More Stranded Girls than Ever

More Stranded Girls than Ever Defeat and Disillusionment Along the City's Gay White Way Still the Lot of the Modern Girl, De- spite Her Self-Reliance; but She Is Better Able to Emerge Safely from Her Predicament than the Girl of Yesterday EVERY girl who comes to New York should have at least enough money to last for three or four weeks, figuring at the rate of about $25 to $30 a week Girls must count on paying at least $7 or $8 a week for a room, and this is the very lowest figure for which a self-respecting girl can secure re- spectable lodgings. She must figure on about $10 a week for food, several dollars for laun- dry and several more for earfare, telephone ealls and other incidentals. Many girls ar- rive in New York with less than $25. DR. A. M. YOUNG, Secretary of the Memorial Committee, Vol- unteers of America. Modern girls view Maude Ballington Booth, the metropolis with much wife of the founder of more confidence and equanimity the Volunteers of EMPLOYMENT than did country girls of a generation America and co- ago, but even these self-sufficient young worker with her women often:g broke before they Sécute à job husband in BUREAU and their first pay envelope. organized relief work. by the older generation, which helps them in their hour of dia- tress. Years ago girl would have had too much so-called pride to ap peal to her people or to philan- thropic organizations for assist- ance, stumbling as a result into pitfalls left open for the penniless girl in a big city, but today she doesn't care so much what people think. Rather than compromise herself or run the risk of falling in with disreputable people who might offer her temporary ald, she bravely and wisely approaches the police or relief organizations and (Copyright. frankly reveals her plight. It is 1929.) vastly safer method than the old one of pride and concealment. days seeking jobs without strings "With the condition of women so BY CAROL BIRD attached to them. Soon her money vastly changed, more and more gave out and she was reduced to girls are assuming more difficult sleeping in parks, Finally, ex- young adventurer who comes pro- tasks and greater responsibilities THOUSANDS of women and hausted from lack of food and toward their familles. Due to the girls from all parts of the vided with money for emergencies, but she turns cold shoulder to proper rest and filled with anx- increased liberties for girls and country drift into New York the one who lacks foresight and lety, she came to Mrs. Booth with their changed status in the eco- City as part of the ambitious her troubles. She was sent to our Despite goes broke in her midst. nomic and social world, large num- shelter on Twenty. third street, and her capabil- bers of them are being magnetized army of more than two hun- 'An unbellevably large number first of all was fed, though the of girls drift into New York dally ities, the girl of in the direction of the big citles. dred thousand which each year amounts of food given her had to enters the mecea of fame and with only a few dollars in their be small at first because of her today is likely to find of young purses, buoyed up by high hopes starved condition. A decent job was job-hunting in New York to New fortune. A larger percentage and ill-founded optimism. Back obtained for her and she remained of them than ever before are City a long, heart-breaking York, with the best of intentions home they have painted an illusory at the shelter until she got her struggle, because competition is so great. and for compelling reasons, be- becoming stranded, meeting de- picture of New York life and they first week's salary Then a decent come stranded and hopelessly dis- feat and disillusionment, de- are terrifically confident about room was found for her. couraged. At such a time these their own capabilities. Many of spite the much-vaunted "Not long ago a welfare officer $18 a week, which provides for her ef- girls need all the elementary neces- them believe that they are destined from the Seventh precinct here fairly well in a town where living sities of life. They need counsel, ficiency and independence of to be great writers, actresses, sing- brought a young girl to our shelter. expenses are not nearly so high as friendship and help, which will give the modern girl. ers, artists, but after a few days She had arrived at the police sta- in New York: Very sensibly she them fresh start before they sink Broke, hungry, their clothes gone of canvassing the agencies, the tion, frantic and weeping, to sob has come to a realization that, into a state of despair and lonell- shabby from days of job-hunting. editorial offices or the studios they out her sorry story at the desk. after all, she is very ordinary girl ness. The first of these necessities without even the fare to go back find that the city is surfeited with She came to New York from Rome, with no outstanding talent whatgo- is place to live. It is both strange to the farm or the towns whence talent. Their funds become ex- Ga. where she had left her mother, ever. She sent us $10, a sum which and pathetic that in spite of New they came, they are up against a hausted, their clothes shabby and a very poor woran who was not she wanted us to use to help some York City's great philanthropic and divineartening and altogether terri- sometimes their pride prevents in good health. The daughter had other poor girl as badly off as she well organized relief agencies, fying problem. them from letting the folks back come to New York in the hope of had been and which was her way of there are practically no homes of "Never before In bistory has home know their predicament. obtaining a good paying job so that showing appreciation for the help this character for the self-respect- wowan reached the pinnacle of self- They wind up on park benches and, she could provide medical atten- we had given her. ing girl. There are well conduct- assurance and independence on if their will power is poor, meet a tion for her mother She found a ed hotels or homes for girls who which she stands today; yet the deplorable and cruel fate. job which paid her $15 week, and are earning fairly good wages. In financial situation has not altered "Many of these girls are com- out of this she bad been sending "O"R Phila all these institutions the charge, delphia in the least, and if a girl comes pelled to come to the city because her mother $7 a week. As a result however reasonable, is prohibitive they cannot find employment on of riving on $8 a week, the girl's branch one day to New York without money to for the girl who has nothing or at received a letter bridge the gap between her arriva the farm or in the small town, best only a few dollars left. There own health was broken, her clothes from a father in and her securing of job and a pay especially when they must help are numerous homes for so called were shibby and she confessed Virginia telling envelope, she