The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-07
A W0MAR'S BENEVOLENCE.
sso Work Mrs. Arson Phelps stokes
Is Doing for Poor Italians.

lOr POoE italians.
New York, Jan. 4.-when Mrs. Anton
Phelps Stokes was building her palailai
home III LenoH, which Is said TO have
men one Sunday got into a Quarrel
ana one man killed another. This
maize 50 deep all impression upon Mrs.
STOKES mat she began inquiring into
.ne ives and conditions OF These
people, and her interest thus
III Il evolved into Il plan for
establishing reading room for Ital-
ians III the italian quarter of New
1ork city. resembling the Cooper IN
sttiQte IN idea, though on 4 smaller
scale. She at once sent fer an Italian
pastor in whom she had perfect con-
hdehcc, Signor Antonio Alright, and
gave him carte blanche to do what
ever was necessary to the carrying
out of her pian in detail, and to send
all his bills to her.
~ lease for Il long term OF years was
soon taken Of Il large building in Tie
very midst OF the Italian settlement,
the lower rooms OF which are devoted
TO reading room for adults. The H.
bf1iN contains 500 volumes, In italian.
maps of Italy hang on the wall, and
Italian newspapers are abundant The
rooms are always we'll filled with read
ers
Mr., Gerry Alright. who ants rs his
fathers assistant. told me that on the
saturday before there were $50 men
there at one time. Almost ali the ltud-
laiiS are engaged in trades that suffer
from dull times during some portion OF
the year. and large numbers are then
thrown out OF employment, and the
rS2aihS rooms are sort Of refuge for
thcm during these periods: so that
some weeks the habitues will all be
t2iiors. and by the time their trade
Drightens up. some other Will be struck
by dull times. and an entirely new set
of men may be seen In the reading
rooms
The rooms up stairs are for the use
ci ch!ihren one for boys. and another
Tor Girls. IL is 81 warm, comfHma bile
place for them Ia come into after school
TO study their lessons. TO read or play.
Ali sorts and kinds of games are pro-
vided Tor them, hut what they mos,
adore Is the books. The children OF
these italians speedily learn Englis!,.
ana the boys pore over Henty's stories.
Oliver Optic. Walter Scott. The Roy
Traveller" Stories of the Nation" and
various other books OF travel and bio
sra ply. So interested do some ~
them become. that Mr.. Alright tells
me they hardly notice IL If the other
boys walk all over them. while the girls
clJoy m less Mrs. Whitney. Miss AL
colt, Mrs, Ewing ana Y@ncc.
Tho morning that | called c!ghty-Six
hile children We're present at the saw
Ing school. They all looked so br,rh.
wilioh are furnished by Mrs Stokes.
The only price they have 10 pay is clean
hands ana faces. uric;Hs they present
theaelves With these thy cannot put
o. utciT HHrcns ard on this morning
there We're only two delinQuents out of
the cighty-siX, and they s..rn earned
tn right 10 their pretty pinafores
AS MN:. Stokes Is an Episccpalian
services are held here. Int whether
one rC,>s OF not is entirely optional Pro.
tes;antism is never i'll the least forced
upon them. as /. would doubtless
defeat the purpose of the organiza-
:ion.
The work has 50 Increased In import
ance that they are already feeling The
necessity Of extending their quarters.
The King and Queen of italy are In
and recently sent over large autograph
photographs of themselves. which dec
crate the walls OF tho ONildrcn'' room.
MARION DEPEW.
The attitude Of the United States in
the Venezuelan affair has a moral ef-
fec. OF immense Significance. II IS a
blow ar British prestige which viii lie
felt in all parts Of the world. The bull
~ who l.; once called down is M longer
a bully feared. remarks the Newark
Advertiser Rep).
When starting in life. Gen. Nelson 4.
Miles arrived in Boston, dressed in q
green jacket. short trousers and green
tarpau!in hat. which attire made the
city boys boot at him. He found en-
rloymCnt In a crociScry shop. but was
very awkward at first
An Indian kr.-wn as Chef Bushy
joe dit3 al Amber, N!ch.. 81 few days
ago Mt the rcputed age Ito Yeas.
The thin woman should get at least
eight. ana better ten hours sleep every
night and a nan i'm the daytime &c she
feels the need OF IL. She should not take
Turkish baths unless they are very
short. Tic etcanl lath is good ard hot