Definite work to reform this cla.s.s of women done by three religious organizations may be mentioned here,--that of the Chinatown Settlement, the Rescue Mission in Doyers Street, and of the Salvation Army. These organizations are in a position to touch those more deeply involved in vice; but the majority of the girls they reach are not prost.i.tutes.
The Chinatown Settlement offers a home and friendly relations to girls drawn into Chinatown. It affords entertainments, religious teaching, and practical training. It brings to the home an average of 75 different girls per month. Two thousand calls on girls were made in 1912. It has a small country place for summer use.
The Rescue Society reaches girls through mission services, clubs, and cla.s.ses. Two thousand, seven hundred and forty-eight women were touched by the services in 1911.
The Salvation Army maintains rescue and industrial homes in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as it does in all the chief cities of the land. The home in Manhattan cares for 50 women and is always full. Some midnight rescue work is done; but the girls actually taken from the streets are few. This work, which formerly depended largely upon religious results in meetings, now accomplishes more by personal influence of workers. The girls are of all nationalities, their average age, 25. So far as possible, the different cla.s.ses are separated in the home. Of 115 inmates in one year 60 were betrayal cases, 19 were cases of prost.i.tution, and 27 girls were under serious temptation. Capable girls are trained and sent out to service. The leaders state that perhaps 80 percent are reformed. The Army also maintains a home at Tappan on the Hudson for young girls about to become mothers. This work was formerly the Door of Hope and is still in charge of Mrs. Whittemore. The Army also does a preventive work for young girls on its farm in Spring Valley.
The two homes that probably touch the problem of the prost.i.tute and commercialized traffic in women more closely than any others are Waverly House and the Florence Crittenton Home. The leaders in these homes are in close relation to the magistrate"s courts and both take care of witnesses in white slave cases pending in the Federal Court.
Waverly House is under the management of the New York Probation a.s.sociation. It accommodates 18 girls, who come through the courts, as above mentioned, and through philanthropic and religious organizations.
Two hundred and nine were cared for in the house in 1912. They remained from one day to three months, for Waverly House is a temporary home and not a reformatory. Most of the girls are young, the largest group between sixteen and eighteen. With the exception of the court witnesses, girls are placed in such permanent inst.i.tutions or positions as will meet their needs. Personal attention and careful study are most prominent in this house. Cla.s.ses in the useful arts, English, and music are provided. One night each week is "play night," and entertainments of all kinds are provided. The higher spiritual truths are brought to the girls through a Sunshine Circle. Through the Employment Bureau the girls of the house, as well as many who have been arrested, those in moral danger, and many difficult and incorrigible girls, find situations.
The Florence Crittenton Mission in this city is one of many homes of the same name situated in the larger cities of this country. It formerly engaged in a rescue mission work for both men and women. Its work is now limited to the care of erring women. The home contains 16 rooms, each occupied by two or more persons. The girls are probationers, girls released on suspended sentences, witnesses in white slave cases, and women discharged by the courts; a few come from cafes and from the streets.
During an entire year, 501 girls pa.s.sed through the home, some staying but a few hours, others remaining for the year. They range in age from fourteen to twenty-five years. A night school is maintained, as well as cla.s.ses in physical culture and the useful arts. A Helping Hand Cla.s.s makes sc.r.a.p books and small articles for sick children. The pleasure side of life is met by entertainments, and religious services are regularly held. The disposition of the 501 girls above mentioned was as follows:
Situations 183 Sent home 185 Deported 17 In care of organizations 58 Committed to inst.i.tutions 19 Left against wishes 17 In Home 22 --- 501
The work is financed and managed by the National Florence Crittenton Mission.
Though not placed strictly under the reformative heading, certain fundamental phases of the work of the Probation a.s.sociation and the Church Mission of Help may here be presented. As stated above, the sphere of these societies is largely that of clearing houses. They study carefully the girls who come to them and make of them the disposition best suited to their needs. The time of study allows opportunities for personal helpfulness and it is well improved.
