Evening star., 1903-10-01
ALLEY POPULATION
LECTURE ON HOW THE OTHER
HALF LIVES IN WASHINGTON.
Charles F. Weller Describes New
Public Fairgrounds and Gives
Illustrations.

Mr. CharleS +. W eller, general secretary
of the Associated Charities, delivered his
first illustrated lecture of the present sea-
son last night at the Central NJ. E. Church.
The subject was How the Other Half
Lives in Washington" This title has been
used in announcing these lectures in the
past, but the pictures shown last night
were largely new ones. and unfamiliar
phases of the subject were discussed. The
illustrative stories told We're principally
gathered from the work of recent months
work in the Associated Charities.
Photographs of the new public play
grounds were first shown and the speaker
explained how experiences on these SIX
Fairgrounds had brought one unfamiliar
phases of social conditions. On one of the
cClored Fairgrounds, for example, he said,
children from two or three of the crowded.
hidden alleys had been much in evidence
and the committee speedily found that the
standards of life and conduct which evi-
IDENTIFY prevailed in these shut-in little al
ley communities suffered from lack OF con-
taSt with the outside normal life. The COM
mittee also found that by putting a tactful
man woman in charge of the play
ground these unframed children were
quickly impressed by new standards of con-
duct indicating that ''the other half needs
mainly the suggestions and inspirations
which come, often unconscious'y. through
fellowship with people who suggest higher
ideals and more wholesome standards of
life.
Other Lessons Taught.
Some of the other Fairgrounds had taught
other lessons. One had shown how few
places other than saloons the young work
ingmen have in which to spend their even
ings. and for them, as well as for the work
ing girls, it was clear that some of the
Fairgrounds ought to be illuminated and
opened evenings under good supervision
The need for apparatus and for help in in
itiating and organizing games was also
shown by the fact that the Fairgrounds
were crowded in some places where vacant
lots of good size had proven of no use or
interest to the boys and young men. The
speaker showed the ground plan and some
striking views of Mckinley Park an
ideal public playground and small park
recently opened near the Chicago stock
wards and he said the people who have
no carriages and cannot afford car fare
are as much entitled to service from the
city's park department as are the more re-
scurceful 'other half who are almost
the only citizens who enjoy the large parks,
which usually lie in the outskirts of cities
A house famine was said by the speaker
to be evident in Washington at present. The
condemnation of houses to make space for
the railroad station combined with
other causes had increased the difficulty
which people were having in finding homes
flats at from 81 to SO monthly rental.
Pictures were shown of some miserable
houses which yield IL to 10 per cent income
and the speaker said that if more of the
public spirited business men would take
hold of the problem of providing good
homes to be rented to poor people al mod
crate rates. a good profit could be assured
the builders while the whole community
would be helped.
Death Rate Discussed.
Washington's high death rate from ty-
phoid fever was mentioned and contribut-
ing cause was shown in the open, wooden
box toilet houses, without any water or
sewer connections, which abound in poor
houses throughout the city. Quotations
from a recent report of the health office
were thrown on the screen, showing that
45I out of every LOCO colored babies and 1S3
out of every LOCO white babies die before
completing their first year of life in tbs
city, as compared with 40 out of each 1,O0J
who die during the first twelve months of
life in New York city. Pictures of neglect
ed. wasted babies were exhibited and a plea
made for day nurseries, especially for the
children of women who are employed all
day away from home, and thus compelled to
leave their infants at present in the care of
older boys and girls or in so-called baby
farms, where ancient dame keeps a
half dozen ba bes for few cents each per
week. and gives them such unfavorable sur
roundin2s and poor care as result in the
death of one out of every two.
Incidentally, at various points in his lee
ture, the speaker explained the relief wOsl
and preventive. upDuilding measures for
which the Associated Charities stands. He
showed pictures of some of the seven di
vision agents in their work of befrending
the poor, collecting small savings, admins
tering material relief obtaining employ
ment for the idle and in various ways help
ing the needy to help themselves.
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