Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-21
TO BLOT OUT THE sLUMs,
A Movement to Build Model Homes for the
Poor.

A Movement to Build Model Homes for the
Poor.
A movement has been started in Philadelphia
to build cheap model homes for poor people
and from the present outlook it will be success
full. This evening those interested in the plan
will meet at the Temple Keneseth Israel in
Philadelphia, form stock company, elect off,
GERS and subscribe funds to break. up the slums
and take those who live there from the evil in
fuences that surround them. This decision
was the result Of a large mass meeting held
Sunday night.
Those who addressed the audience were Prof.
Felix Adler Of New York, Edwin R. A. Selig-
man Of Columbia College, ]. s. Rosengarten
and Charles W. Caryl, resident manager Of the
college settlement in Philadelphia Prof. Adler.
whose work among the slums in New York and
Brooklyn has made him familiar with the ques-
ton, said: The people Of Philadelphia should
realize that something must be done to clean
out the Sums and provide the poor wretches
who, by force Of circumstances, are obliged to
live in squalor and poverty. with homes that
will bring about different state Of affairs.
There Is an ocean OF misery confronting us and
we must surmount it.
at cannot be said that our model home move
ment has been u success, but the results show
that 1t VIII be a success in few wears from q
moral as well every other standpoint. We
hear about phllanthrOpists. Let blush for
| shame that we have neglected our fellow man so
long and that he has sank into the slums and
become part of them. There is ample reason
that we should appeal to persons for sympathy
In this great work and we should have it.
I'VE are looking forward to the possible
effects of the cholera in our homes. What
would we do If cholera got foothold here when
we know the condition of some of the sections
OF our great cities. We should remove the evil;
get at the heart Of the trouble and take the
people away from the slums and provide them
with good comfortable homes where they will
have luxury compared to the state they enjoy
now.
why is it we have slums all over the world?
Because Of the modern industrial system We
have. This alone mikes the slums. The low
parts of the cities are overcrowded; there are
not enough houses, and the people have not
enough money TO rent whole house. They
live IN rooms amid filth and moral squalor, and
Is 1t any wonder that any sense of refinement
they ever had is stinted and killed?
''Somc people do not understand our present
social system. | mean the question of labor
and capital. When these questions are better
understood then we will have relief. Is it any
wonder that alcoholism is so prevalent when we
allow the conditions that exist in the slums?
Remove the cause. give the people better
houses. help to raise them up and encourage
and sustain their good efforts. and give them
be made blessing instead of a hindrance and
the poor can be given such comforts as they
never before enjoyed. The children in the
slums cry to you to help them: they appeal to
you to save them. body and SOUL
SOME MODEL HOMES.
Prof. Adler said that the model homes such
as are erected in New York and Brooklyn. have
been made to pay handsome dividends after
liberal expenses had been deducted and that
he hoped that Philadelphia would follow The
example set by the other cities. in helping raise
! the poor to a higher sense of their duty toward
their God, as we'll as themselves and society at
| large.
| Edwin r. A. Seligman read letter from the
| builder who erected the houses for the poor in
| New York, who said that he was confident that
| the Sums could be cleared, and that at least a
large percentage Of the people saved body and
| soul from ruin.
Chas. W. Caryl who has worked in the sums
| in all the large cities. said that the state of
affairs an Philadelphia were worse than he ever
saw in all his experience.
There are children living near one house in
Alaska street" continued Mr.. Caryl, "who had
| better be deprived of life now than to allow
| them to grow up and branch out from the
slums. See them every day aud my heart
| bleeds for them. Give us play grounds for the
children, remove them from the obnoxious sur
roundings, save them from themselves and
their evil influences by having these clean, COM
Portable homes"
He also referred to the great work that is be-
ing accomplished by the young women who arc
irving to reclaim those of their sex in the
slnmS who are almost beyond the pale
Rabbi krauekopf said that he was more than
gratified at the result Of the meeting and that
the plans for the erection Of these homes for
the poor would be pushed forward rapidly.