The Church Mission of Help began its work by a prolonged study of 229 cases of wayward girls who were more or less connected with the Episcopal Church. Parental and good home conditions were sadly lacking in most cases. On the basis of this study the society began its work of information to the church and of helpfulness to the girls. During the year 1912 it was in touch with 352 girls, of whom 148 were under its direct care, 58 were cared for on leaving inst.i.tutions, and 103 were in inst.i.tutions. Two hundred and six of these girls were connected with the Episcopal Church. Twelve other religious bodies were represented, while a small number of the girls had no religious affiliations. All cases are referred, where possible, to the churches with which they are or were connected. The work of this society is largely personal. Besides locating girls in homes and inst.i.tutions, employment is found for those fitted for it. Some court work is done. In addition to paid workers, an increasing number of trained volunteers are being used. Besides the care of the church girl and the work of education and prevention done by this society, its service of visitation in inst.i.tutions is most valuable. The visits of sympathetic women to girls in inst.i.tutions pave the way for a useful service in their social reinstatement later.
The wider work of the New York Probation a.s.sociation, which deserves mention here, is in the form of a careful study of all the cases with which it has to do. A thorough physical examination is given each girl by a physician. A mental examination follows and cases are placed under the direct supervision of a skilled neurologist and psychologist. Careful records of all facts are kept. The discovery of physical and mental weakness, often after prolonged study, leads to a definite course of action. Such scientific results are not only valuable in the practical treatment of the individual girl, but furnish a basis on which the courts act, and are of wide usefulness to the student of the conditions which lead to moral delinquency.
(c) CORRECTIONAL WORK
There are three main correctional agencies in New York City: the New York State Training School for Girls at Hudson, the State Reformatory for Women at Bedford and the Workhouse. A real work of correction is also accomplished in the case of those committed to the House of the Good Shepherd, the House of Mercy, and the Magdalen Benevolent Society Home.
The State Farm for Women, to be situated at Valatie, is not yet established, and the House of Detention, in connection with the Night Court for women, which would serve as an intermediary to correctional agencies, is not yet available.
The New York State Reformatory for Women at Bedford Hills, New York, was opened for commitment in May, 1901. It is supported entirely by state appropriations. It receives women between the ages of sixteen and thirty years from the First, Second, Third and Ninth Judicial District, _i. e._, Greater New York, Long Island and the tier of counties on each side of the Hudson River as far north as Albany. Over 80 percent of its inmates come from Greater New York. A woman of suitable age may be committed by any judge or magistrate for any offense over which he has jurisdiction, except murder in the first and second degrees, provided, however, that the woman has not previously been convicted of a felony.
The inst.i.tution is situated in the heart of Westchester County--39 miles north of New York City. Here the State owns 192 acres of land and leases an additional 57 acres. It has at the present time a capacity for 340 inmates, with a population of 505; the expenditure for maintenance last year was $4.06 per week per capita. It is built on the cottage plan. This permits of cla.s.sification, whereby the younger girls are separated from the older women and the less innocent from the more hardened offenders.
The idea of the inst.i.tution is that of a good industrial school. There are book schools in which the inmates receive instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, nature study, etc. Physiology and s.e.x hygiene are taught by the resident physician. All the work of the farm, including the care of the cattle, pigs and other live stock, is performed by the inmates, with the exception of the plowing. Much out-door work of a constructive character is carried on, both for its physical effects and for mental and moral results. In this constructive work is included a milk house, silo, stairways and sidewalks made of concrete. Industrial training in laundry work, various branches of needle work, cooking and other branches of domestic science is given. The inmates have musical and dramatic clubs.
Their religious needs are met by services conducted by clergymen of their respective denominations.
The Board of Managers const.i.tute a Board of Parole and while the inmates are all committed for a maximum of three years, they may be paroled at any time, if in the judgment of the Board of Managers, such action is considered to be for their best interest. Parole officers find suitable homes and suitable work for the paroled women and follow them up carefully until the expiration of the parole period.
The New York State Training School receives girls under sixteen years of age from the entire state. Those from New York City come through the Children"s Court. The equipment of the school is very good, the chief need being for more room. The cottage system used accommodates 385 girls, in separate sleeping rooms. It is, however, necessary to use other buildings and parts of buildings for housing purposes. The households are practically independent of each other, thereby offering, as far as is possible, the conditions and spirit of a real home.
The methods of work and the life in the school are most commendable. A personal and individual interest in each girl is manifest from the time of commitment through the school life and for years after the school is left.
By careful study each one is placed in the cottage and environment where she will receive the most help and the best training. Changes to insure development are made, as necessary. A girl"s grading depends on her conduct and proficiency. Discipline is varied, with the principle always in mind that the individual and not the offense is to be treated.
