New-York tribune., 1896-10-30
MISTAKES IN PHILANTHROPY,

Miss Sara T. Wil,~c who speaks out of u long
experience gained in work among the unforiu
nate has an Interesting article in the last issue
of THE Outlook" on "Pcrniclous Philanihro-
pics" II IS n topic of which there are illusira
lions In many lines Of phllan'hropc effort: but
in this article she speaks only of the mistakes
mad in work among poor children in large
cities. One important feature Of that work Is
The formation of clubs for boys and girls There
can bc 10 doubt that these clubs have done anl
are doing great deal to uplift and educate the
children Of the very poor In this city their In
Hucnce for good has been ncalculabc. and they
deserve The sympathy and help Of all
But as Miss Wiltsc truly Says in thc domain
%: ethics every virtue is in danger OF running
into a vice. I'm some cases these clubs have
been The means OF alternating the children who
belong 10 them from their own parents or
course those who organize the clubs do not de-
sire this and perhaps, arc not directly rcspon-
sbc for IT, They would like 10 make over tho
children whom they find running wild on the
streets to the point where they would become
little missionaries in their sordld homes That
would mean Il real reform. not merely for the
children, but for the parents But, as n matter
Of fact, 1t does not always work that way. Tn
der tho uplifting and humanzing influences Of
the club tho children grow SO entirely out OF
sympathy with their parents and homes that
they shun both as much as possible. This is
especially true. Miss Wil,sc says. of the daugh
tcrs Of foreigners who join philanthropic clubs
or Kings Daughters circles They soon come
to think it a disgrace to speak or even under
stand their own language. 1--WE want to adopt
and educate these forclgn-born Children she
t,t-,
make them scornful of home conditions. speech
land occupations I lately questioned some at
"tractivc Jewcsscs about their home interests;
land their surprise that any one should think
"thcy wasted any time there was rather shock
"Ing"
Two other practical points are touched upon
in this article. Many children of the poor do not
get enough sleep. If they go to school they often
sit up over their studies until 10 or II o'clock
| at night and get up at In the morning. we'll
known physician recently gave it rs his opinion
that early rising among farmers is n cause Of in
sanity. Whether or not insanity be the penalty OF
insufficient sleep. there can he no doubt that
children. especially, require plenty OF sleep. and
many children or the tenements do not get It,
This Is n matter that might well engage the at
tentOn of philanthroplsts They might also do
much good by teaching the children of the poor
to be provident. Miss Wiltse says that while
the need OF instruction on that point is great, its
success would be undoubted Children who are
in the habit OF spending relatively large sums
on candy, gum or pickles are easily persuaded
to save their pennies for some definite good OBJ
ject--such as n book or set Of cheap but pretty
pictures for their homes. In some cases in her
experience these pictures are loaned from house
| to house. girl often giving mp her turn for
week or a month to some sick woman or child
who would be cheercd by them.
II is mournful fact that It is seldom pos
sible to do any great good without doing. Incl
dentally at least. a little evil. This Is probably
| true. In a measure Of the splendid philanthropic