Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-14
SCENES IN ALLEYS
Lecture on How the Other Half
Lives in Washington"
THREEHUNDRED STEREOPTICoN VIEWS
Explanation of Principles and Meth
DDS of Modern Charity Work.
PLEA OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

How the Other Half Lives In Washing
tom was shown last night with stereopticon
pictures and personal stories, by Mr.. Chas.
Frederick Weller, general secretary of the
Associated Charities. The Universalist
Church of Our Father, where the lecture
was delivered, was crowded, in spite of
threatening weather. Galleries as wen as
the main floor, were filed, and some au-
ditors stood throughout the lecture. APP
plause several times interrupted the speak
er; there was hearty laughter at the HUI
morous stories related and many handker-
chiefs were in evidence while pathetic pic
lures of neglected child life were shown, or
touching stories of poverty related.
During the past summer Mr.. Weller has
made his home in the poorer sections of
Washington. and has taken 300 photo
graphs of alley houses, representing insan-
tary conditions and typical cases of dis
tress The best of these views have re-
Gently been made into stereopticon slides,
and last night was the first time they were
ever displayed. Views from other cities
New York, Chicago and Dayton, Ohio
were interspersed with the Washington
scenes to suggest contrasts and explain
features of social service work not yet de-
Feloped in the District of Columbia. Small
parks in the poor neighborhoods, free bath
houses, day nurseries, kindergartens and
the development of social settlement meth
DDS were advocated.
The speaker explained the principles and
methods of modern charity work by means
of interesting pictures He said that the
Associated Charities of Washington repre-
sents the fundamental basis and essential
method for social service and the upbuild-
ing of distressed people, and he explained
how the association stands for investiga-
tion cooperation, friendly visiting, the cul-
tivation of provident habits and the effort
to help needy people to help themselves.
Scenes In Various Alleys.
Alley houses were the first pictures ex-
hibfted, and it was said that the names
of many alleys suggested their character.
Louise alley "Slop Bucket row." Golden
alley "Ogle's shacks'' and others were
shown, and the speaker stated that the
system Of alley houses constitutes the
worst blot upon social conditions in the
national capital. He showed photographs
of normal housing conditions In contrast,
and argued that one good way to improve
the people who live in the poorer neighbor-
hoods would be to develop wholesomeness
and some suggestions of the ideal in their
One family represented, con-
sisting of five children and two adults lives
in single room which measures only by
L feet. There were also pictures of white
families Of good appearance living in two
rooms, or even one room, and there were
views of crowded shanties in the southeast.
northeast and Georgetown sections Of this
city.
In advocating cooperation among all
charitable organizations Mr.. Weller gave
the photograph and story of a Chicago man
who supported his family for ten Years
mainly by asking for pair of rubber boots
Thirty-six ministers were known to have
provided the pair of boots asked for, and
twenty-four appeared in court to testify
against the man when all other means of
correcting him had failed. Other pic.
lures were exhibited showing how Coop
GRAFTON made adequate charity possible,
as IN the case OF woman removed from
the almshouse and enabled to become self
supporting by being provided, through sub
scr1ptlons from eighteen donors, with a pat
ent limb The cruelty of encouraging street
showed cards for reporting applicants for
charity, and stated that all citizens are
urged to use the Associated Charities
agents to secure adequate information for
them regarding any one who seeks their
AID special plea was made for Friendly
visitors -volunteers-each of whom Womb
pe1rlend single needy family. standing by
acquainted with their situation and to es-
tabllsh an Influence over them for their
upbuiiding into se1f-support.
Plea for Children
A special plea for the children and the
Improvement of child life was introduced
by the photograph Of baby which had
been habitually left to the care of two
young boys all day while its mother went
out to service. At five months of age the
child weighed about five pounds and looked
like Cuban reconcentrado in the time of
Cen, Weylers Spanish rule The situation
of colored children in the poorest alleys
was discussed, and their frequent develop
ment into undesirable citizens was attrib-
uted largely to their isolation, in childhood,
from all uplifting, ennobling influences The
pie shall lead in efforts to bring to the alley
children suggestions of higher life lie
said that social settlement methods ought
to be used here as in other cities, and that
boys clubs mothers meetings, classes and
clubs of various kinds, meeting in attrac-
tive rooms convenient to the worst aIleys
would do much to develop better citizenship
among young people who now too often be-
come shiftless, idle and disspated.
Leading Social Settlement.
Finally Hull House." the leading social
settlement of America, was exhibited, and
its good services in the poorest neighbor-
hoods of Chicago were explained. One view
of the Hull House kindergarten showed
President Theodore Roosevelt as an inter-
ested visitor. and the speaker said that all
who are working in the various lines of
social service and modern charity were en-
couraged and helped by the assurance that
President Roosevelt understands and cor
daily approves the sane, modern, preven-
tive measures of social betterment.
The lecture closed with a copy Of Hor-
mannss painting of Jesus healing the sick
by personal touch, and the speaker sug-
gested that all charity which was really
helpful must be founded upon and develop
ed by cordial, appreciative personal service
MOT what we give but what we SHARE"
he quoted, ''for the gift without the giver
Is bare"
Real Estate Transfers.