The Portland daily press., 1890-03-31
PORTLAND FRATERNITY.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.l


land clearly saw were essential to the com
mon veal. In application we necessarily
encounter questions of method, often puz-
zHng In the extreme 1t Is evident at once,
that something more than the popular con-
ception OF education. which implies knowl.
edge Oh elementary SCIENCE. is requisite, II
we would approximate results which Ameri-
can citizenship demands; among which are
self reliance, capability of family support
and augmentation of the common welfare.
Very numerous are those who are incapa-
BILE Of maintaining fairly secure f0o.hold
for themselves, and those dependant upon
them by their unaided efforts. Hence wisely
organized system becomes necessary, by
which such persons can be brought to- a
knowledge of methods, which will enable
them to become self dependent This i'm
plies a study of their weak points by persons
of trained iptellects, by whom employments
may be devised suited to faculties, however
limited. A great deal can be accomplished
by wise counsel towards the education Of
this class of persons. In London, there Is an
organization largely composed of women
who act as rent gatherers In the poorer dis
tricts of the metropolis. In its spirit, this
organization is purely benevolent, but osten-
sibly, 1t is tenement house agency. Before
its establishment, the landlord expended as
little as possible upon his property, and ex-
On his part, the tenant wasted the landlords
property. and paid him as little as possible.
The result was, that such property became
almost valueless. The women connected
with this organization undertook to change
the unpleasant. relations which existed be-
tween landlord and tenants. Having OBJ
tained the charge of tenements in a certain
district, they atlonce visited their occupants
and formed their acquaintance. They exhib-
tied friendly interest in their welfare, and
gave them to understand that If they dealt
honestly by them, they,would be benefited in
return. They insisted upon cleanliness, and
as reward repaired and freshened up little
by little, the poor apartments of their ten
and habits Of economy and saving encour-
aged. A certain percentage Of the rents
was laid by for improvements, and
the suggestions of tenants in this regard were
duly considered. Those out of employment
were looked after and employment suited to
their capacities obtained. To parents were
pointed out the advantages which their chill
dren might obtain by attendance at school,
Women who did not know how to properly
conduct their domestic affairs were taught
how to do so. The effect of this wise pro
cedure soon became apparent in neater apart
ments, more comfortable homes and happier
families. Ere long time came when there
seemed to be demand for public reading
room, and this want was, supplied.
Then followed public hall with lectures,
usually of an illustrated character, adapted
to the people of the neighborhood. The re-
suit of this wise system of education has
been indeed marvellous. Men and women,
who had reached an almost hopeless-state of
poverty and degradation, have become self
dependent, and, in some instances, independ-
emit members of the community in which
they reside, and upon which they exercise a
decidedly beneficial influence One Of the
ladies' connected with this organization, and
from whom obtained the account Of its
work which have related, described to me
the method employed by her and her asso-
clates In arresting street broils, which they
frequently encountered when on their rounds
Of duty. relate this to illustrate the care
full study which Is given to every phase of
moral disorder, which comes under the OBJ
servatiod of theee wise laborers it the great
metropolis. First said she, we get as
nearly as possible to the combatants
a AMAZE enquire th1 OF them, earnestly but
result in every case thus far, said my inform
ant. has been the same. The men evidently
taken by surprise, have stopped to explain,
when would engage in conversation with
one OF the combatants on the subject of the
quarrel, while my companion would pursue
the same course with the other, and while
doing this we would both lead them apart,
by movement ostensibly to hear their story
better, a course, said she, which to my
knowledge has never failed to end the quar-
rel One would hardly think that the pawn
shop could be made an adjunct Of charity,
and yet a charitable pawn shop is possible;
for the poor, In great cities, waste their sub
stance by paying ruinous rates for money
borrowed at the pawn shop: The pawn
broker Is, In most cases, ghoul who thrives
upon the misfortunes Of those whom he al
lures to destruction. His customers cannot
be taught at once the. folly of borrowing
money upon pledges; but the charitable
pawn shop can loan to their constituents up
on such pledges at nominal rates of interest,
and by discouraging as much as possible the
custom Of borrowing, finally cause it to be
abandoned.
While in Glasgow, inspected the opera
lions OF an organization which was told
which it had not attained elsewhere, of
great benefit to the poor of that city. This
organization furnished to the poor certain
articles of food of excellent quality, at
PRICES Sv trs above na cost It was
1t made were employed in extending
It's work. In poor district of large city
where the food sold Is often repulsive in
appearance and positively unhealthy, an
establishment where few simple articles of
be obtained, is blessing of inestimabe val
ne to the poor, and 1t supplements such work
as have described as being carried on in
London In very effective manner.
The most difficult class to deal with is COM
posed Of the ignorant, lazy and incorporate,
who will not labor If they can by any pos
sibility avoid it. They will not heed coun-
sci nor instruction, and every effort to amel-
ierate their condition will Inevitably fail.
Fortunately, the percentage of such persons
hence the task of dealing with them is light
er than 1t would be otherwise. No problem
difficult of solution here presents itself and,
yet, In this age of enlightened philanthropy,
this class of persons is permitted to make
the lives of those dependent upon them mis-
cradle and to infict irreparable injury upon
the community. The fact is, that q consid-
able portion of the people Of our day, have
all their lives cultivated fictitious sentiments
respecting enforced labor, and are shocked
when it is suggested. And yet this is ben
efcent remedy, and the only one which can
be successfully employed in such cases.
Why should these men be permitted to live
without labor, and to make the lives of 9TH
ers unproftablep Is it cruel to separate
them from families for whom they have so
little affection, as to subject them to beggary
and,crime without an effort to improve their
condition? Yet have seen people hold up
their hands. with horror depicted upon their
faces, when the idea of separating such peo-
pie from their wretched families was sug-
gested, as though they possessed those deli
cate instincts which prompt, nay compel,
gentlemen; use the word in no restricted
sense; to sacrifice comfort, or life itself, If
necessary, for the welfare of wife and chill
dren. To me there seems to be but one rem.
edy to apply to this class of people. and that
is compulsory labor. 1t is only following
the divine law embodied in that ancient fiat,
I'm the sweat Of thy face shalt thou eat
bread"
To come to practical details. 1 would
have every community put the class of per-
sons under discussion upon the land and
compel them to labor for the support of
themselves and those dependent upon them.
A farm. with dairy, poultry and other
anS Economical sf0ok snaar o %ss