The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-12-29
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
New York's Poor Children = Valuabls
Catholic Church Property-Go-
tham's Social Center.
tsneclal Correspondence.l


That admirable charity, the Chill.
dren's Aid society, held its annual
meeting the other afternoon. :, The re.
port says that, owing to the large i'm
migration OF poor and ignorant people
from southern and eastern Europe, as
we'll as to the natural increase in popu-
lation, the number Of destitute and
neglected children in New York city
increases beyond the power Of philan'
thropic and religious bodies TO cope
properly with their need. This society,
however, has placed $50 homeless chill
dren in country homes, and found coun-
try situations for 828 older boys, and
girls. Homeless and destitute families,
numbering 1,004 persons, mostly ohil''
dreu, had been sent away to friends or
employers in the country, the total
number of persons being sent away from
the city by the department being 1, 857.
The Sick Children's mission had aided
with food and medicine during the hot
weather 487 children who live in the
tenements. During the summer o, 178
children from the industrial schools
had enjoyed the benefits Of tho summer
home at Bath Beach, 3, s48 Of these re-
manning for one week. To the Health
home at Coney Island there had been
sent 8, 800 mothers and sick infants,
and 8, 1877 of these had remained week
each or longer when the sea breeze was
needed to bring back health and
strength. During the summer 6S2 in
duetrial school boys had been sent to
the Kensico farm school for week Of
amusement and good food. The total
number of persons, nearly all children,
who had come under the influence OF
the society during the year war e8, 4s8.
There were Ia, OLA children enrolled In
the industrial schools.
Valuable Church Property.
The bishops and clergy Of the Catho-
lio church in New York are noted for
the wisdom displayed in the purchase
of real estate sites for their churches,
schools and asylums. In nearly every.
case the land thus bought has increased
in value enormously. The site of st.
Patriok's cathedral, on Fifth avenue,
was originally bought at sheriff'i
Peter's and St. Patrick's congregations
The rapid growth Of the city, however,
in that direction soon showed that this
purpose was not the best use to which
it could be put. It Is now one of the
most central and important parts of the
metropolis. Just north Of the cathedral
the church owns two city blocks, now
occupied by its orphan asylum, and
worth at least 50, 600, 900. The growth
of the city has made the site undesira.
BILE for an asylum, as we'll as far too
valuable to be retained for such pur-
pose. Archbishop Corrigan and his lay
advisers have, therefore, purchased a
new site on Sedgwick avenue, in the
Bronx district, just north Of the Webb
Home For Shipbuilders and overlooking
the Harlem river. The property com.
prises 80 acres, and is admirably adapt.
ed for an orphan asylum, being both
healthy and beautiful. In time 1t win
become as valuable as the church prop.
erty now to be sold.
| Gotham's Social Center.
New York has just suffered severe
shaking up-socially. BY authoritative
act Its social center was changed two
blocks. The arbiter of all that is fash
ionable, The Social Register for 1899,
has been issued, and now the social GEN.
ter is In Fifth avenue, midway between
Forty fourth and Forty fifth streets,
where two years ago 1t was just below
Forty third street.
To be in The Social Register is to be
In society in its broadcast sense--a men,
ber Of one of the many sets that make
up fashionable life.
And New York's social center, more
exactly 587 Fifth avenue, is the only
house on the block not given up to
trade. The lower corner Is Delmonico's.
Delmonioo's, too. has followed the
social shifting Of the town from the
early days, when the Battery was the
smart part of town and Delmonico's
was in South William street. And with
the years it has kept pace with the ever
changing social center-to Chambers
street, Fourteenth: street, Twenty sixth
street and now Forty fourth street.
A Checkered Career.
Bettina Gerard has Joined Sam T.
Jacks forces and is being featured al
that theater. Miss Gerard says she II
wholly restored to health both mentally
and physically and declares that sht
only asks for fair chance now to hole
her own.
From her position as petted Wash
ington society favorite to becoming 6
burlesque actress in Sam T. .Jack'l
Broadway theater is quite leap, but
Miss Gerard has made the jump. ant
In a comparatively few years.
It is not so many years ago that She
the daughter of General Albert Ordway
was the toast Of the society beaux o.
the national oanital. Then came hel
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