New-York tribune., 1896-10-25
THE UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT.

The appeal for the University Settlement OF
this city for funds to enable 1t 10 continue HS
work i'm the tencment-hou district OF the
East Side ought TO bring out generous re-
sponse. lii the few years that II has been es-
tablishcd. this institution has done work that
is none the less valuable because 1t is upoDtru-
sivc. and has received little heralding. Inc
possibility that ii may be crippled III coh'inu-
ing its labOrs because of n lack OF hnahciai sup
port is one that ought not to he contemplated
without deep regret. The amount OF se''ie
ment" work that has been done IN thls city does
not compare favorably with that done III otner
large capitals and instead of curtailmehi' the
Neighborhood Guild and the allied orgahHa-
tions on Delancey-st. ought To he apc 10 iooh
forward 10 extension and an opportunity Tor
greater usefulness.
The results accomplished by the Settlement
are not of n sort that can be tabuated 10 ao-
vantage To impress the average citiZen. i'S
primary object is not To rescue from STARVATION
or 10 obtain converts for the church; these iuhc-
lions ii leaves to be filed by the many admira-
bic institutions whose activities are cSpecah!
directed 10 those ends II Is not even chari'a
bic institution. except in that broad meaning OF
the word "charity' that makes II synonymous
with love" Its aims are 10 rescue from ih'ei-
cctjial and moral starvation; To make converts
to good citizenship. and it pursucs them on lines
that bring it into conflict with none of the
other agencies for moral and physical uplift-
ing that are at worl, in New York. 1t reaches
noonle that they do not reach and is In 10 sense
= rival. but a valuable and helpful compile
mont to them The underlying idea of the Set
t,cmcnt work we need no, dwell upon. II Is the
idea of personal service and hell fulncSS; of the
notcncy of personal influence and friendly inter
course that has led young men and women
of gentle birth and breeding 10 take up their
abode in the dcnsely settled tcnemcni-house
district There II is their purpose to brihG
something Of sweetness and light into lives
dullcd and hardened by poverty; To HIT the INTEL
lcctual outlook; TO aid IN the creation of new
and Wholesome interests, physical ana mental:
10 incucate true principles Of hygiene. temper
ance and morality. civic pride ana conscicn'
tioisncss
That these ideas are not those OF futile dream
crs Is amply shown by the practical results
obtained AT the University Settlement ana the
other insirumcn,aliics of similar sort. The
nature of their work has too often been set
forth In the newspapers 10 require reconhtlhg
now; those who have followed II know of the
immediate utility Of lis manifold points OF con-
tact with the working people: OF lis Kinder
cartens and classes: its reading-room and IL
brary: its clubs for young and old. and Of the
awakened enthusiasm and zeal with which the
work is carried on, not for. but by its bcncii-
clarcs All are Ovcrcrowdcd. Years ago the
University Settlement had visions OF a fine
building where It's members and their varied
activities could be housed How far this Is
from realization IS shown by the letter from
Mr. Glider and Miss Van Rensselaer, printed
today, in which they state the impcrlous need
OF funds that the organization may continue It's
work. even on the present circumscribcd lines.
| The need is urgent and the response from the
largchcartcd and philan,hropic people Of this
rich city should he liberal.