Woman and philanthropy have always been inseparably connected, for
charity has been regarded in all ages as one of the noblest virtues of
the gentle sex.
There is scarcely any country which does not cherish the memory of some
women for great works of charity. Germany, for instance, has the lovely
story of Elizabeth, the wife of Ludwig IV., landgrave of Thuringia, who
reigned during the first half of the 13th Century. Feeling an aversion
to worldly pleasures, and making the early Christians her example,
Elizabeth devoted herself to works of benevolence. In these she was so
liberal, that her husband became uneasy, fearing she might impoverish
his estate by her alms-giving. He accordingly bade her to give less to
the poor. But secretly she spent just as much. One day, while she was
carrying a heavy load of bread in her basket, she was stopped by her
husband, who inquired what she was hiding. “Roses, my Lord, roses!” she
said, hoping that he would not investigate. But when he insisted on
seeing them, she was forced to open her basket and, oh wonder! all the
loaves of bread had turned into the most beautiful roses.—
America remembers =Dorothea Dix= as one of the most distinguished women
it ever has produced. Compelled by declining health to go to Europe from
1834 to 1837, she had ample opportunity to study in Liverpool and other
cities of England the terrible conditions of the poor, especially of the
inmates of poor-houses and insane-asylums. As at that time similar
institutions in America were just as bad, she gave after her return to
the United States all her time, strength and influence to ameliorate
suffering, and to persuade the public to furnish suitable asylums, also
to improve the moral discipline of prisons and penitentiaries. For this
purpose she visited every State east of the Rocky Mountains, seeking out
intelligent and benevolent people, and trying to kindle in their hearts
the same enthusiasm that filled her own.
Fearless in lifting her voice against abuses, she was so persistent in
reiterating her protests and in pleading needed reforms, that attention
had to be given her. The founding of many state hospitals and
insane-asylums in the United States as well as in Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland is due to her indefatigable work.
A similar case is that of =Margaret Fuller=, the famous author. Warmly
espousing the cause of reform in many directions and making herself the
champion of truth and human rights at any cost, she visited prisons and
charitable institutions and talked freely with the female inmates. It
was on the common ground of womanhood that she approached these degraded
of her own sex, true to her unalterable faith in awakening whatever
divine spark might be there. She was surprised herself at the
results—the touching traits and the possibilities that still survived in
beings so forlorn and degraded. Many of them expressed a wish to see her
alone, in order to confide to her the secrets of their ruined lives, and
their ardent desire to enter a new course whereby they might regain
respectability. Thus making herself the friend of the friendless,
Margaret Fuller began what we call to-day “settlement work.”
In the matter of prison reform the name of =Elizabeth Guerney Fry=
(1780–1845) will likewise be remembered as one of the first women
promoters in this line of charity. An accidental visit to Newgate Prison
in London disclosed to her the horrible conditions prevailing in this
ill-reputed dungeon. Like most prisons at the time it was dark, damp,
and cold in winter. The prisoners were usually half-starved, and clad in
rags; often loaded with chains, and oftener yet pestered by vermin and
rats. The ward, into which Miss Fry penetrated, although strongly
dissuaded by the officials, was like a den of wild beasts. It was filled
with a hundred and sixty women and children, gambling, fighting,
swearing, yelling, dancing. It justly deserved its name of “hell above
ground.” The general disorder and abject misery of the women confined
there so impressed Miss Fry, that she took immediate and effectual means
to relieve them. The first step in the great public work of her life was
the forming of “The Association for the Improvement of the Female
Prisoners in Newgate,” in April, 1817. Its aim was the establishment of
what is now regarded as “prison discipline,” such as entire separation
of the sexes, classification of criminals, female supervision for the
women, and adequate provision for their religious and secular
instruction, as also for their useful employment. Disregarding sarcastic
critics, who protested against the “ultra-humanitarianism which sought
to make jails too comfortable and tended to pamper criminals,” Miss Fry
pursued her way and finally brought about the passing of Acts (1823–24),
in which it was laid down that over and above safe custody it was
essential to preserve health, improve morals, and enforce useful labor
in all prisons. Not content with these results, Miss Fry likewise
inspected during the time from 1818 to 1841 the principal prisons of
Scotland, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Southern
Germany, and Denmark, everywhere conferring personally with the leading
prison officials. By keeping up a constant correspondence with them she
had the satisfaction of hearing from almost every quarter of Europe that
the authorities were giving an ever increasing consideration to her
suggestions.—
Following the example set by Miss Fry, women in many countries aided in
forming societies for the improvement of prison-discipline. They also
established reformatories for women and juvenile delinquents. For
instance =Mrs. Abbey Hopper Gibbons= assisted in founding the “Women’s
Prison Association of New York” in 1844 and the “Isaac T. Hopper Home.”
