New-York tribune., 1903-01-27
THE SALOON QUESTION:
Lecture on Social Conditions at Mass
Helen Gould's Home.

.sTta mere closing Of the saloons would not be
desirable They exist supply demand and the
demand must be satisfied in way, declared
Dr. William Il. TolTnan, director of the American
Institute Of Social Service yesterday, at the house
OF Miss Helen NJ Gould Il was the second In MS
course Of six lectures at the house Of Miss Gould
for the benefit Of the Home for the Friendless at
Woodycrest-ave. and e-hundred-and-sixty- SIKH
81 and about one hundred and sixty women were
present
DR. Tolnan's theme was The Problem of the
Tenement House. and he illustrated II with
wealth Of detail observation. IA I and comparison
aided by the stereopticon upon which eloquent
sequence OF pictures was thrown As he unrolled
panorama Of squalid streets, rear tenements. alleys
sweaters at their work. model tenements IN
Glasgow and New York. Salvation ArTny lodging
houses and Mills hotels, his audience sat SPELL
bound. except when there rustic and mur-
nur Of pity and disgust some peculiarly moving
picture thrown the screen
The modern city is q laboratory for the social
student" remarked Dr. Tolman, by way of pref
ace. --Oue OF the chief problems of this city and
Of the country is the tenement house. 1t is De-
cause the tenement house destroys the life Of the
family stifies not only the amenities Of life but
also the decencies drives the children out into
the streets for their education and their arnuse-
rrent. that It strikes deadly blow. Every true
home is an anchor; it makes for the greater sta
hdlty Of the nation The problem now is 10 IND or
ma Ike homes for the wage Garner
Then he traced the development Of the tenement
from the days after the War Of 1872, when the
building Of the Erie Canal brought an influx OF
foreign laborers VINO had TO find board and lodging
near their through the period when rear tene-
1nents arose in what had been gardens, and the
front tenements shot up meet them. and the
mischief was done. He showed number OF these
rear tenements with nothing but three foot alley
between them. No sunshine and little light or air
could find their way into the lower rooms There
was no plumbing and all the water had TO be
brought up in pals from hydrant in the court
below.
Under these conditions, is IT any wonder that
water should be used chiefly cooking purposes,
and that on q summer night the father Of sixth
story family would prefer cool drink in saloon
below 10 q drink Of warm water out of a wooden
pail n his own homer asked Dr. Tolman-
GLIMPSE OF ONE HOME.
one Of the pictures represented small room in
which FIVE six adults, with as many children
sat t-rouched over their work
They are lining coats" explained DR.. Tolman
and they receive four or FIVE cents coat This
room and little dark closet leading off it, just
big enough TO hold a bed. are rented by father
and mother with six children. In order to meet
the rent they have five boarders. What room for
6eicacy and refinement is there in such a homer
i simply shoves the children out into the streets
and il street training is bad for the boys it is
simply rGinous for the girls People fancy that II
Is exclusively Polish Jews who sweated, but ]
have found family Of Italians doing sweat work
ir their home The nature of sweat work is such
THAI one can learn il in very short time. In a
few hours after landing the immigrant may De in
E sVyearshop.
For finishing pair Of trousers the sweat price
Is aho.:t I've cents pair: making children's print
dresses s. 20 q dozen. finishing silk waists, 90
cents dozen: ueckties. 81 y the gross. Men make
s5out & z week sorting rags and women * Rag
picking very hard work, and man gets 81 a
week handling the bales. An Italian organ grinder
ma kes from $ 10 SO week
Here is picture of the home Of two widows.
ore Of whom has five children the other one
child. They have this room and small dark
closet connecting with It They have tEgo lodgers:
who paw from 81 q to & . month There Is but
one cooking utensil visible and that is a frying
pan You can imagine what chance there Is for
var4eo. appetizing food hen the frying pan Is
the only ufensili Every element OF an attractive
home is lacking in this picture The table Is al.
ways spread. On washdays the dishes and 1000
are simply pushed back 10 make room Tor the
washtuh In this family. as In many others. the
members never sit down TO meal together Trey
have no time for social intercourse as IaInily,
let alone arv OF the amenities OF the family
s1There is q vital CONNECTION between IOoo ana