New-York tribune., 1902-07-01
THE FRIENDLY VISITOR.
POOR-RICH WOMEN WHO TAKE
Up THE
UP THE WORK.

You are not sent to keep the family alive. Its
members have existed for long time and
likely continue to do for long time
come" This the bewildering charge of
professional charity worker TO a young volunteer
worker who had just entered upon her work
friendly visitor. Georgiana. Thomas and several
little pickaninnies comprised the household to be
visited. To pay regular visits empty handed a
home where the wolf had passed the door and
taken up permanent quarters with the family
seemed all wrong TO the young philanthropiSt, but
she obeyed blindly and gave gifts Georgiana
too, had false notions of charity and thought it
very queer lady - who came regularly but be-
slowed nothing When, however the family found
itself moved into a light, sanitary tenement, the
children vaccinated and installed in schools and
the mother returned from the hospital cured of
stubborn malady light broke upon the visitor and
the visited. Thomas voiced the lesson that all had
learned when he calculated the visitor: "CiolIyl
I'm hundred dollar better ofn l B. yea :
back. and you've never give thing
The foregoing early experience of Miss
Mary E. Richmond, general secretary OF the So
ciety for Organized Charities of Philadelphia who
was the speaker of the morning the Summer
School Of Philanthropy in the Charities Building
yesterday. Miss Richmond advised her hearers not
TO become associated with bundles in the minds of
the poor whom they visit She believed the friend
ly visitor accomplishes more who leaves financial
matters and material relief 10 other agencies in
the society she represents. Friendship with the
poor as well with the opulent must be based on
Seil-ItspeCl y an concerned Sne SAID Olutlne
philanthropy thought only of the mouth and stom-
ach. Modern philanthropy recognizes many other
needs
The friendly visitor should know her family on
every side. and should interest herself in each of
Its members equally. She should study carefully
the capabilities of various persons. in order
develop whatever earning capacities exist there.
Further STILL IL is her province to bring out the
powers Of enjoyment and capacity for affection.
All these factors of value in the slow ascent
from dependence to independence. Not until people
of the well-to-do classes have intimate acquain-
tance with the poor in their homes they real
ize the awful pressure the unfortunate caused
by wrong civic conditions
I'VE pad ourselves around" she said. Ito pro
tect ourselves from such evils, but we should get
acquainted with few unpadded tamiiSS les. r,o,
% o iiie @ D' LII 81 naItb & ~
called the wife a Massa chusetts Governor,
that her pTottses gave little thought Of her rank
although she was a frequent visitor to homes OF
The more natural IN manner the friendly visitor
was asked bv an irchin what an AFTERNOON tea
He had her name associated with SuCl
a function among the society notes or news
boys and I'll show YOU" was the quick reply.
And sure enough on the appointed day the woman
and her sister, dressed for the occasion, received
the youngsters with afternoon tea, pa parapher- s1
natev with a substantial feast in the dinn; room
Miss Richmond defined the difference between the
itor The former, She said knows a few families
Intimately and for an indefinite period. The latter
knows a craat many families on one side-the side
Of their nced-and her acquaintance is for lin
tied time.
in II discussion that followed Miss Richmords
address, charity workers from many parts OF tire
country tool, part. Among the speakers were Miss
Mary BTtwcll, secretary OF the Associated Char
tiles of Cambridge Mass; Mr., McDouEaH OF
Orange. and Miss Summers, of St Paul
Among the organizations in this city which have
friendly visitors volunteer and unpaid workers,
are the Charity Organization Society, the United
Hebrew Charities. the Ethical Culture Society.
the Brooklyn Bureau Of Charities and many Settle
ments and churches.
Boston is the pioneer in instituting the system
of volunteer workers and IS stlll the leader having
a larger CORPS than any other city.