The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-10
A FIELD FOR PHILANTHROPY.


1t is but just to assume that the people
who are making generous donations to uni
versities, colleges and for libraries do so
on the conviction that, through the build
ing up of such institutions, the greatest
benefits 70 their fellow-men may be at
tanned. The impression prevails that the
higher education can, in some manner
which has not yet been explained, reach
down and uplift the mass of people in this
country, and particularly in the large cities,
that most need uplifting. Even if the the
cries and conclusions of those who teach
sociology in universities could benefit the
classes referred to, there is no possible way
by which such teachings could reach them.
Between the university and these tens of
thousands of people there is an impossible
gulf Even If they could meet, the one side
could not understand the other. and if
those whom it is desired to assist could I'M
derstand they are not in a position to avail
themselves of such instruction.
Recently two men of large means have an
nounced desire to expend their wealth for
the benefit OF mankind. One of them has
outlined a scheme of endowing charitable
institutions under certain conditions, one
of which is that none of them shall be I'M
der the management of women, which indi-
Gates that very little can be expected of
him. The other mans idea involves plans
to help those who are now self-supporting.
OF necessity, the states work in charity
must be confined to the helpless, looking to
the future benefit of the young who must
be cared for. In all this there seems to be
no extended effort to encourage and assist
those VINO are self-supporting, but whose
manner of living can best be described by
the word wretched. This relates to the hun
dreds and thousands in cities whose in
comes are small. who are compelled to live
in wretched houses for which they pay
enormous rents. whose living is confined TO
the barest necessaries that will support life
Much OF the income of many of this class
is spent for drink, and large families Of
children are usually born to share this
misery. These people are without hope, and
the evidences Of better living which they
see about them simply make them envious
and not infrequently desperate.
For such people the sociology taught in
the university and the hooks in public IL
braries can do nothing. Whatever is done
for them must reach them directly, not
through patronizing charity when want
makes them objects of pity, but in assist
ance which VIII permanently elevate the
standard of living. The family life must be
uplifted. This cannot be done in the
wretched quarters in which thousands live
which forbid the decencies of Rfe. II, under
a business-lik management, decent tene-
ments could be built which could be rented
to families that live in squalor and vicious
surroundings. a work of uplifting would be
begun from the very lowest depths Of So
ciety To some extent this work is being
done in New York by tearing down the
tenements into which hundreds are crowded
and offering tenements in the suburbs. The
| law is behind the movement in New York,
forbidding the renting of places unfit for
! human occupation. 1t has been found that
the rents the jewellers in the slums were
compelled TO pay are sufficient TO mako the
renting Oh DttlcI lcuSueulS IN Dellef 10
| calities profitable.
Those who are in touch with the charity
| work of large cities find that the lack of
| decent homes Is one of the greatest OBJ
stacles with which they have to contend.
An officer Of the Chicago Board OF Chart
ties is reported saying that to the
wretchedness of the places in which many
..--,s -oa- rAaaaAlA faraAa n live end the