Its objects were: “First, the improvement of the condition of the
prisoners, whether detained on trial or finally convicted, or as
witnesses; secondly, the support and encouragement of reformed convicts
after their discharge, by affording them an opportunity of obtaining an
honest livelihood, and sustaining them in their efforts to reform.”
The association employs an executive secretary who visits all the places
where women are detained in the State or City of New York, keeps track
of the housing conditions and studies the treatment of the prisoners. On
the basis of this exact knowledge, the Association has proposed various
reforms; for example the establishment of Bedford Reformatory was
largely due to the efforts of this society, and the appointment of
police matrons in the city station houses. Through the instrumentality
of Mrs. Hopper Gibbons the “New York State Reformatory for Women and
Girls” was established by the Legislature.
Through the efforts of =Linda Gilbert= various prisons throughout the
country were provided with libraries. She also secured the incorporation
of the “Gilbert Library and Prisoners’ Aid Society” under the laws of
the State of New York. Furthermore she procured employment for thousands
of ex-convicts, and aided others in establishing in business in a small
way.—
To enumerate what women have contributed to culture as founders and
patronesses of infant homes, foundling and orphan asylums, industrial
schools and homes for boys and girls, of refuges for unfortunate women,
invalids and the aged, of hospitals for destitute children and for
people afflicted with tuberculosis, cancer, and incurable diseases, is a
task impossible for the limited space of this book. Besides, all
information is fragmentary and far too insufficient to give a true idea
of the vast sums and immense amount of time, labor, and effort, devoted
by women to these works of charity. Constantly on the lookout to
alleviate sorrow and provide comfort, they have not forgotten even those
lonely men, who do duty in remote light houses and life-saving stations.
It was through the efforts of women that these involuntary hermits, who
often do not come in touch with other human beings for several months,
are regularly provided with interesting books and entertaining games.
=Mrs. Matilde Ziegler= of New York has taken a special interest in the
blind. Mrs. Ziegler, at an expense of $20,000 a year, founded a monthly
magazine for the blind, which has a printing press of double the
capacity of any printing plant for the blind in any other country. Blind
girls do all the work connected with this magazine.
=Georgia Trader= in Cincinnati established school classes for the blind
and a library with over 25,000 volumes, from which books in raised type
are sent to the blind all over the country, free of any charge. She also
founded a working-home for blind girls, where they are profitably
employed in weaving rugs, and in various artistic work and handicraft.
=Jane Addams= in 1889 opened in Chicago a social settlement, known as
“Hull House.” Wonderful work in sociology is done there. Many thousands
of men, women and children are instructed in all kinds of handicraft,
and directed to places, where they can make an honest and profitable
living. They have also access to an excellent library, comfortable club
rooms, lecture-halls, kindergarten, play-grounds and other institutions.
Miss Addams is to-day recognized as one of the foremost women in her
line of work, and by her example as well as through her public lectures
and able books, has probably done more than anybody else for the
extension of practical sociology.
Women have also taken charge of thousands of tired working-girls and
sent them to the country for a short rest during the summer, thus
enabling them to take up their lives of toil with renewed vigor and
courage.
Similar organizations have established vacation schools to save children
from the demoralization of the long summer idleness, and to secure for
them fresh air vacations.
Moved by a sincere desire to improve the conditions of the despised and
maltreated American Indians, =Helen Hunt Jackson=, =Alice Fletcher=, and
=Mary L. Bonney= succeeded after indefatigable efforts in awakening
interest among the legislators in their work. Miss Fletcher, in her
valuable book “Indian Civilization and Education,” gave such ample proof
of her special qualifications that she was appointed by President
Cleveland in 1887 as a special agent of the Government, to allot lands
to various Indian tribes. Mary L. Bonney devoted herself principally to
educational work and, in 1881, was foremost in the task of organizing
the “Indian Treaty-Keeping and Protective Association” by which the many
unlawful encroachments of white settlers, and the oppression of the Red
Men by government agents were stopped.
