The herald., 1897-11-07

which are incident to tenement life OF
the great eastern cities. When was in
New York this summer I went down
on the East Side, to Hester street and
Little Italy," down all through what
is known as the Bowery district, where
whole families are huddled into the same
room and the sidewalks are so swarming
with children that it is almost impossi-
BILE to walk. That is slum life-but we
haven't any such life here, nor the coin
cident evils to contend with.
MORE WICKEDNESS ELSEWHERE
"The Eighth ward is distinctly res
idence portion of the city. Decent labor
ing men and their families live there
and there are more children growing up
in that ward than in any other in the
city. / contend that, except for Little
Paris the Eighth compares favorablv
with any other ward. Responsibility is
not a matter of locality. And, as far as
social morals are concerned, there is
more fragrant wickedness on Spring
and Main streets, and Broadway, from
Temple to Seventh, than there is in the
Eighth ward.
"Of course, there is poverty and desti-
tuition there. The rents are cheaper,
and the poor people are crowded in ana
congested there. Then, when, as last
winter, one-half of the men are out OF
work, they get discouraged and take to
drink The wives and mothers drink,
too, sometimes because they are sick.
and they, too. get discoura ged. and these
grocery stores that have bars make it
very easy for the women to obtain
whisky and other stimulants.
again. the saloons meet the social
instinct which all human beings are
born with. Take family of half a
dozen children, more or less, and the
father and mother, all cooped up in
a house of two or three rooms. There is
no chance for social life at home. and
they go to the saloon for it. 1t is the
only social center.
THE REMEDY FOR IT
What remedy would / suggest? Why
several. In the first place you have no
ticed the vigorous remonStrance brought
before the police commissioners this
week against having a saloon opened
in the national guard armory building.
If the youths in other wards fear the
demoraliZing influence of one saloon,
don't those in the Eighth ward run the
same risks in being surrounded with
sixty-five? Should they not be given the
same protection? I would advocate.
first, legislation the passing of an ordi-
nance restraining the number of saloons
to block: and further, the discontinue
ance of the grocery with saloon attach
ment; but more than all, the substitu-
ton of something to be as popular from
the social side, yet harmless in its effects.
'Now there is Bishop Fallows' Home
saloon in Chicago and another OF the
same kind instituted by st. Bartholo-
news church in New York. Both have
been proved successful. In equipment,
surroundings and service they are mod
eled after the regular saloon. There is
plenty of looking glass. and gilt, and
CHEEKY, inviting furnishings; deft wait
ers in immaculate jackets and aprons:
a bar and bartenders: small tables on
which are served all kinds of non-intox-
icating drinks in shining glasses and
free lunches that go with them. This.
you see, is inviting, attracts and supplies
the social instinct and is yet entirely
harmless as to Intoxicating effects.
Then there are boys clubs and young
mems clubs which meet in some central
lOcaDty Wnere LNeTe CAN De library,
a gymnasium with baths; where
games of various kinds can be
enjoyed and entered into with a will,
and where twenty minute straight talks
can be given at stated times on all kinds
of subjects, followed by practical and
general discussion that is stimulating,
and will attract the workingmen. Where
boys and young and older men can have
their interest and thoughts on subjects
along many lines aroused, and when
aroused invited to further individual!
activity and cooperation.
''Such line of action is not only the
oretically good; it is practically possible
It has been tried with the most pro-
nounced success in very many places
We have in Los Angeles a comparatively
small percentage of the evils to meet
and contend with that are incident to
larger and older cities where the condi-
tions are different. In no way can the
men and the women whose homes are in
other wards do more effective and last
ing good, not only to this one ward, but
to the whole city, than by taking up and
| following out such a line of action II