New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-03
THE UNIVERSITY ET7TE.nENT
Mr.. REYNOLDS TELLS OF THE EDUCA-
TIONAL VALUE OF ITS WORK.
INFLUENCE OF THE LIBRARY WIDELY FELT
THOUSANDS OF VOLUMES CIRCULATED
IN TWELVE MONTHS

THOUSANDS OF VOLUMES tlhCt LA Ell
IN TWELVE MONTHS.
A large pamphlet recently issued by the Cniver-
eity Settlement Society, Of No. 1874 Eldridge-st
gives an interesting record Of the work that or
ganization did for the year closing In January 1899
James g. Reynolds. the head worker speaks IN
his report of the educational value of many of the
regular features of the work He draws attention
10 the Improvement In the behavior OF the boys
and girls Of the Saturday afternoon dancing class
IN the young people who form the library men,
bership and in those who depositors In the
Penny Provident Bank. MI Reynolds says:
eft would be hard for the managers Of any OF
these departments to define the educational method
by which this progress has been achieved. Prob
ably personal character, sef-control. persistent
Kindness and the efficient performance OF the work
of such department have been the most notable
Influences for the achievement Of the result OBJ
tanned"
The clubs Of the Settlement fall under two d.
visions-afternoon and evening. Those that meet
in the afternoon are attended by boys and girls
from the public schools 1t is thought that as
the Young people come from school where they
have been closely confined for FIVE hours. they are
IN need OF physical exercise This Is provided for
them. The boys go TO the gymnasium. and the
girls may spend half hour in dancing before
they begin the lesson In sewing
II has been remarked that the girls are so eager
TO begin their sewing that they have to be induced
10 take the exercise which is insisted upon as a
heath-gYing diversion.
All the clubs are carried on the principle OF
self-government. This the managers declare to be
,he hest method for producing self-conurol and
mutual responsibility and so earnest are the youth,
iul officers that their guides often feel compelled
to interfere TO prevent an excess OF severity III
their rule
The evening clubs composed Of young men
and women who are engaged in business or are
IT one or the other Of the city colleges These too,
are self-goYerned.
One part Of the report IN the pamphlet deals
with the quantity and quality Of food purchased
in the Tenth Ward. This locality is the centre OF
the pushcart trade, and fruit and vegetables are
sold in the streets everywhere. The report speaks
strongly of the Hester-st. market and the eX-
tremely unsanitary way in which FOOD is careo LOT
BY the dealers who sell II.
One Of the interesting reports in the pamphlet Is
given by j. Robinson Smith, on "One Kind OF
Street Cleaning" He tells Of having donned ola
clothes and gone out during blizzard 70 see II
he could get work. He succeeded in being APP
pointed TO shovel snow and after working seven
and a half hours was paid IS cents. and this he
could not collect until two weeks had passed by
Still another report is called "A study OF the
East Side Chedar" which gives a description Of
Jewish life as seen in the district. The Ameri-
canizing Influence Of the Public School, is another
phase Of the Settlement life that is shown.
OF the work done through the library and us IN
nucnce individuals and the neighborhood Helen
Moore, librarian, writes In her report;
The library contained in January 4,372 volumes.
During the year the circulation amounted TO 55 n2.
and this is regarded most gratifying result OF
the endeavor to place literature before the people
OF the removal Of the library last December from
the former quarters In Delancey-st. TO the new
building II was feared that some of the former
readers might fall Off But they seemed TO feel
OF the library. and they soon became used TO going
TO the new building