Omaha daily bee., 1895-05-01
HOME EXTENSION,

College Settlements and the Benefits De-
rived from Them by the Residents.
There is no question about the philanthropy
OF the present age. 1t is progressive, it is
aggressive, 1t Is insistent.
In running through the gamut OF human
experience, it has turned its restless prying,
crooked little question mark into the hitherto
sacred precincts of the home, and has de-
manded that it, too, should fall in line
Phlanthropists claim that Christian men and
women fail in their duty to mankind when
they voluntarily take the influence which
their Christian homes would exert in the city
out into the country; that no other Chris
thanking force can compare with that which
such homes exert; and that our large cities
must have this force working in the midst
OF their hearts, and that 1t is the strong
est force that can be brought to bear upon
the Ignorance and vice and filth now coursng
through their arteries.
There Is no question but that the tacit
rights Of those dependent upon the home
for the best possible conditions for physical
mental and moral growth would be seri-
ously interfered with, II the ideas of these
rampant reformers were carried out. The
problem has been solved how to reconcile
both claims by what might be called Home
Extension, that is by social settlement. The
idea OF these settlements is an extension Of
the home beyond the limits of the family
In order that the masses who cannot come
into direct contact with the home as II is
more highly developed still may reap the
benefit OF such contact were II possible.
1t is In short a movement bearing the
same relation to the home, that the move
ment known as university Extension" bears
90 our colleges in their effort to diffiuse cul-
ture, 1t Is born OF the same wider intell-
gence and keener perception of mans rela-
tion 30 his brother and both are direct out
growths Of higher education in its best sense.
The movement started in England but
upon crossing the Atlantic, uniting the home
Idea with that Of education, it appealed very
directly to our college women and found its
first roots in their hearts, and its first ex-
preston in an organization which they
formed In 1890 called the college Settle
ments association" for the purpose of To-
eating home centers in tenement house dis
tricts, The plan pursued is as follows:
The association first chooses a proper loca-
tion. finding a house which will lend itself
to the purpose. 1t is put into perfect sani-
tary order, pretty, inexpensive furniture is
obtained, books, pictures, a piano are added
and into 1t is placed head worker" a
woman who Is fitted to take charge through
her power as an organizer and home make r.
Around her gather other women who can be
spared for longer or shorter time from
their uptown homes to this downtown home.
Neighborhood calls are exchanged, afternoon
teas are arranged, clubs are established for
the young people and children, more or less
instruction In various lines is given, a
penury proyident bank begun and a free cir
culating library. These are all means 10
one end-intimate acquaintanceship with
the people about.
The settlement stands there first and fore
most for this friendllness; its object being 10
close relations the class who, having re-
eeiveA much are ready and eager to give
OF their best to the other class, who in pow
erty ignorance and degradation, have yet a
singular readiness to receive.
ana nla -
sponsibility Of those who support and are in
teressed and working in it toward the social
needs OF the time.
Our fathers had the slavery OF the negro
with which TO deal. II was simple prob
lam y the slavery which eontsOnts our gene