New-York tribune., 1895-12-14
WHAT A CITY PASTOR SEES.
ITEMS OF PERSONAL INTEREST III
CHURCH PEOPLE.

CHURCH ffOi
Among the many worthy. benevolent societies II,
New-York there is one which reaches class Oh
people of WHOSE weeds the world knows compara-
,,velv little For more than sixty years the Ameri-
can seamen's Friend Society has been aiding snip
wrecked and destitute seamen. sustaining chaplaihs
to the seamen In the leading ports OF the world pro-
vding Sailors Home In Cherry-st. In this city,
and putting libraries on American vessels sa'ilhg
from this port When an American ship is wrecked
in any part of the world and the sailors reach New
York they soon find their way to the office OF the
society No. &c Wall-st and receive cordai WEI
come from its corresponding secretary Dr. w. I.
Slit They receive more than greeting when ther
story Is known to be true. For the sailor in need
there is no more open door and no more judicious
friend than is found In these rooms. But for the
tramp who seeks to impose upon the good nten-
tions of Dr. Stt there is also an open door, and 1t
swings toward the stairway. Now and then man
will tell a story that would open the purse OF the
hardest heart. but when he describes the wreck ne
does not know that his story will be compared with
that in the Maritime Register. But aside from the rev
frauds who will nfest the rooms of any relief-givng
aeencv the great majority of the men who visit
Dr. Stitt are worthy OF the help which the society
can give The secretary has a remarkably interest
ing address, touching the various points OF life oil
the 5000 900 men who go down to the sea In ships,
and upon whom the commerce of this great water
way depends which he gives In churches and be-
fore young peoples societies.
"The Widening Work of Woman" is to be the
topic for discussion at the meeting Of the Consre-
gational Club at the St. Denis Hotel on Monday
evening Mrs Ellen A. Scrmgeour will present the
subject an Civic Affairs: Mrs. Stlmson will show
her "In Church and Charity; Mrs. Cecilia Gaines
will explain her work "In the Business World and
Mrs Allie May Scudder Will follow her 'ln Domestic
and Social Life
Following the recent meeting in the Carnegie Hall
in the interest of foreign missions the Presbyterian
Board adopted the following resolution: THE board
desires TO express to the Presbytery of New-York.
and particularly TO the Rev John r. Davies, ID. d..
and his co-workers on the committees in charge of
the movement its high appreciation Of the wisdom
manifested in conceving and the indefaugabie zeal
in executing the plan of a city campaign in the In
terest OF foreign missions in New-York. The board
is greatly encouraged by this evidence of rising
tide of interest in the great work of foreign mis-
sons 1t halls the city campaign as one OF the best
means which have yet been devised for educating
congregations and the public generally regarding
the great principles and methods of foreign mission
ary enterprise and 1t expresses the hope that SINH
lar movement may be inaugurated In other large
cities of the country
Some time ago there considerable agitation
gardng the little German bands which had become
such nuisance In the crowded parts OF the city
that II was almost impossible TO walk through the
crowds crowds that gathered about these strolling mg-
ties. the bands into the yards TO play. and
there has been no complaint since that time Now
however, a evil has arisen which will COM
mand the attention Of the city authorities. The
Italians piano-organ has taken the place Of the
German band in the affection Of the children, espe
clally the girls and in many streets from ten TO
fifty girls can be seen gathering around the organ
many of them dancing. At first the dancing con-
sisted mainly of WaltZes, and nothing could seem
less harmful than that for little girls, from three
10 ten years of age. who were keeping time grace
fully to lively music. But within the last two or
three months the sidewalk dancing has changed ma
terially Older girls have joined In the sport until
now il is not uncommon TO see girls from twelve TO
fourteen years Of age dancing before crowd of
street loaiers The girls and the spectators often
block the sidewalk and go from block TO block
when the Italian al the handle has gathered in all
the available pennies. Waiting Is seldom seen
now, but in its place the skirt dance with high
kicking has come and the bolder the girls be-
come the more hearty Is the applause which they
receive, and the greater the crowd becomes. TIE
children of the poor. for il H. this class largely
which is affected by this eyii have so few, enjoy
ments relatively SpeakirS thai + seems hard 10 de
prive them Of ths pleasure. but the future of the
children should be considcrei well as their pres
ent one cannot have watched tie devel lopmeni OF
this dancing for the last few weeks without
feeling certain that within the next six months
few Of the girls who have won honors on the
sidewalk will seek foi new ones on the i3oWtry
stage. a compromise could be effected by for
bidding the piano-organ 20 play on the sidewalks.
and the children could be properly entertained Ia
the yards. without obstructing travel on the one
hand attracting the idle and vicious crowds that
follow the organs.