New-York tribune., 1900-07-22

people fairly realized the fact, they had become
-oclIte" and were quick to call to task new
corners who were less careful in their manners
The improved atmosphere was transferred to
the home, and made itself manifest there in
cleanliness and a desire to improve the appear
ance Of squalid living rooms.
The benefits to the poor people which stand to
the credit of the men and women who manage
and direct the schools and meeting places are
countless. and yet the work has its shadow side.
There are many instances known to the Settle
ment people where the work has mscarried and
wrought only the opposite of good One of the
results of teaching the boys and girls who work
for living is the creation of desire to excel in
some particular branch. Some boys and girls
have been known to devote every spare moment
and all the money they could spare to music
and when years had passed and they had
learned all that they capable Of learning
they awoke to the realization that their knoWl-
edge was insufficient a means Of livelihood
and that time and money had been spent in
vain. The same time devoted to dressmaking or
plumbing would have netted a substantial re-
turn. Lectures on the literature of foreign coun-
tries stimulate the appetite for knowledge in
that direction and have induced young people to
begin work on French. German or Italian at the
sacrifice of other and more useful subjects and
many ambitious young men and women acquire
q smattering of the language, but for all that II
will ever bring them in practical way they
might as well have left the work undone Other
young people fancy that they have artistic talent
and see visions Of success in the fields Of fine
art or Of magazine work. In most instances
these visions fade away and leave the student
dissatisfied and sour.
1.-THE great trouble" says James B. Reynolds,
Of the University settlement, SIS that the young
people who have these artistic tastes are sur
rounded by people who praise the work Of the
ambitious artist or musician, and because Of this
wholesale praise the young people grow TO over
estimate their ability. Music which requires the
most athletic force and in which there are more
tricks than tune and pictures Of lurld klno
receive the loUdest applause and the hlghesI
Uraise and are considered great achievements by
the performers and painters until competent
1udges step in and bring about a disenchant-
ment. one Of these disappointed artists recently
threw away his painters paraphernalia in dis
e7jst and is now comparatively happy as a clerk
IN a downtown store. When boys Of this class
finally return to the level from which they
should not have strayed il is harder for them
TO become accustomed TO the tasks set before
them than if they had never scared above them
The scholastic spirit has become so abnormaIy
developed in them that it has made them looh
down upon actual labor, and the proper equillb-
rum must be restored before they can make
progress"
In most instances the failures are not due
10 lack Of energy or perseverance, but to in
Sufficient natural capacity. Parents are alst
much to blame; ignorant themselves, but wis'
enough to know that with an education they
could have enjoyed better life, they are
anxious to do all in their power to improve tn
condition Of their children and the pushcar
man or the pants maker is willing to MAKE
any sacrifice in order that his daughter ma!
receive a musical education or bis son g.
through college"