Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-01
MODERN CHARITY
Hull House in Chicago a No
table Example of Methods.
IT'S FOUNDER TO SPEAK
ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATE
ED CHARITIES THIS EVENING.
The Different Clubs and Classes at
Miss Adams Institution-Lec-
lures and Kindergartens.
IT'S FOUNDER TO SPEAK

In 1889 two of Chicagos women of culture
and refinement, Miss Jane Adams and
Miss Ellen Starr, believing that they could
best serve their day and generation by
casting in their lot with those of the city s
population who We're least favored In cir
cumstance and material resource, moved
into the crowded portion of one of Chi
cago's river wards. and renting large
residence, which had been idle for some
years, established what is now known
throughout the whole country as Hull
House." social settlement. They went to
Hull House with the conviction that social
intercourse could best express the growing
sense of the economic unity of society.
They wished the social spirit to be the
undercurrent Of the life of HUI House,
whatever direction the stream might take.
All Of the details were left for the de-
mands of the neighborhood to determine,
and each department has grown from q
discovery made through natural and recip-
rocal social relations. Clubs and classes of
every description were organized, as the
demand appeared, and after thirteen years
of successful growth the settlement now
represents an outreach of influence which
is wonderful In its scope and extent. When
1t is stated that from the small beginning
in one building the work has grown so that
it occupies nearly block of buildings, and
that nearly 5000 people each week-meu,
women and children-enjoy the privileges of
its organizations and the social contact
which is possible within it's walls, one gets
some comprehension of the power which
this work has eXerted.
Clubs and Glasses.
detailed account of the numerous clubs,
classes and other organizations connected
with Hull House would suggest most
strongly what may be done by and through
a neighborhood of working people, when
they are touched by common stimulus,
and possess an intellectual and social GEN.
ter about which they may group their vari-
Gus organizations and enterprises. or
course, this center or settlement" to be
effective must contain an element of per-
manency, so that the neighborhood may
feel that the interest and fortunes of the
residents are identical with their own. The
settlement must have an enthusiasm for
the possibilities of it's locality, and an abil-
ity to bring into it and develop from 1t
those lines of thought and action which
make for the higher life.
The first development of the influence of
Hull House found its expression in college
extension courses The first class met as
guests of the residents The students at
these courses, the large proportion of whom
are young women, represent a great vari-
ETY. of occupations. Among them are teach
ers in public schools, employees of factories
and shops, typewriters and cashiers.
The Jane Club a cooperative boarding
club for young working women, had the ad-
vice and assistance of Hull House In its es-
tabliSnment The membership of the club
is limited only by the capacity of the house
which it rents. and the members do such
share of the homework as does not inter-
fere with their daily occupations. There
are various circles within the club for so
cial and intellectual purposes, and month
ly reception is held in the Hull House gym
naSium.
Tacturas IN art and music with the or
ganization of large working peoples cho-
rus. have given opportunity for develop
ment along these lines. Free concerts of
high order are furnished in the gymnasium
of Hull House at stated periods and these
have done much toward developing the mu-
steal taste of those who have attended.
The influence of Hull House toward pub
lie improvements in the neighborhood has
been very marked. The Nineteenth Ward
Improvement Club meets at the house at
regular intervals, and by means of this
club many public improvements nave been
secured Free public baths and other need
ed advantages have been secured through
this club.
The Hull House Womens Club has ac-
complished great deal toward the social
DEVELOPMENT of it's members, as well as in
the visiting and relief work which took so
large a share of the energies of the settle
ment during the hard times Of some years
ago.
For Children.
numerous classes and clubs for children.
The fortunes and value Of the clubs have
varied, depending very much upon the
spirit of the leaders. An effort has always
been made to avoid the school atmosphere.
The children are received and trusted as
guests, and initiative and control have come
from them as far as possible. Their ia
vorite occupa ton is listening to stories.
One club has had a consecutive course of
legends and tales of chivalry. There Is no
doubt that the more imaginative children
learn to look upon the house as gateway
into magic land. and get genuine taste
of the delights of literature One boy, after
a winter of Charlemagne stories, flung him
self half crying from the house and said
that there was no good in coming any
more now that Prince Roland was dead"
The boys club meets every Tuesday after
noon at o'clock. and clubs of little girls
come on Friday. The latter are the School
Girls Club and the Pansy Club, the Story
Telling Club and the kindergarten Club.
They sew, paint or make paper chains dur
ing the story telling, and play games in the
gymnasium together before they go nome
at b o'clock club of Bohemian girls,
called ''Libuse," meets every Monday and
studies the heroic women in history. The
little children meet one afternoon in the
week for advanced kindergarten work.
There are advanced childrens classes for
gymnastics and dancing, and two children S
choruses of $50 each meet weekly under
the direction of Mr.. William Tomlins. Din
nerS are served 10 Scnool cnlldfen upon pre-
sentation of tickets which have been sold
to their mothers for cents each. Those
children are first selected whose mothers
are necessarily at work during the middle
of the day, and the dinner started with
children formerly in Hull House creche.
While 1t is desired to give the children nu-
tritious food, the little diners care much
| more for the toys and books and the gen.
eral good time than they do for the dinners.
1t has been found, too, that.the general
attracttveness performs the function of the
| truant officer in keeping them at school,
for no school implies no dinner. The house
has had the sympathetic and enthusiastic
cooperation OF the principal Of the Polk
street public school.
systematic effort is made during the
| summer to have each of the hundreds OF
| children connected with the clubs spend al
| least one day in the country or parks. Elk
cursions in small groups are found to be
more satisfactory than the time-honored
picnic method. Each summer several hun
| dred children are sent from Hull House te
| the fresh-air homes and country houses
| During the worlds fair 800 children were
| enabled to see the fair.
Several years ago the use of piece OF
ground near Hull House, measuring 326x11 Il
| feet, was given, rent free, until 1t should
1 be sold. TIE owner permitted the houses
Il L. IA