is in the same pre- 'fallen women'; but for the self- contribute to the support of the that she had I forced to pawn us about his dicament as was her less able respecting girl who is stranded in family. her mother's wedding ring, which daughter, sister of several decades ago," said young our city and faces disaster far from "Hence, they come to New York. had been given to her as a parting who, after her Dr. A. M. Young, secretary of the home and unknown to loved ones, I wIII tell you what happens to gift when she left Georgia. memorial committee of the Volun- mother's death, practically no provision is made. some of them here. Only the other "Sobbing this girl held forth a had run away "The Volunteers of America are teers of America, which is now rals- day a young girl from Iowa sought telegram she had just received. from home, with ing funds for a home for stranded planning to erect and maintain in out Mrs. Rooth for help in her des- The police Neutenant read It. The Philadelphia as the heart of New York a building women and girls, to be an anniver- perate situation. For nine days message told her that her mother her destination. in which shelter and help will be sary foundation dedicated to Gener- and nights she had walked the was dying. The welfare officer He had never al Ballington Booth and his wife, streets and slept on park benches, brought her to our shelter and we heard from her General Ballington Booth, founder of the Volunteers of America. given to such women and girls. In addition to housing accommoda commemorating their 50 years of and in all that time she had eaten immediately gave her the rallroad again. He sent This organization is raising funds to erect a home for stranded girls tions, there will be provided an philanthropic service. only about 20 ounces of food. She fare to Rome, enough money to us her photo- in New York City as a memorial to General and Mrs. Booth's many adequate social life, educational fa- came to New York with $32. At buy food on the way and $20 in graph and we had home she had left a brother and addition. We learned later that she copies made of years of philanthropic service. cilities, opportunity for economic "ITERE in New York one finds betterment, a simple religious cul- culture, educational opportuni- sister. both afflicted with tubercu- had arrived just in time, for her It, which we gave ture and a home atmosphere. The ties, fascipating social Iffe, wealth, losis and a mother suffering from mother died shertly after she got to our slum workers. Some time Pennsylvania, where she was cared must work and there is nothing purpose is prevention, not redemp- chances for eminence in various rheumatism. She had been in the there. That girl had learned a bit- afterward one of our missionaries, for 16 weeks and eventually nursed suitable there for them to do. They tion; to forestall disgrace and dia- fields and for faine and success, habit of working very hard back in ter lesson in New York. She had on her rounds of investigation back to health. Upon her recovery are willing to work at anything, as aster, not to rescue and reclaim. yet feel safe in saying that it Is Iowa, even harvesting the grain lived there just nine weeks and had chanced to visit a notorious place. there was a reunion with her fam- maids or waltresses, but even these The institution is to be a tempo the one city above all others from with Ner brother. There was acountered nothing but depriva On the second floor she found & ily and she is now happily engaged humbler occupations are not al- rary shelter. During the stay of which young women should stay small mortgage on their home, and tion, though she had secured a job. girl lying on a bed of rags in in social work. ways to be found. the woman or girl efforts will be away," continued Dr. Young. "Let it was the girl's intention to make After her mother's death she de- pitiable condition: She was ill and "While many of these young girls "But even though this situation made either for her return home, me qualify that. It is the one city enough money in New York to sup- cloed that she must abandon her delirious, an opfum smoker Our who come to New York each year exists, the modern girl is better when that seems desirable, or for which they should not seek out un- port the family at home and ease dreams of a great future, for she organization immediately removed use poor judgment and are the vic- able to emerge from her predica- her economic and social placement less they have exceptional talents their sufferings. She was a pretty had originally come to New York her from the dive. She was too ill tims self-deception, believing ment than the girl of another day. and improvement. No charge will and abilities, so that they can cope girl and fairly well dressed. She not only to help take care of her to talk, When she had recovered that mediocrity is talent, all ofe Years ago girls would have hesi- be made either for room or board successfully with the tremendous told Mrs. Booth that she had had sick mother but also to make somewhat we learned her story. them do not fall into this classifica- tated to leave home in the first if the girl is unable to pay. When competition which they will en- offers of three different jobs, but place for herself in the world of the She proved to be the girl from tion. Some of these girls who be- place, feeling that they were un- she has found employment, pay. counter, or unless they are well to each one a detestable condition theater. She thought she had great West Virginia, whose father was come stranded are not spin- equipped to fight the battle of life ment will be accepted in proportion supplied with funds to tide them was attached, talent and was merely holding hunting for her, 8 the time. While ning golden fantasies in which they in a big city alone and unprotect- to her earnings: when she nas over their weeks or months of job- "Never before have I heard down b: Job until some this was a case which reached us figure as Broadway stars, motion ed. Today their independence and found sufficiently remunerative unting.vo to carry them bark 10 more shameful story-one reflect- manager should discover her and a little late for we deal mostly in picture queens, famous artists belf-confidence bring them to New work, a good permanent home or their homes if they face ultimate ing on the decency and humanity of give her her great chance. preventive veasures, we néverthe- writers They come to New York York in hordes And it is the mod- boarding house will be found for c ranpointment man. That girl's feet were bleed- "She is now working in a drug less decided to ,help this girl. We from the farms and the small ern, more or less unconventional her and she will make room for "New York is friendly to the ing. She had walked the streets for store back in, Rome and is earning sent her to fresh-air farm in towns of the country because they attitude of young the girl who has nothing."