The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-02
DOING AN EXCELLENT WORK.

DOING AN EXCELLENT WORK
OF the many forms which humanitarian
effort takes in the large cities of the
world, there is none which has received
such general acceptance for the possible
ties of great good which 1t involves as
what is known as the settlement plan.
Private endeavor for the amelioration Of
the condition Of the less favored members
Of society finds better outlet in that
direction than in any other. Supplement-
ing the work which the public is doing
in the way Of relievingclife of many of it's
most serious Ills to the poor and the I'M
fortunate, the social settlement scheme
promises in Its ultimate development to
leave an enduring mark for good on the
| lives of the lowly
New ork city has easily taken the
lead among Americans cities in this line
of work; and the ladies have had the
laboring oar in all that has been done
thus far. They have gone into the slums,
and have helped to brighten the lives of
many. both young and old. into whose
existence but few rays of sunshine had
previously passed. They have given an
incentive to higher. pursuits aud-aIffls on
the part of those many who have been
hopelessly enveloped in the destructive
folds of tenement house existence. They
have made the<work of the public schools
of. practical ayait~to young girls with
whom the little knowledge OF letters that
came through theEesseaiioQsoI experience had
borne before but very sfttIe, practical sig
nifieance in the direction ofstheir future.
Is These women have usually acted under
1.-THE Inspiration of the ehurebsor of some
member or members of the IS Christian
ministry. Sometimes II has happened that
my lady has turned aside from her exact
ing social duties, and, casting an eye on
the misery and sadness of the lives that
lived within stone throw s5of her man
sion, has felt inspired to add her efforts
and some of her money resources to the
good work which has been undertaken In
this direction. But,sas rule, the women
WIZ ActN SbSppCt7 olstOO 10 dIQ ln61T-
ters' children to higher things are them
selves of the people, and they have de-
pended on united effort and the sympathy
of those who know what they are doing
for the effectiveness of their work
Among the Enost interesting of the re-
cent additions to, this class of humane
work is that made by the PauIist
Fathers. AS is generally known the
Paulist Fathers represent community of
Catholic priests whose mission is In a
greater degree than any other of the
orders of the church ito carry among the
American people the teachings and in
fiuences of their religion, They are Pc
culiarly American in their methods and
in their associations, and may be said
to represent the other line of activity
farthest separated from the monastic or
ders. For years the Paulists have been
doing this class of work in the vicinity
of their church. Now they propose to
branch out and establish social settle
ment to be conducted by women right in
the heart of a vast tenement population
in the vicinity Of Fifty-ninth street and
Tenth avenue.
At present the work Is confined to an
organization OF clubs and classes. A
gymnasium is open for boys In all about
$50 children are reached. The clubs are
chiefly for practical purposes, such as
sewing and cooking, but there are circles
in economics and ciyics, and they will in
crease IN number and influence according
as the plan decided on has been. matured.
Element is that neither the word nor the
spirit of Charity shall be heard or felt
| among those who receive the benefits of
the settlement SIh+'og-
The neighborhood. where this good work
is instituted is cosmopolitan in character.
The Irish predominant. but the Germans
are there in great numbers, and the
Italians send quite a. few young people
to receive the benefits OF the movement.
There is no religious distinction or test
applied Emphasis is laid on the social
spirit, and non-Cathelics are welcomed
as workers. The Influence of the church
is not absent by any means, the entire
movement being carried on under the di-
rection of the parish priest. and having
as it's great end and purpose the estab-
lishment of the social influence as a con-
trolling factor in the young lives of the
growing children of the poor who, by
the circumstances of their parents, have
been excluded from association with
those who might influence. their lives
most advantageously
A generation of such work wiz ma