The sun., 1891-06-28
The University Settlements.

The University Settlements.
Last month an association called the Uni
versity Settlement Society was organized at
q meeting at the Buckingham Hotel. Its
purpose is the imitation in New York Of an
enterprise started in London by Mr.. ARNOLD
| ToYNBEE for combating the "naterialism
and fanaticism OF the people Of the poorest
and most crowded districts OF the town. and
raising them to higher level Of civliza-
ton by establishing among them settle:
ments Of college men.
In the eastern part OF London, Toynbee
and Oxford halls have been founded for this
purpose, and in New York what ,s called the
| Neighborhood Guild has been formed in
Forsyth street. The Guild has house IN
which are three or four resident workers, f"
who are college-bred young men. and who
proceed on the theory that by Living and
working among the poor. associating with
them as equals, but introducing into the
tenement house all that trained intelligence
and friendly sympathy can give" they can
make themselves most efficient means OF
bettering and elevating the mental, moral,
and physical condition OF the people"
The University Settlement Society pro-
poses to perpetuate this establishment and
to make it the model OF Neighborhood
Houses In various parts Of the town, OBJ
tanning for each. settlement resident
workers" from among the large number OF
men coming to New York to study profess
sions." These young men will be influenced
by both an altruistic spirit and the "oppor-
tunity for the study Of social and political
problems" One OF the residents is to be
permanent and to devote his whole time to
the labor. but the others are to remain for
limited periods Of three months or more.
paying board not exceeding five dollars
week. and giving missionary service during
part OF their time. Finally, the University
Settlement Society is to be controlled by
college men, although others are eligible to
membership and to share in the manage
ment, undergraduates paying 81 a year as
annual dues and all others S..
This Is a very suggestive scheme and so
far as concerns the opportunities it offers to
college young men for broadening and ex-
tending their education, it presents practical
advantages worthy Of consideration. The
young fellows who take turns in living In
the Neighborhood Houses will get their
board cheap; they will preserve some of the
charm OF college life and they will find out
that human nature Is about the same In
Forsyth street and in the tenement-house
districts generally as 1t Is at Cambridge.
New Haven, Princeton, or Williamstown.
They will discover that even without
the assistance Of their trained intelligence
and friendly sympathy" the people have
got along pretty well. and that, so far as
concerns the management Of their affairs,
they already know more than the college
boys can teach them. The University Set
tiers. too. will find out that even II these
people have somewhat different notions
about the conduct OF lie from those prevail
ing in the college microcosm. they ere not
therefore and necessarily base notions, and
that four years at college will not always
qualify young man to start others in |
better ways.
The inhabitants OF the tenement houses |
are not usually or often college graduates,
and yet they have learned very much in the |
hard struggle Of life. and generally they can
look after themselves very much better |
than the boys may suppose. 1t is doubt
full whether they would have as high an ap-
probation OF the advantages OF associatiug
with the University Settlers las equals" as
lSthuPo thSy ouNhs " law. lucy might
look on the boys as little fresh, little
cheeky may be, In assuming TO set them
selves up as exemplars and tutors for the
The struggle for a living
which goes on SO ceaselessly in those dis
tricts. tends to make the people very sharp,
much sharper than college boys, and gives
them q practical education not obtain.
able in the college course. Besides,
they are not likely to be very hos
pitable to a set Of young fellows who
come among them with the noble purpose of
to their low estate. studying
the social and political problems" afforded
by their lives, as II they were a race OF be-
lngs apart. and lettering and elevating"
them according to college standards. They
have their own social and political leaders,
and they do not feel any need OF youthful
10 assume those functions
Tor them. The people who are most likely
TO put themselves under the tutorship Of
.he boys from the colleges, are the dead
beats and the FOUNDERS who are always on
hand when anything Is to be had for moth
ng. even II it is no more than advice. To
Undertake to teach these people politics is
sending Goals TO Newcastle. They can give
he boys no end Of points In politics. and yet
'eat them every time. AS to the social
problems. thew have dealt with them actn.