The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-04-30
Work Among "The Other Half"-Letter
from Helen L. Manning.
Ben Adhem House, Boston. /
April IA, 1897. (

Il
the good work in the social settlement
line for which the Ben Adhem House
stands, and that they will be interested
in few additional notes. The number
of residents has now been increased to
eleven, and we are happy, harmonious
amily. We differ from almost every
other settlement house in the world in
having in the heart of it a real home,
consisting of father and mother and
infant daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. w. III.
Ashton and baby Ruth. Then our kim
dergartner is widow with little daugh-
ter, which doubles the blessed influence
of true motherhood in this neighborhood.
The active work of these good mothers
within and without, could not be lightly
measured-what other and less favored
mothers gain from themin wordless ways
cannot even be guessed. Yet however
much may be given out in any ana all
directions, the residents unanimously feel
that they are the greatest receivers OF
benefit, the lives of all being enriched in
daily experiences and lessons from life.
OF course the most of the work is done
with children, and the things which they
know or don't know are almost equally
surprising. As an example of the latter,
class of kindergarten children had no
idea from what ice was formed or what it
would turn into by application of heat,
and they were intensely interested in il
Illustrative experiments. To trace ice to
the ice wagon was as far as they had ever
got before. Similarly, all they knew
about butter and milk was that they
came from the store and the milk wagon,
though one child was found who had
been in the country and had actually
seen a cow One little fellow has since
vouchsafed the astonishing information
that "the hen lays eggs and the COW lays
milk"
1t was mid winter before the way |
opened for the establishment of perma.
nent kindergarten, and then Mrs. Sarah |
A. Smith came to us from Utica, New
York. She is peculiarly adapted to this
sweet ministry to the little ones and they |
are so happy, and their little faces bios
som out like flowers in the sunshine. |
Only sixteen children can be taken in,
for there is no assistant and the quarters |
are inadequate for large kindergarten.
Our diningroom is also kindergarten
room, club room, game room, music
room and library. Mrs. Smith is skilled |
in kitchen garden, and she is now train
ing a class of twelve little maidens to be-
come careful housekeepers The influence
of this kind of teaching on the homes
may be inferred by the remark of one
mother, "My little girl wont let me slap
things on the table any more since she
has been to kitchen garden" Mrs
Smith is very tactful and wise in her
work among the mothers of her children
and the results from this, and ether
branches, are above estimate The OPP
portrnities of the field are practically I'M
limited, and we are enlarging, just as
fast as the means received will allow, be-
ing dependent upon voluntary contribu-
tons.
The Beautiful Lady Club, under Miss
Georgine c. Dunkle, and which was pre-
viously mentioned, is still Astounding in
good work of various kinds, but the I'M
DERIVING current is to inculcate the truth
that the only enduring beauty is that !
which is manifested outwardly by culture {
ofthe within. To think loving thoughts,
10 speak loving words, to do loving deeds, !
form not only the burden of their greet
ing song, but these give the key to every
gathering. Every one notices general /,
improvement in all the members, but it !
is especially marked in the case of one G
girl who was very ill-favored and unlove-
ly at the outset, but who bids fair now to +
become truly beautiful lady. 3
There are three classes in wood sloyd, t
aggregating twenty-five boys, under Miss :
Mary Benjamin, who has rare tact in 9
dealing with them. The boys are max
ing excellent progress and are devoted to
their work and their teacher. Sloyd is
educational in many-sided way in the
hands OF the right instructor. A fourth
evening Miss Benjamin devotes to games
and stories, and she has learned that
these little brothers from cherries homes !
and unsavory streets appreciate pretty 3
gown and bright ribbon just as they q
appreciate courtesy, and love, and other
things to which they are unaccustomed. o
The Daisy Chain is large club of q
young girls which meets in sections Q
twice week, and has three Instructors L
Miss Marta Davidson, Miss Florence Du- Z
rand and Miss Louise Wells. These are S
MI young ladies of rare worth and many !
graces, and they have been very faithful !
in their voluntary ministry. Physical a
culture, elocntion and needle-work have ]
been chiefly taught. 1t may be of inter- !
est to note tiat Miss Durand and Miss