New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-23


just in that especial region. There are eleven
resident workers. men and women. and fully
one hundred outside workers. The residents are
at home to their friends on Monday evenings,
and fifty people generally present. The set
tiement has Sunday services and a Sunday
school. helps find employment for it's needy
friends. has penny bank. every description Of
club. physical culture, music club, mems and
wOmen's organizations, and is the leavening
influence in that region for the dissemination OF
gentleness and good example
The Normal College Settlement is thrty-two
blocks below then the Phelps Settle
ment, with rough but promising constituency
to deal with and below that the Friendly Aid,
whose head worker maintains that a life among
the poor is attractive than that spent any,
where else and who has made the two houses
at her disposal homelike that the visitor is
TO her opinion. The plan Of this settlement
is first to interest the wel-to-do and most in
fuential element in the neighborhood in clubs
and social and industrial affairs. and then get
them to influence the others. The wives of the
saloonkeepers and the small tradesmen take the
greatest interest in the various women's clubs,
and are leading spirits in whatever the Settle
ment favers. The head worker has made a
study, CONFORMITY with the Phelps Settlement
workers, of the various grades of tenements in
the neighborhsod; acquaints the tenants with
their rights at the hands of the house-OWners
and labors to inculcate civic pride and in |
tcrest in the common veal The monthly organ |
Of this Settlement, called "Neighborhood News"
keeps its readers abreast with the times in all |
practical as well as ethical matters and all !
East Side workers find cordial welcome at the
Friendly Aid and prompting to fresh endeavor. !
The securing of open-air playground in that |
shut-in neighborhoOd is now engaging effort.
DIFFERENCE ON THE WEST SIDE.
The West Side Settlements are dealing with |
working people in an environment totally diff
ferent from that found on the East Side. The |
Irish predominant in the vicinity of Hartley !,
House and the Young Women's West Side Set |
Element. and, while outwardy there does not
seem the stress of want conspicuous in the
downtown foreign quarter, there difficulties
even harder to combat. and that demand in
finite patience and tact on the part Of the |
workers.
Those houses opposite look fair, even pre-
tentious, from the outside Every fiat has a
parior, with lace curtains showing, but few have
bathroom" said West Side Settlement
worker. The fats would be too expensive
with bathrooms but some of the inmates keep
their children wonderfully clean under the cir
cumstances, and have continual evidence
that our neghbors take the Settlement house in
good part Some Of them have conmendabe
pride In the blizzard l visited a family whose !
mainstay, a truck-driver temporarily idle. |
There had been sickness and we knew there
was crying want in that household, yet the
mother said cheerfully: Never mind us.
There's them in this house that needs help
more than we do Another housekeeper in
spite of the fact that her own children were
cold and hungry, sent to ask If she could help
the Settlement women in any way, and there
other proofs of native Irish warm hearted |
ness.
When l first came to work in this region" J
Miss Fairfield went on, Il regretted my smart, |
quick Hebrew scholars down town, and felt that |
10 raise standard here would be an uphill task. |
have changed my mind. With work IN the
Hebrew quarter you feel all the while that you |
separating the child from the family, but
up here whatever you do for the good OF one
member helps the whole household. The Irish /
are not so keen after mental pursuits but they |
are better balanced than the Hebrews They |
are inclined to like Industrial, material trades |
better than books and to enjoy social diver |
sons better than debates or lectures. but they !
promising scholars when once their interest
Is enlisted, and develop a personal attachment
for the Settlement that is surprising. They are
honest, too not keen after the main chance, and !
often a boy or girl displays touching unselish- |
ness in standing aside to let another have a
chance"
COOKING AND SEWING CLASSES.
Cooking and sewing classes flourish In this
atmosphere. and the enthusiastic teacher Of the
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