The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-25
SOCIAL SETTLEMENTS.
Hull House, Chicago, and the Work
That Has Been Undertaken.
Pratt Institute Monthly.

Pratt Institute Monthly.
A social settlement is a home in poor
and neglected part of a city, where culti-
waited men and women choose to live. 1t
may be supported by some large association
and have beautiful and costly guild house
in which to do its work. or 1t may be known
to only few earnest persons who meet
within it's walls. There is nothing strange
or new about it, any more than there is
anything new In the spirit Of love which
leads to it's establishment. There have al
ways been men and women ready TO give
up the luxuries of life and the old associa-
tions that were so dear. that they might
live with those who were less fortunate than
themselves.
But though there is nothing new in choos-
ing to lead life among the poor. our pres
ent social settlements are in many ways a
new departure, and may be said to be a
natural outgrowth of the present methods
Of thought They are the product Of the uni
versities. and are built upon the idea that
to help people rightly We must know and
understand them-not in any superficial way.
reading about them out Of a textbook. as
1t were-but by constant personal contact.
and by bringing TO their problems our very
best power and thought Thus the emo
tonal element which was strong In the
older philanthropy is held In check by the
patient spirit Of investigation. ITO help peo-
pie understandingly, We must know them
well, is the thought OF the settlement work
ers OF to-day.
man, Edward Denson, left his home and
went to live among the poor. That was
twenty seven years ago.. Since then Toyn-
bee Hall has become famous, and many
university settlements have been started in
Great Britain They usually upon much
the same plan, a head worker and a num-
e e OF m1ssSs h most MS Of nom aa @ fOr
Halsted street, iChicago, In which Miss Jane
Addams and Miss Ellen Gates Starr are
known OF the settlements, and perhaps
comes nearer to the ideal residence than any
other place in the country. The original
residents felt that no work could be too in
Significant or too far-reaching IL Ii was de-
manded by their neighbors- Thus they have
developed in very broad and varied fash
ion. They have commodious clubrooms, Ii
brary and studio; coffee house, and in the
same building large gymnasium.
There is an artistic atmosphere visible
about Hull House in the charming photo
graphs upon the walls, and in the studio.
where loan exhibits of pictures are held;
the musical needs of the people are met
by Sunday evening concerts and by oppor-
tunities to enter singing classes; the intel
lectual advantages of the place are also
great, and fine college extension courses
are offered in history, literature, languages
and mathematics, but the peculiar success
OF Hull House lies In the work it has ac-
tOAnPiLoiCu VII SOCldi dilu cTOuODlC lilies. 1t
has worked with the unions to procure legis-
lation against the sweating system and
helped to pass the factory inspection act
of 1898. Different social clubs. some of them
formed before they asked the hospitality
OF Hull House, meet within its walls. One
of these is the Nineteenth Ward Improve
ment Club, which meets once a month, and
is pledged to the Improvement of the ward
in all directions. 1t has standing commit
tees on street cleaning, ETC., and through its
solicitation public baths have been provided
for the people of the ward. The club is
earnest and energetic, and its work has be-
come a power for good in local politics.
OF course, there is much work among the
chill 1ren. Boys and girls come to Hull House
and organize into different clubs for story
telling, games. cooking and nature classes.
There has been kindergarten in connection
with the work from the beginning, and
now a day nursery is established. where.
by paying cents, a workingwoman can
leave her baby to be cared for during her
absence. The children are tended by a
trained Kindergarten and they learn to love
the beautiful pictures and cards that are
hung low upon the wall to accommodate
their baby stature. Thousands of people have
visited Hull House since its foundation and
it has proved inspiration to workers
throughout the whole country.