The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-02
WORK OF LOCAL CHARITY
A SOCIAL SETTLEMENT EXPERIMENT
ON INDIANA AVENUE.
Secretary CIRCUITS Annual Report To-
Day-POtatO Patch Scheme
Was Successful.

A meeting of the Charity Organization So
ciety will be held this afternoon at o'clock
in the rooms of the society in the Plymouth
Church building to elect officers for the en-
suing year and to hear the reports of the
fiscal year which has just ended. Charles
S. Grout. secretary Of the society, will pre-
sent report which will show that the work
Of the society has developed greatly in the
last year. and is proceeding along several
new and profitable lines.
The Friendly Inn is now under the per-
sonal direction of Secretary Grout. Before
it was leased to man who was recompensed
by selling wood sawed by those who were
provided for at the inn, and also by fees
charged for meals when the applicants were
able to pay. The result of taking the inn
under the direction of the secretary has
been much more satisfactory than it was
while the place was operated under the old
plan. The place has been much improved.
Rooms have been set apart where women
can sew, and machines will be put in them.
One room has been converted into laundry.
In addition there is day nursery and while
mothers are at work in the sewing rooms
and in the laundry, an attendant will take
care Of their children and give them pri-
mary instruction. The clothing that is col
lected by the society for distribution among
the poor will be taken to the Friendly Inn,
repaired and issued.
Another development Of the societys work
is what may form the nucleus of social
settlement" A house at 907 Indiana avenue
has been rented and put in charge of Miss
Sarah Smith, who for ten years was en-
gagged in charitable work in London, and
has been in the same work here for three
years. With her are three assistants. The
house is made the headquarters of the work
OF relieving the poor of that part of the
city. The agents of the society live there
school of cooking and domestic economy
has been opened, and it is expected it will
be productive of much good. Glasses will
be formed of the girls who are unable to
attend the public schools. Experience has
taught workers in this branch of charity
organization that much of the misery among
the poor is caused by the fact that many
Of them are not capable of helping them
hoped, will be the starting place of a rem
edy for this condition.
The potato patch feature has proved a
success in this city. Some property owners
having lots not occupied have donated the
use of them to the Charity Organization
Society. The society has set some of those
dependent on it for living to cultivating
potatoes on this ground While the crops
have not been bountiful the work itself has
been good for those who have done It. 1t
has taught many of them to depend more on
their own energies. One old man who had
been )collecting and delivering clothes for
his WIG W wash WdS IdpluAy SOll4S iulO d
kind Of mental coma. He was asked if he
were willing to work on potato patch, and
became interested in his work, took excellent
care Of his garden and walked up to a real
ization that he was of some use in the world
His mind frightened Immediately
The Charity Organization Society is 81 200
Sin the hole" This is due to having spent
nearly $500 in remodeling the Friendly Inn
in the last few years. The receipts during
the year just ended were $,760.66. The saw
ings bank feature Of the societys work col
Iected ST., 1881 last year.