A Call to Protect Seattle’s Working Girls

These lines of Hood's were brought forcibly to the writer's mind on reading in the POST-INTELLIGENCER of March 17, an account of the suicide of an unfortunate girl only 18 years old. The writer has also learned that little more than a year ago this poor girl was sweet-faced and innocent, trying bravely to earn an honest living—a girl of 17 alone in a big, bustling city. All must admit that the contest was an unequal one. In a city as large as Seattle, with its small army of working women, there should be a working-girl's clubhouse, where girls away from home and friends could board if they wished, and have the comforts and protecting influence of a home, or where girls temporarily out of work, or perhaps ill, could find a safe shelter. Such an institution as this, with a pleasant clubroom, made attractive by music, books, pictures, magazines, etc., where girls could spend their evenings pleasantly and profitably, would do an incalculable amount of good. If a movement of this kind should be started, I doubt not that it would receive help from all sources—from the press, always alive to the best interests of Seattle—from business men, who can but see that such institutions are to the honor and glory of any city; from fathers and mothers, from the churches, from teachers, artists, lecturers and musicians. Will not some one start the ball a rolling?