The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-09


charity in disguise. which is the best form.
Much of the power of the Charity Or
ganization Society lies in its harmonious
relation TO coordinate organizations. No
class of people require the care and deli
cacy of handling that is required by those
who are engaged in charity work. Most of
the leaders of other societies are connected
with the main organization. and through
all working in perfect harmony. the great
work is enabled TO progress without dis
agreeable bitches"
Have you ever thought" asked the sec
rotary. what great thing the last Legis-
lature accomplished in enacting the law
providing for the support of free kinder
gartens by a tax? Before the passage OF
this law the kindergarten work pure
ly charitable and the families belonging TO
the great middle class would not send their
children 10 these schools. Now. however,
they feel that. since they are taxed for
their support. they not only have a right
but are in duty bound to avail themselves
Of the kindergartens. The result will soon
be manifest in the vast betterment of the
schools.
GOOD FEATURES.
''All forms of charities have good fea-
lures In them, none more, perhaps, than
the Summer Mission for Sick Children. the
Flower Mission, hospitals for the poor and
the like. but il must be thoroughly realized
that charity ought not TO be emphasized as
being good only i'm so far as IL deals with
objects of charity. The prime, central OBJ
ject of charity should be to lift people out
of the condition that compels them to ask
for adm other words. to make them
good. substantial citizens
Have you any explanation of the fact
that Indianapolis has very little or none of
the tenement-house poverty that is so no.
ticeable in other large cities?" the secre-
tary was asked.
This city has been fortunate in that re-
spect thus far, he responded, land think
1t has been largely due to it's comparative
freedom. at least until recently, from the
fad of many families dwelling in the same
building. the fad that has been and is so
popular in other places. As long as fam
lilies can be kept separate. which is the
natural and healthful condition, so long
will the question of poverty be more easy
to deal with / am much afraid that the
rate of growth of fiat buildings in Indian
apolis bodies i'll for the city in the future.
| believe in the efficacy of the principle of
self-reliance to work out these problems in
the safest and best way.
However" continued the secretary.
there are as many people without ambi-
ton in this city as you will probably find
in any other city of corresponding size. And
lack of ambition. you know, is the great
cause of poverty and misery. Ambition can
best be encouraged in a community of in
dividual. self-reiant families. in my judg-
ment. than where they are massed or
herded together promscuously
VACANT LOT CULTIVATION.
The Indianapolis Charity Organization
Society has accomplished substantial re-
suits i'm both the repressive and construct
i've branches of its work through the
agency of its department for the cultva-
tion of vacant lots. To the student of char
ity methods this is the most picturesque
feature of the society's work. A trip to
several places where this interesting plan
is being actively carried out was made re-
Gently in buggy with Capt. r. T. Reagin,
superintendent of the Friendly Inn and of
the department of vacant lot cultivation.
The first place visited was Planners addi-
ton. Here thirty-seven lots, about 40xl5C
feet. were found under cultivation and in
such a state of growth that they presented
picture we'll worth going some distance
to see Vegetables of number of varieties
were i'm different stages of development,
and in some of the lots corn of the roast
ing-ear' species had been planted by poor
people who still retained epicurean tastes
from their better days" These lots are
loaned by their owners to the society to be
turned over to worthy poor people who will
cultivate them in proper way. From one
10 four lots are given to single person to
cultivate. The society furnishes the seed
and also breaks the ground. and, if neces-
sary, gives the gardener instructions as to
the best way of planting seed. Frequent
tours of inspection are made over the parts
of the city where these gardens are located
TO discover how their temporary owners are
| caring for them. If a lot is found in a
state of neglect ii is taken from the un-
worthy person and given TO some one that
will give it attention Many of the lots are
cultivated by aged women who are too fee-
bic to do anything but potter about" in a
small garden. These women take a real
delight in their miniature farms and spend
all their spare time in hoeing them or pull
| ing out the weeds. AS a rule. the soil In
the lots is rich and yields readily to ordi-
nary cultivation without the use of ferti-
lizers. Next year. however. it is believed
that the society will have to purchase fer
tilizng material for some of the lots that
have been in use several seasons and that
are nearly worn out.
INTERESTING INCIDENTS
Interesting incidents were related con.
corning vacant lot cultivation. One mar
that drives team during the day devote:
his evenings and the early hours of hi.
mornings to the care of his lots. four in
number. A blind man has one lot that hi
manages to attend to with the help of some
bright little children, TO whom he issue:
directions worthy of the acumen of vet
eran agriculturist. colored woman does
the household work and spends each night
and morning i'm one of these lot" gardens
Her little farm is in excellent condition
and If nothing untoward occurs she will
have a splendid collection of succulent ed.
| ible vegetables in a short time
The society issued about fifty bushels OF
seed potatoes the present season, two bar.
rels of onion "sets." together with large
quantity of peas. beans. turnips, cucumbers
sweet potatoes. tomatoes and other veg
etables that are dear alike TO the palates
of rich and poor Last year. it is said a
certain man raised on several vacant lots
enough garden truck for the use of him
self and family and sold over sl2O worth