The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-12
WOMEN AND THEIR WORK.
on Results of Her LabOrs-The
Standard Of Comfort ADpEectably
Rsised in 30 Yeaes-Tenements u.


the various Women's Settlements In Lon
don Miss OctaviR Hill, well known for her
work in the tenemens Of the London poor.
thus summed Up her experience OF many
years:
''Thirty-four years ago. when I first be-
gan to manage houses Inhabited by work
ing people. London was in a very d.frer-
ent state from what IL Is now. and IL IL
useful and interesting to review the
changes, their effects and their bearing on
the special work we are considering today:
"a The standard of comfort was far
lower then than now. In Marylebone.
where began work. nearly every family
rented but one room now there are hun
dreds Of two and thfee-room tenements.
There were no cooking ranges In the
rooms: water was hardly ever carried up
higher than the pariors. There were hard
~ any amusements opened TO the people;
there were no underground railways. no
trans. few cheap omnibuses; there were
no free libraries. no board schools, and
there was no education act. Wages were
very distinctly lower, hours OF work were
longer The bright oil lamps did not
exist. Food was not SO cheap or SO va
rlous. Flowers were never sold In the
streets to the poor
THE people stood in those days far
more In need of cheer and Of help.
D
tiers had penetrated hardly at all: gross
ignorance prevailed. There were. more
over. few. IL any. convalescent homes no
country holiday arrangements. The build
ting acts took cognizance OF very few OF
the requirements for health. and hardly
any sanitary measures were enforcibe:
fewer were enforced. Few hospitals for
infectious diseases existed. Many excel
lent appliances for drainage were not in
vented
"g) There was not one-tenth part OF
the sympathy and in,eres, in the welfare
Of the people which perqpeates all classes
now.
From these and many other causes a
London court In 1854 aas "A far more de-
graded and desolase place than II can be
now even in the remotest and forlornest
region. and in taking charge Of II one had
to do variety of things ones self where
one now finds the intelligent and willing
cooperation OF many other agencies.
Again, there We're next 20 no model
dwellings, and little power OF cheap loco
motion. 80 that n court In those days was
subject In little change OF population the
same families chung tn H. lived. married
| aud died In II. Cheap locomotion and the
/ facilities In reading have brought the
| different parts OF London Into much clos
! or communication.
Many OF these facts made the necea-
ssty for preserving and regulating the old
courts and houses far more important than
Ia the case now. The old courts are rapicIy
disappearing. and numerous blocks of
buildings with modern appliances are now
scattered over most neighborhoodS Blu.
In ls6i tenants were neither routed out of
foul and close courts. nor would they have
been received into the rare and select
model dwellings, Moreover in the rough
courts they were little sneddied with. and
could pursue In ignorance their unsanltary
habits to far greater degree than would
be possible now.
vt was very natural therefore, that my
FIRST efforts should have been directed 10
rough courts and the inhabitants az
found then, there STEADY and gradual
Improvement OF the people and OF the
| houses, without selection OF the former
or sudden reconstruction OF The latter. was
our first duty. and my little hook on
Homes OF the london POOR tells the hl.,-
tory Of that early work
But II there Is one duty more incum-
bent on us than another In such EFFORTS Z.
IL TO he quick 70 aae where advance IS
possible. how higher standards can be
realized and how fpnch oli forms NAV
he rightly superseded, With certain excer,-
tsnns In regard - small old houses our
work ng late years has been increasingly
In new houses and with chosen tenants.
THE principles. however are the same,
and there - ere great fact which The
changing form has only brought out more
and moro clearly. AMI that IS that the con
duct OF houses ar blocks. old or new. so
az % secure health ana comfort ard home
Ike feeling depends on raanax cement One
can see any day excellent buildings OK
ecrabiY managed and enc NAV aee sum
hle-down old places ~ wretche4i constrtle-
! ton beth healthier and far more horne.
like because welt managed Ana I may
confidently saw that the distinctive f~a-
tnre of oar work has been that ~ To-
voting oar fsfi strength - management
II Wit se realized al anre huw much more
this implies than 'rers collecting An Or
binary clerk wiIl go from Aonr - aear
fer rents. that ia very different matter
frenn managing hosssest We have tried
far as possible - euiis, laalea who
wopis have An hfaa % how BY sifix~ns
attention ~ al business which iexsives
or, a landlord ~ wsse rule With regard 30
ali duties which 81 tenant should falrff ~
svs,apa:hstie ard bust teekzera With
WEEK 20 he common god a high standard
80 management could hs attained Re-
saair~ promptly ana efficiently ATTENDED ~
references carefully taken IN. cleaning
sasulouslv supervised. overcToWding pss.
an ena 70. TIRE blessings - rea.y-nsouey
yavr,enss enforced accounts strictly kept
sns above all. tenants sorted as to ss
Aefpfil 10 ore anether-tae~e ard many
asse- duties sevn,se en- q ls3v who mar
ages houses as distinguished from an g.
ssnsrv district visitor.
So is obvious that tass Is Hot =; work
for every one. thaf the very young sre
ssestss~s Ter ~. also tao~~ who are more 49,
ea doing what ae@sls ktFd az tte moment
saan what IL beneficial Tn she end Also
40 Is not suitable fer these having oa3y lr-
regular sinae to give. II needs e Tesgayssl-
ase Mrys gentle. s@~swxeriaE LADY WIRE
regular tssre ~ give. resident 81 an a.
sesssss,e distance ara with xNo3 heal
for ordinary business. With high IDEAL