New-York tribune., 1900-05-01
DR.. ROBBINS IN CHARGE
NEW HEAD WORKER AT THE ALUAINE
HOUSE OF THE NORMAL COL
LEGE SETTLEMENT

The fifth year Of work at the Alumne House of
the Normal College Alumna Settlement, No 446
East Seven1y-seCond-sL. has come 70 a successful
close. and to-day the new head worker. DR.. Jane
Robbins. VIII assume her duties in directing affairs
there.
Dr. Robbins who formerly had charge OF the
Nev-York Woman's College in Rivington-st-, is
fully equipped TO train students and graduates for
settlement work. and they viii live al the AIumnae
House while learning. There are constant calls
FOR competent women 70 direct settlement work.
and the supply has never yet been equal TO the
demand
The daily plan Of work in the Alumnse House
comprises the kindergarten session every morning
while the afternoons are taken up with classes in
dancing sewing. cooking. singing, club meetings
and zaraes, Sunday afternoons being devoted TO
nature study. Tuesday and Friday library
DAYS. while the first Wednesday in the month is
g.ven up 70 mothers eception.
Miss \ Minnie Herts. chairman Of the Settlement
Committee OF me Alumna House. in speaking Of
TIE work q Tribune reporter yesterday, said:
what appeals to ne as especially necessary TO
= doing IN the future. when q better understand
:. 8 O The college settlement problem shall have
.5er[ ierrent workers nowadays undertake life in
reighborhoods uu1reqUsnUed By the cultured
tasses The take up residence in the midst of the
so-cHled either half in order that they may be
come acquainted with their nelghoors point OF
view. not with the usually mistaken purpose of
imposing their own views Iney oher Dy way OF
Ht-rac--on q gool hF-0trEoIleil sewing dAo COoh-
tnE classes. social clubs, evenings of music and
80, -sc-Iz dl57a-5 LIS +53ts ty3aT So7' ~ vanT
49,
really want are sanitary homes good water supply
and drainage. and regular employment. coupled
win Ihe possibility Of aJioual pleasure and en-
so;rnerr; for weeds beget weeds, so poverty and
misery beget poverty and misery and thus settle
Iaenr workers retain their original faith the be-
Ief thar one little beacon light in densely over
CROWDED gf;oorhood Is more hopeful than no
little beacon hsht a al We cannot give our
ditIons ma in time help 10 do that We can oniv.
n
rhetr possibilities. an6 when shall succeed in
Jo do th5s we shall have achieved the most 10
wh.ca any social settlement can aspire.
We should Ike 70 make Of the Alumnae Settle
rnent joyous centre for social enjoyment IN its
be what our. people most ardently require. We
want books for our library which is beginning 70
one-cUarter q is demands.
The cataloguing OF the library was done under
the direction Of Miss Theresa Hitchler of the
New-York Free Circulating Library who is the
present chairman.
There are now listed over twelve hundred vol
rnles, The library is open TWO afternoons and
Two evenings every week. circulating upon an av-
ts-age ninerr-tn-ee volumes among 176 readers en-
rolled.
Mrs. Clara Byrnes. the retiring head worker
sad:
Il is ofren stated thar every settlement has its
90 90 peculiar problems Our neighborhood, the
extends from Fiftv-ninth 10 Eighrv-zixfb e.
Thrd-ave- westward from outside rbel fi-,,t 70
no one mas come Us. 410
u mas not the squahd horrors of q downtown
EluIa Seventy -second-st. is broad from river TO
[ark ano from Park 70 river. The tenernents are
cfoHcec togetae-- East OF Avenue A there are
many open lots and the ramshacl,le frame buId
-hes give the neighborhoOd something Of The char
aeter Of the village outskirts Of factory town
{LAouRh many streets are foul and crowded and
Fiens are now under way 10 promuleate the
fresh air work for the summer which will in the
main take the form OF day excursions The an
i-al reception Of AIumnsa House VIII be held this
year on Nav Is 10 formally introduce DR. Ian.
Robbins as head worker