River, Waterbury, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, St Louis, Springfield, Ill., Little Rock, Kansas City, Denver, Cripple Creek, Salt Lake City, Portland, Ore., and San Francisco. In some of the largest of these cities from two to five shelters have been opened, and there appears no end to the possibilities of developing this class of work.

To remove these men from the contaminating surroundings of the moral cesspools which they are otherwise compelled to frequent, and to encircle them with healthy, holy influences, is a work the importance of which it is impossible to exaggerate. We have now 45 shelters for homeless men in the United States, with accommodation for 5000 persons.

CHAPTER 5

SHELTERS FOR HOMELESS WOMEN

Happily the number of homeless women is far less than that of homeless men. Nevertheless most large cities possess a considerable and alas increasing class of those whose relations have died, or deserted them, and who pick up a scanty subsistence by charring, cleaning offices and doing odd jobs, or selling cheap wares in the streets. They are less migratory than the men, and soon make our shelters their permanent “home.”

Some of them have been addicted to liquor. "We can always get a drink for nothing from some friendly saloonkeeper by doing some odd job for him, such as cleaning the windows, when we can not get either money or food," said one of these women apologetically to the shelter officer, who had charged her with drinking. "It stops the cravings of hunger," she added.

The warmth, the light, the cleanliness of our shelters, and above all the kindness with which they are treated, serve to work a speedy reformation. "Some of them," said a shelter officer, "exhibit symptoms of hydrophobia at the very sight

of water, when they first come to us. But they soon get to appreciate the value of cleanliness, and many of them give their hearts to God. Saddest of all is, when we have to turn some away, because every bed is occupied. Oh how they plead with us just to let them sleep on the floor, or in the passages."

Our New York shelter was commenced in a building just off Chatham Square. Our license allowed only 44 beds. These were soon regularly occupied, and we took a larger building in the heart of the Bowery, with accommodation for 100. During the summer months the attendance has steadily increased so that the beds are now all occupied, and numbers have to be turned away. A second building has already become necessary.

In Chicago and San Francisco similar shelters have been opened, although on a smaller scale, with similar results.

Perhaps no sight is sadder than that of these homeless and friendless women, struggling bravely to earn the pittance which shall enable them to keep out of the dreaded poorhouse. The census states that 74,521 of the women in the national public and private institutions for the poor assign as the cause of their dependence the "want of another home," while 94% of them are stated to be "able-bodied," capable, that is, of some moderate amount of work. In the majority of cases they are not even to be blamed for their condition. The death of the bread-winner, abandonment, or misfortune have, in most cases, brought them to the border land of destitution. And yet they struggle bravely on, glad and thankful if they can only be independent of society's aid, with no hope of the honored rest their silvered hair and stoop of age might claim.

Tenderly our officers minister to their spiritual, as well as temporal needs, and the joy of a future "home" and "rest" for their soul palliates the toil and loneliness of their present lot.

CHAPTER 6

HOMES FOR ARTISANS

In several cities homes have been opened, where clerks, storesmen and others of the artisan classes can get accommodation a little superior to that provided in our ordinary shelters, and yet for a very small outlay. This has been greatly appreciated, and has helped to constitute a step upwards for many of those whom our cheaper institutions have rescued from the lowest depths of suffering, besides acting as a valuable prevention for numbers who were in danger of lapsing into the same condition.

In many of our large shelters a separate floor with superior accommodation at a slightly increased charge is set apart for this purpose, thus avoiding the expense of renting an extra building and requiring an additional staff.

It is found preferable, however, where there is a sufficient demand, to have an entirely separate building. This has already been done, with excellent effect in Boston and Kansas City.

These moral safeguards from the pernicious influences which drag down so many of our young men may well be multiplied.

CHAPTER 7

HOMES FOR WORKING GIRLS

In all the large cities of the United States thousands of young women are employed in the stores and offices. While many of those have happily homes of their own, a vast proportion are obliged to board out. The inducements to vice are terrible. To pay for rent and food out of the $4 to $6 a week which their wages average, besides dressing with the neatness which their employers demand, is well-nigh impossible. To starve or sell their virtue becomes the painful alternative. At least the gateway of vice is dangerously near and