New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-11
SOCTiL SETTLEMENT WORK.

4 little pamphlei has been published by the
collep. Settlements Association that will IN
terest those who have followed the work It Is
doing in the larger cities Of this country. II Is Il
digest Of answers received from past residents
in these settlements 10 questions addressed
them by present residents. who are almost all
yonng women graduates OF the wonens col
legcs. The questions relate TO their experience
in the social service Of settlement life, the value
of the different forms OF II. and the results 'Ila'
NAV be expected from II. As the settlement III
the poorer districts Of great cities. notwifhs'and-
ing the experimental and tentative character
which II still has in the view OF many. Is looked
unon nv some of the wisest of philanthropists a.
q most promising agency in the Improvement OF
social conditions. the opinions or Intelligent
workers within It's lines are worth noting
In the first place. rather curously. the general
trend of opinion Is that unorganlzed work has
higher value than any other, as holding more
free spiritual force, protesting against meciahi-
cal modern tendencies and representing the one
distinctive and unique function OF a settlement.
This view of the matter emphasizes the personal
side Of tn. work. which Is relied upon To exert
the most potent, though doubtless not always
the most Immediately visible influence. Yet the
necessity of background OF definitely organized
effort is recognized 10 furnish opportunity for
This personal work and 10 protect the institution
against loss and waste Of energy through the
more or less frequent change IN the personnel
which must be- expected in social settlements.
settlement must have made itself felt as an IN
tecral part of neighborhood. and a benehrehi
one AS one Of the correspondents justly observes.
before II can take The lead in liz work
4 more vital question touches the utility OF
the whole idea: Is the good accomplished com
mensllratr with the effort and energy expended
Not unnlf.Iriiiy the answer i an enihusasuc
and Overwhelming Affirmative though tenn
pcreh with a few uncertainties ana still fewer
reluctant negatives. The question Is a dlfflcult
and complex one; il is probable, indeed. that
therr has not vet been sufficient experience 10
make thc result definite. and decisive. The fac
tors in the ease arr uncertain The notions Of
what success consists In will vary with each in
diyiduol Thus one says that because the set
Element exists It is justified; that lis very exist
ence is a protest against prevailing conditions.
Another believes that the results are 80 Target!
preventive consequently negative in their nat
ire that it is difficult 10 judge except over Il
longer period of time than can YET be submitted
10 examination and comparison. Then. TOO, Ih'ici
Of the good brought about IS intangible and not
TO be tahulated IN statistics. II means In many
cases an influence upon the lives Of people both
the "workers" and the worked a trlnsforlna-
ton and elevation. the establishment Of new
points of view OF new centres Of energy ana
on ii a he
ured The large preponderarce of belief among
the settlement residents that they have sue
ceoded in this is partly a confession Of their OWE
changed point of view partly summing up OF
impressions and experiences OF their nelghbofS
and il need be subject only 10 the reservations to
be made in the case OF the Young and enthus;-
,siic The net result il distinctly an encourage
mcnt.
If oupht not to be overlooked that the expert
enc. of settlement life is noI merely Il benefit To
the community in watch it j. carried on. II Is
an education 10 those who obtan il: revela-
ton Of the needs ana weaknesses and wrongs of
those who are termed the lower classes. hut also
a disclosure OF fine aud noble qualities of many
virtues unsupported 10y those who are termed
the upper classes 1t is IN explicit showing of
how the other half lives. and therefore. besides
il, work Of immediate amclioraiion. is potent
agency for spreading This murhneeded infor-
nation and for raising up Il body Of people who
can look At social problems In their afterlife
with the intelligence and knowledge necessary
to wise action. This must be- accounted not the
| least benefit Of the earnest Young mans or Young
woman's life in the lower quarters of the great
cities in the social settlements. and i bound Ia
make it's influence felt in the fitness Of time for
the better and wiser treatment of all questions
involving the Improvement of The poor IN the
cities