The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16

tive part in considering measures for the bet
teruent of the laboring classes. In fact, it was
not until some years after this that my plans
took practical shape.
in 1872. in company with the late Phillips
Brooks and others, I became interested In the
building of a new Trinity Church to take the
place OF the one destroyed by the great fire Of that
year. Most Of my time from 1872 to 1876 was
taken up in this way, but we con point with
pride to the magnificent church ediflce of to-day
o. the result Of our labors.
Upon the organization of the Associated
Charities of Boston in 1878 I became first Presi-
dent. and the directors have been good enough
to re-elect me to that office ever since. To &C
quaint myself with the home life of the poor,
and to study the social problem in all its
branches and aspects, I became q regular visitor
for the board, and my territory. I remember, lay
In that part of the city known as the Old West
End. 1t was while making my daily rounds
among the poor that the problem of how to help
the deserving without placing them in the posi-
ton of paupers first presented itself to me in the
strongest light.
THE FIRST thing that impressed itself upon my
mind was that, In order to improve the condi-
ton of the poor. their rooms and living apart
uents must be improved, You cannot expect to
ind in squalor and filth the germs OF education
and refinement; neither can insufficient ventila-
ton and a total absence of sanitation produce
that fine flower of culture and estheticism
which has marked the Boston known to tho
outside world to-day.
"The first experiment made by my friends
and myself was in connection with the old
rookery on Lincoln street known as the
Crystal Palace This formerly stood between
Essex and Beach streets on the street mentioned.
AND uoa hr' N oIdu The vaNut -1tDrf1,, m hzda -
thieves and vagabonds of all description within
the city limits.
" built shafts for air and light from the
roof Of the old building into the interior. papered
the rooms, repaired the windows, put in new
sanitary arrangements, and, in fact, put the
place into some kind of shape for the abode of
human beings. At one time there were as many
s ffty poor families occupying the Crystal
Palace. After the building had been pulled
Gown and removed to make room for the bust
ness block which to-day occupies its site we
made Some effort to trace where the tenants
went to- and in almost every instance We found
That they had removed to a better neighbor-
nood. My Crystal Palace experiment first con.
WINGED me that cheap are q delusion
Do countenanced.
ines. By the erection OF the new South Union
Depot u has been found necessary to tear down
sssrsrsl tsnements and the inhabitants Of these
q perhaps twenty-hv We families who have thus
eeep driven out. and propose to follow up each
abodes than those which they before occupied.
Ny %solution for the relief Of the tenement
SS Sms class Is a simple one: Own your own
teent being from the one who comes back from
ms work In the evening to IA cherries, dismal
lke Al buildings occupied / In common, neglected
gail. y the course OF my experience I have
s Ssv tres seS Wa . mia man q T Gis.1 under his own vine and
fortunate. brother Of the tencments.
ana there Is no reason why a man or woman
MIN the builders aid associations, the co5pera.
uve banks. and other institutions or a similar
salnre. any deserving, person can obtain the neo-
In 1879 ! organized the Wells Memorial In.
iiSSI5 p,Sxe IN memory Of the Rev. E. NJ. P.WelIs, for
sit Il s saSfS wb EPi diea At missionary Mss in the slsms
his Is now the largest workingmen's club in
eS country, embracing, a loan association. two
hhhas now more than 1000 members. For the
@Sahsa i which was completed in 1883, / raised
~IS sanpd amounting to about 800, 1000"
asah 0Hsho0t OF the institute, and to accom-
S snsNa!e those living In the South End who were
Snaole to attend its meetings, Mr.. Paine built at
fremont street. in this city, In 1890. This 81 was was
a n N connection with his wife, VIII has taken
MI a's sa,ah interest in his philanthropic work:
Ia eeiebrated London institution. the Peoples
~ th~I ~, 20 the East End. which was conceived in
ksSS ~ ,tittaht imagination and practical business
iSsdo. or walter Besant. having been fore
Sorts sn y IN IN that great romance of his. A
.nns Peoples Institute, as we'll as the other in
sssmn,uionons which owe their success, as well as in |
CdyTliohi 70 Mr.. Paine, including the Peoples
WSneo Rouse. the Windsor Home for Aped
ma SS"Th.the Working Girls Club, Trinity House
loo 'ne Associated Charities, were placed, In
Pin, unuer the control OF the Robert Treat
he snr ASSOCIATION a corporation organized In
freess,Suent' his son, Robert Treat Paine, Jr., is
Of biisu' e and his wife and the other members
Inmn immediate family are directors. The
ls III ~ s2oO.OOO was donated by Mr.. Paine and
Iy"He 70 this corporation as a trust fund, and
Se ns provided that the charities established
1G their children.
pssnn,e Workingmen's Loan Association move
PAIN owes lis inception In America to Mr.. |
lnd IN 1887 "A branch of this now popular
eato Sldeiy extended charity, IL such Il can be
Snosnh, Nas established in Boston and proved an
VA i mus success from the very beginning. 1t
lions "1shded TO protect the poor from the exac-
bbrrIIed It's purpose well. Mr. Paine tells tho fol-
WhI"hs eRecdote to illustrate the manner In
u = became Interested In the movement.
MA Vas approached in my office one day" he
earnantu a man representing himself to be a
SasIn".tI VINO told mo q most piteous tale. He
thai ~ poor health, and told me that he had but
10 ~ arisen from a bed OF sickness TO come
hen obmne, TWO years before, he said, he had
1 MI Obliged TO have recourse to one or the
lnd A. 4 NhO then advertised in the daily press,
ea,tnedu borrowed 800 from him, giving him a
20 NM mortgage on his furniture. For this &C
esh 1Inoaation he had been obliged to pay 8 per
siIb month, In advance. Think Of 1T