Humiliation and loss of self-respect are avoided, if possible. The living conditions and training seem excellent. The girls do the cottage work, changes being so arranged as to give all a thorough experience in housework. School sessions of fifteen hours weekly in the morning and eight weekly in the afternoon prevail. The morning session is the book school, the afternoon the industrial school. Cooking, plain sewing, dressmaking, physical culture, gardening, and vocal music are carefully taught. Religious instruction is given by representatives of various churches under direction of the state. Amus.e.m.e.nts are afforded at proper times, are well arranged and heartily indulged in. That there is a spirit of pride and enthusiasm in work and a feeling of happiness in the life is quite believable when one realizes that so many old girls wish to visit the school that they cannot be accommodated. The records show that the delinquent girl of normal mind can be and is cured. Girls of sub-normal mind are still to some extent cared for in this school; but they should be in a special inst.i.tution.
The Workhouse receives about 75 percent of all women prisoners convicted of offenses related to prost.i.tution in the magistrates" courts in this city. In the year 1912, three thousand, five hundred and thirteen women charged with soliciting and loitering were committed to the Workhouse for periods up to six months. About 50 percent of these, as shown by the fingerprint process, are repeaters, each of whom had been arrested from two to eight times. The life in the Workhouse is generally conceded to be not only useless but actually harmful. The Chief Magistrate of the city has stated in print the following: "The present Workhouse, through no fault of the Commissioner or its officers, is a poor place for these women. The building does not meet the requirements for these cases. A new inst.i.tution should be provided; not a lounging, unsanitary place, but a real workhouse, looking to reformation as well as punishment."
The reformatories in 1912 received through the courts 286 women. To Bedford were committed, 108; to the House of Mercy, 4; to the House of the Good Shepherd, 100; to the Magdalen Home, 74. Most, though not all these cases, were strictly related to prost.i.tution. Through the Children"s Court of the city, of the 120 cases charged with tendency to moral depravity and convicted in the year 1912, sixty-two were committed to inst.i.tutions and 58 were placed on probation. Girls under sixteen committed to the House of the Good Shepherd numbered 64, to the House of Mercy, 57, and to the Training School at Hudson, 32; but not all of these cases involved immorality.
The following table summarizes the inst.i.tutions for friendless and wayward girls, in so far as they are described in the text; though numerous, their capacity and resources are obviously quite inadequate to the need:
---------------+--------------+-----+--------+-----------------+-------- NAMEOBJECTCAPA-TOTALSOURCES OFEXPENSESCITYCAREDSUPPORTFOR 1YEAR---------------+--------------+-----+--------+-----------------+-------- HeartseasePrevention and25204Contributions$ 3,300 WorkreformationHouse of thePrevention and75177City grant,13,850 Holy Familyreformationcontributions,sewing-room, etc.WashingtonPrevention and2785Investments,6,160 Square Homereformationcity grant,for FriendlesscontributionsGirlsMargaretReformation of2480Investments,3,238 Strachanfirst cases.contributionsHomeTrainingHouse of theProtection and500880County grants,100,690 Good Shepherdreformationindustrial dept.House of MercyProtection and110183Investments, city22,247reformationgrant, laundry,etc.,contributionsNew YorkReformation106237City grants,27,690 Magdalenlaundry, etc.,BenevolentcontributionsSocietySt. Michael"sReformation6088Investments,8,000 Homeand trainingcontributionsWaverley HouseTemporary care26209Contributions,22,371investments, feesSalvation ArmyReformation50115Sewing room,7,652 Rescue Homeand trainingetc.,contributionsDoor of HopeShelter and2556Contributions,3,451reformationsewingChinatown andCare and684Contributions3,059 BoweryreformationSettlementFlorenceReformation36967Contributions9,319 CrittentonMissionNew ShelterReformation20140Private patronSt. Faith"sShelter and1731Contributions7,404 HomereformationLakeview HomeCare for first2560Subscriptions,8,476offenders(plus 45contributionsinfants)St. Katherine"sShelter and1313Subscriptions and3,531 Homesreformation(plus 13contributionsinfants)Ozanam Home forCare and100865City grants,Friendlessreformationindustrial dept.,8,957 WomencontributionsWayside HomeReformation2167City grants,and trainingcontributionsFree Home forCare and3053Invests funds,5,402 Young Girlspreventioncontribt"sBrooklyn SchoolCare and3094City grants,8,000 and Home forpreventioncontributionsYoung GirlsNew York StateCorrection and335440State grants99,278 Training Schoolreformationfor GirlsStateCorrection and340763State grants89,721 Reformatory forreformationWomenDailyaverage, 422.---------------+--------------+-----+--------+-----------------+--------