In their efforts to alleviate the hard lot of negro slaves, =Lucretia
Mott=, =Sarah= and =Angelica Grimke=, =Harriet Beecher Stowe=, and many
others, braved criticism, insults and social ostracism.
By organizing societies for the prevention of cruelty to children and
animals, women have taken care of those who cannot speak for themselves.
In many cities they have likewise provided drinking fountains for men
and for animals.
All women members of the “National Association of the Audubon
Societies,” that protect bird-life in America, bind themselves never to
decorate their hats with plumes and feathers. They have also secured
laws that forbid hunters to kill useful birds, and prevent milliners
from buying or exhibiting feathers and stuffed skins of such birds.
As generous patronesses of education, science and art many women have
set themselves lasting monuments.
=Catherine L. Wolfe= donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New
York not only her magnificent collection of paintings, but likewise a
fund of $200,000 for its preservation and increase. A million dollars
was also bequeathed by her to several educational institutions founded
by her father and herself. She is also known as the founder of the New
York Home for Incurables.
=Mary Tileston Hemenway= supported the so-called Hemenway Expeditions
for the archæological exploration of certain regions of Arizona and New
Mexico.
=Jane Lathrop Stanford=, wife of Leland Stanford, railway constructor,
and U. S. Senator from California, founded in memory of her son the
“Leland Stanford Jr. University” at Palo Alto, near San Francisco. At
her own expense Mrs. Stanford established a museum, connected with the
university, containing objects of art, and many things she had collected
during her extensive travels. At her death the entire estate of the
Stanfords, amounting to about $50,000,000, was left to endow this great
university. Her San Francisco home, on Nob Hill, became an art gallery
and museum.
=Phœbe Hearst=, wife of George Hearst, and mother of William Randolph
Hearst, made large donations to the University of California. These
included $800,000 for the erection and equipment of the Hearst Memorial
Mining Building. She also made provision for twenty scholarships for
women, and founded a number of free libraries in mining towns with which
her husband had been associated. Mrs. Hearst was also actively
interested in every kind of organization for the welfare of women.
Furthermore she established and maintained two kindergarten schools in
San Francisco, and three in Washington, one of which is for colored
children. Her most important gift to the District of Columbia was the
National Cathedral School for Girls, erected on a beautiful site on the
outskirts of the city.
=Margaret Olivia Sage=, the widow of Russell Sage, donated between
seventy-five and eighty million dollars for charitable and educational
purposes. With ten millions she established in 1907 the “Sage Foundation
for Social Betterment.” Its purpose is the improvement of social and
living conditions in the United States. It does not attempt to relieve
individual or family need, but tries to seek out and eliminate causes of
this evil. It furthers education that more directly affects social and
living conditions, such as industrial education, education in household
arts, and the training of social workers. In the pursuit of these aims
the Sage Foundation subsidized worthy activities and organizations; it
has established investigational and propagandist departments of its own;
invested its funds in activities with a social purpose; and published
extensively books and pamphlets on social subjects. Since the work of
the Russell Sage Foundation aids social advance for people of every
nation, Mrs. Sage became one of the benefactors not only of this
country, but of the world.
Among the many donations Mrs. Sage made to other institutions, were
$600,000 to the Troy Female Seminary, which was one of the first schools
in America for the higher education of girls; $1,600,000 to the Woman’s
Hospital of New York; $1,600,000 to the Children’s Aid Society;
$1,600,000 to the Metropolitan Museum of Art; $1,600,000 to the American
Museum of Natural History; and $1,600,000 to Syracuse University.
The list here given mentions only a few of the innumerable philanthropic
works of American women. Similar lists could be made for all other
countries, but the material has never been properly collected. Besides,
by far the greatest number of such benevolent acts have been performed
without public knowledge. But wherever we go, we find women active,
helpful, and persevering, always rejoicing in the accomplishment of
good.
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