Orange County observer., 1899-11-30
4 PRACTICAL CHARITY.
NElchBoRhoOO HOUSE NJ NEW YORK
CITY BOON TO THE POOR.

Intended to Serve Many Useful Purposes
"A Club For Men and Women and -
Playhouse For Children-Mcmorial to
One of Natures Noblemen.
A novel and practical charity just
inaugurated in New York City Is
known as The Alfred Corning Clarke
eighborhood House." having been
erected as memorial to one of the
noblest of Gods gentlemen, who died
two or three years ago In the city.
He devoted large part of his time
and wealth to the Improvement of the
condition OF the poor and IN the
cultivation of the artistic taste Of the
rich He was man of rare motaessy
and great gifts, a pubhc-spirited
citizen and All unostentatious phllan-
thropist:
Ii is beautiful fve-story building,
- by leo feet IN size, of salmon
brick and terra Gotta trimmings, and
stands at the corner of Rivington and
Cannon streets, IN the most crowded
tenement house district on the east
side of New York City. Ii is intended:
TO compete with the abundant saloons
Ill that section as place OF resort fer
men, to furnish entertainment for
women and amusement for children,
and at the same time to serve other
useful purposes, as day nursery for
infants, kindergarten and playhouse
for children, an industrial school for
girls and young women and gym
nasium and clubhouse for boys.
The first floor is devoted to boys
from eight to twentyone years of age,
and contains swimming pool, a
gymnasium, a bowling alley, an armory
and drillroom for military company,
playroonas of different sorts. which
are equipped with various games and
every possible diversion to attract and
engage the active mind of the street
| urchin. No attempt is made at
literary education. No books are
thrust upon the attention, but an
| effort is made to teach discipline,
self-control, good manners and II
! recognition of the rights of others.
The second floor is given up to the
| girls and babies There are cooking
| schools and rooms for instruction in
| sewing, millinery, housekeeping and
various other arts Of the household.
A day nursery is provided for the
| benefit of women who go ont TO work,
| where they can leave their babies to
be taken care Of for charge of one
| cent day. Everything about the
place is paid for at nominal fee, and
nothing is given away. Every club
| has its initiation fee and its monthly
| dues; every class its charge for tut
| ,ion-high enough TO co:hmand ap-
| probation Of its value aud low enough
to be within the reach of every ap-
| pllcant Some of the clubs cost five
cents week OF twenty five cents a
! lower. There is also considerable
! formality attending admission, which
gives an air of exclusiveness. Every
| body cannot join. Everybody cannot
have the benefits OF the Neighborhood
House-only the elect: and many All
unhappy younster has been shut out
from the gay lights and the sound of
music because he has never Joined
but the next morning, or as soon "a
he can command money enough to
pay the initiation fee, he is sure to
find some friendly urchin who is will
ing 20 propose his name and vouch for
him. and lie goes around TO sign the
roll SO that he won't miss any more
Of the fun
! There is taste of self government
also The officers aud committees OF
the clubs are elected by the members
at frequent intervals, which stimu-
lates ambition and keeps up spirit
Of rivalry.
On the third floor is library from
| which books may be drawn. q reading
room, furnished with plenty Of news
papers and periodicals, and lecture
room seating $50 people, which is 10
be used for lectures on the practical
sciences, stereopticon exhibitions,
! amateur performances, exhibitions by
the several clubs and for other enter
tainments and ceremonies The hall
Is open n least two or three nights
| every week. except III the summer
months. when the roof garden, gay
with colored electric lights and palms
aud vines and foliage plants. will be
| the place OF assembly
The question Of refreshments has
been perplex,ng one. and has been
| decided In favor of tea. cofie. and
crackers only. winch are served Il, a
! nominal cost, 4 tired woman wls
| comes to rest after hard dav'~ work
or a shop girl VINO has been standing
al day al a counter. finds a cup o
hot tea most refreshing aud nonr
Ishinc .simuiant. aud 1t has been dis
covered that coffee Is quite As accept
able 10 tie men. both ia summer AM
III winter For the price ue paws foi
glass OF beer IN tie sitting a.inn-
phere 81 saloon tealasser or .
r9ustahouf can bny tso cups of coffe.
and plate of crackers, aud thus fal
II has proved a great success In sli.
winter the summer Gard,u i. lncloset
with aias-. heated anl made 4 play
ground 81, chliate4