The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-01
WHAT HULL HOUSE DOES
ELEMENT OF REGENERATION IN
LIFE OF THE FOREIGNER.
Miss Jane Adams, Speaking Before
the Contemporary Club, Discusses
Methods and Results.

In 1889 there was established in Chicago
was rapidly immigrating to that city. and
its prevalence caused wonderment as to
the result. This colony, which now has
eight well-equipped buildings, thirty resi-
dences and inhabitants OF between 5000
and 5000 people CT possibly twenty nation
alities. was called the Hull House, and II
was of this exceedingly interesting institu-
ton that Miss Jane Adams, who has been
connected with the Hull House since its
origin. spoke to the Contemporary Club
last evening at the regular meeting of the
organization in the PrOpylaeum. The set
Element in Chicago was formed by private
persons and is a private organization, being
controlled by five trustees. 1t is incor-
porated, however, under the law.
In her preliminary discussion Miss
Adams spoke about the general life of the
settlement and the care of the children.
She has a clear and pleasant manner of
speaking. and her talk was decidedly en-
Pertaining as well as instructive. At the
conclusion OF the address Meredith Nichol-
son, president Of the club. invited a gen.
ersl discussion that brought out a number
of new ideas. From Miss Addams's ac-
count OF the child question In Chicago,
which Is probably typical Of other great
cities, the trouble into which the young
people get comes largely from lack Of
proper grounds to play in. and desire for
sport more than from vicious motives. That
fun ut the expense OF the cop is many
times the pursuit OF innocent pleasure
rather than a seeking to commit damage
was the point brought out by the speaker
Miss Adams urged the keeping of public
schools open at night for vagrant children,
thus affording them a place to spend the
evenings in innocent pastirne, instead Of
causing mischief on the streets Child
labor also was discussed by Miss Adams
who told OF the condition OF children in
her city which was exceedingly deplorable.
In New York no child under eighteen is
allowed to work all night, but neither Illi-
nois nor Indiana have such law.
NOVEL WORK AT HULL HOUSE.
The work carrisd on in the Hull House is
novel. There are many interesting depart
ments. among them the manual class. where
all sorts Of weaving and spinning is done.
Miss Adams spoke of the fine work turned
out by Italians and women of other coun-
tries. who could teach the Americans more
about this sort of industry than any num-
Der OF technical schools. The speaker said
that we have our institutions of technology
right here at home in the Hull House and
settlements or foreigners in all great cities
where none of their work or ability is ap-
odd little community does not differ ma
terially from what il was in the home from
which they came. As example, there
are large number Of Italians at the Hull
House whose lives are after much the fash
Ion OF existence in Naples on the sunny
bay OF that beautiful city.
Miss Adams said that there should be a
feeling or reciprocity existing between the
immigrant and the American, and she told
OF 1900 Greeks who came direct from Spar
ia to Chicago one spring. These people at
first felt secluded, but when they were pre-
vailed upon to produce a Grecian drama
and when they saw they were really good
for something more than the candy push
cart there was great change in their man
ner which caused them to be more alive to
conditions In speaking of the educational
work in Hull House Miss Adams said that
English and history were the subjects that
caused most inspiration among the foreign
erss which Is accounted for by the fact that
these subjects appeal TO them because they
snow transition of spirit between the old
and new world which makes the immigrant
feel ne has some kinship with the busy
commercial American.
POLITICS OF THE SETTLEMENT.
One OF the most interesting portions of
the discourse was that part in which Miss
Adams told of the politics of the settle
ment- The foreigners are intensely ignor-
ant of government and they are familiar
with only the piitician of the questionable
type. or ward heller. as he is the only one
with whom they come in contact. The al
derman has great influence over the new
conner TO America and wins his vote mostly
Dy KIND treatment, much TO the detriment
or the colony. said Miss Adams Another
feature OF human interest in the condition
OF the settlement is the need of social halls
where the men can meet for social inter-
course instead of at the saloon, which now
pears the title or the poor mans club adj
mirably- In New York this condition has
been remedied BY the erection OF a hall es-
pecially for weddings. christenngs and
other such occasions. Miss Adams told
or these being held now i'm saloons where
OF course the result was bad and the affair
carried on in anything but decorous man.
ner. In time, however, il is hoped this
will be changed and social hall erected.
After all the discussion of the work that
IS being done at Hull House the question
arose as 10 the ultimate value of the work
This was answered by Miss Adams by ex-
planning that the work is much like that of
school. and although the detailed good
cannot be seen at once, the ultimate good
- apparent and will assert itself in future
generations.