Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-13
SOCIAL SCIENCE EXHIBIT.
A Unique Feature Of the Paris Ex-
position.
First Organized Attempt to Show What is Be.
ing Done 10 Improve the Condition Of the
Poor.

A most interesting part of the COM
ing Paris Exposition, in it's significance
of the remarkably rapid growth during
the last few years of comparatively
new science, will be those exhibits
which are to be housed in the Social
Economy building. This will be the
first time, if we are not mistaken, that
any exposition of an international
character there has been an organized
attempt to show by tangible examples
what is being done in the world to i'm
prove the condition of the poorer
classes, and certainly it will be the
first time that any attempt has been
made on a large and complete scale.
AT Chicago papers We're read at the
different congresses which had to do
with the subject, but there were no ex-
hbits. properly speaking. At Paris,
however. there will be large building
devoted solely to social science, to eX-
hibits which concern the work that
is being done in different parts OF
the world and to meetings where eX-
perts from all countries will discuss
work that has been done and to formu-
late new plans for the future.
Experts that have examined the
plans for the proposed exhibit do not
hesitate to say that from it great good
should come TO all who are interested
in social work in any of the manifold
fields of its activities. For the first
time there will be an opportunity to
examine almost at first hand what is
being done and has been done in diff
ferent parts of the world and of con-
81, ,T r.
ment thus making it possible to reap
the results of the experiments of many,
under many varying conditions, and
not only to get new ideas but to cor
rect many mistakes and to solve many
of the puzzling problems which now
trouble the workers in this field. Es
pecially valuable will it be to this
country. which, while it has made in
the last few years remarkable progress
in work of this kind. is still in many
branches far behind several of the
older countries which had so long a
start.
1t is the purpose of the American
commission to make the United States
exhibit as complete as possible, and al
ready such progress has been made in
the preliminary work that good idea
can be had Of what is to be done. The
commission has set aside $4,000 for
this purpose, and this sum with that
which will be contributed by individ-
uals should be sufficient to make a
most comprehensive show of what is
being done in this country in practical
sociology The work of preparing and
placing the exhibits has been put into
the hands of the department of labor
at Washington. the Commercial Mu-
scum in Philadelphia and the League
for Social Service of New York.
Among these three the work has been
divided as follows: The Department
Of Labor will prepare that part OF the
exhibit which will deal with QUE social
and economic institutions, with special
reference to labor conditions; the
Commercial Museum will have that
part which will deal with the resources
and industries of the United States in
their relation to the geography Of the
country; and the League for Social
Service has it's task in the preparation
Of the exhibits which will show the in
stitutions and movement for the bet
terment of social and industrial condi-
lions.
Under these general heads the whole
HelU Will De gone over III quite HllIiute
detail. Under the first two. the coun-
try. the people, the industrial, COM
mercial. economic and social institu-
tions will be treated. while under the
\ last. by means of photographs. models.
Amaps. charts and lantern-slides, it is
hoped that a most comprehensive idea
in be had of what is being done in
kctical sociology in this country.
cy branch of movement will be rep
ted. and in as complete manner
ible. The home. the church and
branches. such as the various
Ations. directly or indirectly
with it. the educational
particularly that of the
such. but Of the work done
$. libraries. clubs. vacation
summer assemblies. all
6 movements. such as the
destitute, sick, needy and
Bses; social settlements,