New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-18
AT THE WHITE DOOR,"
GOSPEL SETTLEMENT WORK IN HESTER
AND ESSEX SITS.
WHERE CLOTHING Is NEEDED FOR sHrvER1No
LITTLE BODIES AND LOVE FOR starry

WHERE CLOTHING Is NEEDED FOR sHrvERING
LITTLE BODIES AND LOVE FOR starry
ING LITTLE SOULS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Not very many squares from your admon-
ishing clock tower there is a quarter that seems
like large slice Of the foreign missionary field
liftod and left upon own doorstep-the Russian
Jewish quarter. AT the Point. where Hester Essex
and Suffolk SITS never sleep with the restless throng
Of dark-eyed men, women and children 1t has
been well said THE poor ye have ever with you
Bur such poor Up three. four and five flights Of
black. dark starcases dwell in two rooms families
often 81 seven. ten and even twelve The atmOs-
phere Of those rooms and general condition are be-
ycnd description. and We wonder why the little
children are allowed all night In the streets. II
would be far preferable for them 10 sleep in the
street where at least the air is pure than In those
darkened. close rooms. We spoke TO Of the
Ittle children and asked them II they would like 10
come 20 our kindergarten al No. III Clinton-st, the
Gospel Settlement They said: That is the house
with the white door. We know that" And the
little fingers often leave their mark on the white
door. but the children who TO the kinder
garten. kitchen garden and sewing classes are
helped. not only in the way OF clothing and food.
but are being taught what life is and what the
sacred name OF home means
The Settlements doing large work. but there
arc many people 10 reach and the equipment IL
email. ! want to speak particularly Of the kinder
garten. The children from and half 70
seven years. Often before breakfast at the Settle
mont the bell IS rung. and the little girls from
Water-st run in They draw the little chairs
nearer the stove. and the cold toes and fingers
soon toe the warmth Sometimes wish
We're a chd's clothing establishment Many times
wish kitchen. but the other day we
needed TO be shoe shop more than anything.
little girl came In with shoes whose sOes caught
and pushed back with every step, and when we
took of the shoe 10 try 10 tit her from the supply
on hand the poor little stocking came just over the
instep. one little girl-the baby of the kinder
garten-was brought in i'm a very Untldy condition.
We spoke 20 the elder sister:
Little Sarah must come tomorrow with clean
hands and face and with her hair brushed"
/ wish could draw picture Of the little. large
eyed robin that came. shOrn OF it's feathers Poor
little baby Her hair shaved. the large head
seemed too heavy for the shoulders the face and
hands had decided "high-water marks" and the
outing flannel dress had evidently been washed the
night before and dried the roof and
the water could almost he wrunR from d. You may
be the dress was changed and the little limbs
rubbed warm. But II makes ones heart ache 20
take those little up into ones arms 70 that
look Of hunger for love. We NOT shut-ins, and
IL H. Joyous work TO do 70 make glad hose little
hearts but a Settlement f. n place Of plain living.
and try We will, We cannot meet the constant
demand at our door Truly yours. f. s.