Appendices
APPENDIX I
SUMMARY OF PLACES IN MANHATTAN WHERE PROSt.i.tUTION WAS FOUND TO EXIST DURING PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION (JANUARY 24TH TO NOVEMBER 15TH, 1912)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- _Places__Number of__Different Vice__Number of__Buildings__Resorts in Them__Investigations Made_ ------------------------------------------------------------------ Parlor Houses142142441 Ma.s.sage Parlors707578 Tenements57811721245 Furnished Rooms112112148 Hotels105105560------------ TOTALS100716062472 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX II
SUMMARY OF PLACES IN MANHATTAN CATERING TO PROSt.i.tUTION--INVESTIGATED JANUARY 24TH TO NOVEMBER 15TH, 1912
-----------------------------------------------------------------------_Number of Different__Places_-------------------------------_Number of_Addresses of__Investigations_Prost.i.tutes_Buildings__Made_Counted_ -------------------------------------------------------------------- Saloons, cafes and concert30813042689 hallsMiscellaneous places alliedwith prost.i.tution71145385 Semi-public places used byprost.i.tutes2035150------------ Totals39914843224 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX III
SUMMARY OF INMATES COUNTED AND ESTIMATED AT PLACES IN MANHATTAN WHERE PROSt.i.tUTION WAS REPORTED DURING PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION FROM JANUARY 24TH TO NOVEMBER 15TH, 1912
--------------------------------------------------------------- _Places__Number of__Inmates__Total Including__Inmates__Estimated but__those Counted and__Counted__not seen__Estimated_ --------------------------------------------------------------- Parlor Houses168626092609 Ma.s.sage Parlors153..153 Tenements229429762976 Furnished Rooms227..227 Hotels583..583------------494355856548 ---------------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX IV
MONTHLY EXPENSES OF THIRTY ONE-DOLLAR PARLOR HOUSES
---------------+----------------------------------------------------------_Mmes. or Housekeepers_+---------------------------------------------------_Maids_+---------------------------------------------_Cooks_+---------------------------------------_Butcher & Grocer_-----+---------------------------------_Lighthouse_+---------------------------_Gas & Electricity_+----------------------_Telephone_+-----------------_Rent_+-----------_Entertain-mentTickets_+------ _Address_Total ---------------+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+-----+----+------ No. -- W. 18th$140$104$40$160$120$35$15$150$50$814 No. -- W. 24th132804016010020817520735 No. -- W. 25th4878341406018820020606 No. -- W. 25th1481484020040251020820839 No. -- W. 25th6588471488232.20835705 No. -- W. 25th1607632120.25812525571 No. -- W. 28th13611632140100301511050729 No. -- W. 28th248884014012025.11050821 No. -- W. 31st.8040120.35820825516 No. -- W. 35th192783420084301015020798 No. -- W. 40th.523248.126125.275 No. -- W. 40th.564060.12.125.293 No. -- W. 40th128803612072351212520628 No. -- W. 56th17211248180603515175.797 No. -- 6th Ave.72604414010025.20050691 No. -- 6th Ave.1081004812060151020820680 No. -- 6th Ave.128804012012030.17540733 No. -- 6th Ave.606448200.201016625593 No. -- 6th Ave.1206032140.25815020555 No. -- 6th Ave.644832488015.150.437 No. -- 6th Ave.128544014060251017535667 No. -- 6th Ave.12812044180100351517550847 No. -- 6th Ave.6044.1807220622520627 No. -- W. 24th72963680160201017525674 No. -- W. 26th1681203618060401515050819 No. -- W. 27th6052401008025817530570 No. -- W. 28th607640160120251020050741 No. -- W. 28th605648140.12.125.441 No. -- W. 36th160884014080301015050748 No. -- W. 36th180803612080251015025706 +------+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+-----+----+------ Monthly Totals$31972434113941242010746237494382519665 Year"s Total$415613164214807536122613089522844593169900248764 ---------------+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+-----+----+------