The herald., 1895-07-18
A CHAT WITH DR.. LUMM|S
What She Has Been Doing in
New York
THE COLLEGE SETTLEMENT
Has Been Her Home and the Scene Of
Her Lab0rs
HE COLLEGE SETTLEMENT
Other Outside Work and q Few Pleasures In
the Way of Music and Art-Her
Writing Neglected

Monday from New York. was seen yester-
day afternoon in her cosy. artistic home
on Twenty-third street, and was prevailed
upon to chat informally with Herald
representative of her visit and the work
with which she has been interesting her
self during her absence. For DR.. Lum-
mis- is pre-eminently a worker. and no
matter where she is always finds some
unselfish line or other along which she
may work and contribute her share in
helping her fellow beings, especially wo-
men.
Among other things she was once a
mem ber of the newspaper fraternity, up
to the time she went cast last fail, and
when the reporter drew forth the ubiqui-
tous note book and pencil yesterday, the
doctor smiled a knowing but deprecatory
smile, and said, "Horrors Have you
come to see me otficially?' The brutal
truth having peen admitted, she contin-
ued, what on earth do you want to in
terview me for? Nobody ever did that
before
Thereupon the information was ac-
corded that although.when she lived here
she might not have been considered of
much importance, after several months
spent in the effete east her state of health,
experiences while there and any other
trif1e of like nature would be eagerly read
and enjoyed. So after little more judi
cious encouragement the doctor proposed
a compromise and would talk of her
work, which she did as follows
Il have been a regular resident at the
college settlement house. 26 Delaney
street. ever since l reached New York.
except for about month in the spring,
wban | n DnrOthaa bnnSp in
one of the Boston settlements for a
months rest.
1.-The Delaney street settlement is the
oldest in America. The residence house
was an old Hebrew synagogue, and the
lower portion is used for classes, club
floor is nat in which the six residents,
Mr.. Reynolds, the head worker, and his
aunt, who has charge of the home estab-
lishment, live.
From October until May l held clinics
every morning for the women; l had
charge of the settlement bank, that is a
branch of the penny provident bank, and
almost every evening some one OF the va
Iious literary, dancing or other clubs met
and we all joined in being nice''as they
call it.
''In fact. and here the doctor was very
emphatic. 'if you are going to do settle
ment work you have got to do it sponta-
ASOuoIls Ou nave SOl W Ut HUE UtCduSe
you want to be and like it; you have got
togo among those people and do what
you do because you like it and let them
do it with you; that is the fundamental
idea IN settlement work, not that you
go to do good to or for the people. You
have no idea what interesting work it is,
nor how it develops you while it is devel-
some outside work, civic reform, and
went in tor Colonel WARNS street clean
ing department Each one had a regular
section OF a certain number of streets in
the city of which we had charge; twice a
week we Investigated and repoi ted.
Every Tuesday night all winter, from
to 8, We made tenement house inspection
when We looked after the hygiene, sewer
age and condition of fire escapes. During
the cloakmakers strike against the sweat
ing system, Mr.. Reynolds really did all
the theoretical work, and we the actual
work. One gave out work on the streets;
DR.. Rose Bryan and myself spent the
whole day every day for six weeks inves-
tigating the condition OF supplies and dis
trlbuting cCal. groceries, etc.
In the summer everything is dropped
but the clubs and the fresh air funds.
I'VE work in cooperation with those OF
Life and the Tribune: that is, we supply
the children. they the money and fresh
air resorts.
''Of course all the children have to be ex-
amined by the ply ysicians before they are
sent out, that they may be clean ana
wholesome as to clothes and bodies, and
how do you suppose it is done? and the
doctor paused long enough to take breath.
Larkspur-some say kerosene-but lark
spur is more deadly and can be put on
only the night before and accomplish the
desired result, so the children can be
started the next day. We send 200 child
rem at once anu always have 225 sent IN
because there are always few that even
larkspur fails with, and they have to be
kept back for longer course, and tnen
they are ready to 60 with the next batch. "
What has become of your writing all
this time?'
Writing? I have had no time for writ
ing: every thing that has been published
since | left was written before | went
east. but hope to have more leisure next
winter and tnen l shall take 1t up again.
well. haven't you had any play at alp
How about the music, and the pictures
and all the rest of New York above Four
teenth street-you didn't neglect it en-
tirely, did you?"
maze OF enjoyable things in which the
opera and other important muslt al
events, organs recitals, art galleries an eX-
hibitions, stained glass windows, enter
tainments at Sherry's, Sorosis breakfasts
the Nineteoth century club. and Barnard
club, the latest and smallest woman's
club iE New York. where at the monthly
gatherings they gave tea and other delect-
able things to the literary and other lions
of the hour; all these destinations were
briefly touched upon, and then the doctor
wound up by saving she should return to
the work and play next November