cases marked
on the books In which the defrauding employer has
paid the poor sewing girl in instalments Of a few
dollars week. An average Of about sixteen hun
dred dollars, In sums varying from thirtyone cents
to sloo Is yearly & recovsred BY THIS system Of
recovered was $238, but much larger sums which
were easily to be secured with proper knowledge
on the point but which were almost hOpeessly gone
from Ignorance as to how to recover them, have
been secured by the advice received from the
the Union is about sixty. Situations are procured
for all girls working at trade, for music
teachers artists, cOpyfsts salegw0men and young
girls capable Of taking Of children, this last
named being the only sort OF household work pro-
vided.


The managers OF the Union have got promise Of
Etl,0o0 from the Legislature for q new building
s table for the purposes Of the institution, pro.
san object. Already $1,000 has been gathered in
froG friends, and the managers Of the Union now
appA al to oil interested In the welfare Of working
WON, n to lend helping hand. The Union has so
far ac 'omplished Its work by the aid Of its friends
who an nually subscribe about $3,0OO which covers
all expe nses. II should be stated that no money
whateve Is received for any service rendered by
the Union to any OF its applicants.