The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-12
However, There Are Not Many Crowd
ed Tenements I'm indianapolis TO
Increase Suffering.
GOOD CARE OF THE CHILDREN
THERE ARE SEVERAL SOCIETIES
That LOOK AFTER THEM.
Tired Women Can Also Get Rest and
Fresh Air I'm the Parks-Tale OF
the Summer Time.

While the majority of the population OF
indianapolis is escaping the awful and per-
sistent heat Of the sun as IL beats inces-
sanity down upon the thousands OF souls
in a big city and every one Is talking about
the weather, the thoughtful emb OF
this big family of humanity naturally Won
der what the people of the tenemen dis
tricts are doing and how they manage TO
survive the ravages of a sultry summer
day.
This question is a most common one and
can be heard on all sides. Although one
does not come in contact frequently with
the dark side of life in a large town un-
less he has occasion TO meet this part OF
the world, it is the natural thing for those
who are better of than the general run.
while they enjoy the cool and refreshing
breezas of a hammock or dream under the
inviting shade of some large oak in their
yard, TO have their thoughts turn to the
condition of their fellow-creatures and won
der what the poor are doing in the hot and
sweltering atmosphere.
Unlike nearly every other city in the
country, Indianapolis is practically devoid
Of a properly termed tenement district,
with its HUNDREDS and thousands of poor
souls cramped together in limited space.
eking out an existence that TO many would
be less welcome than death: a colony where
crime is fostered and seems even 10 be
lurking in the very air that is breathed: a
district teeming with crying. yeIping chill
dren, ignorant of bright and happy life be-
yond the humdrum and irksome atmos-
phere of their homes. These conditions are
familiar to those who have visited the tene-
ments of New York. Chicago or San Fran
cisco.
However, of this city there Is a brighter
and more pleasant story TO tell. The
Hoosier capital, while not lacking In this
class of residents, presents a far different
condition than other places. Nowhere In
the city are the uncomfortable conditions
Just described to be found. True. there are
parts of the city In which cramped condi-
tons are to be seen and life Is not as whole
some as in other portions, but IL would be
safe to say these are exceptions, and COM
parativeIy little uneasiness is experienced
from the heat by the people who are not
as fortunate and have not the enjoyable
homes that many possess.
The reason for this happy state OF az
fairs In regard TO the poor class Is on &C
count of Indianapolis being spread out over
so much territory, thus giving plenty OK
room for the inhabitants TO stretch out"
as IL were. in the warm months. There 10
also another cause for the better condi-
tons, and that is the many parks in which
the poor may find shelter from the not
rays of the sun and rest from the weary
confinement of a small cottage. These cool
and popular resorts are scattered through
out the city and prove veritable Jacobs
wells to many ~footsore and wornout women.
Even in the localities where the people
are crowded conditions are not so bad a.
to cause those whose hearts are suscepti-
BILE to pathetic and sad scenes to have con-
Germ over the welfare OF those within
There Is a certain community OF foreign
ers located in the northeast part Of tho
city. where as many as twenty-five or more
people occupy the same house. To many
IL would appear as IL this were q most ex-
cellent example of poverty. and . truly dis
agreeable state of existence. But IL Is not
These people possibly are happier than
many who pity them and who drop into
peaceful slumber with an electric fan doing
noble work for them. The particular cot
tage which the writer has in mind In rather
small, but is well shaded and looks TO be
cool at night. This situation is no doubt
a paradise to the members Of the house.
hold, who probably left a much worse homo
across the water.
MUCH CHARITABLE WORE.
It must not be supposed that there are not
pathetic cases Of suffering from the heat to
be found In Indianapolis. This Is natural
in a city of two hundred thousand, but the
reason that there is not the suffering that
is seen in other cities is because there are
numerous societies organized for the pur-
pose Of caring for children and mothers dur
ing the hot months. making them as COM
Portable in many ways as the seashore Wis
itor, and in many instances more comforta-
BILE than summer tourists. The good work
done by these societies can hardly be esti-
mated. The Fresh Air Mission, which has
been looking after summer outings for the
poor for a number of years. cares for a large
number at Fairview Park. where the chill
dren loll on the grass and enjoy the cool OF
the park.
The Society for the Care OF Sick Children
looks after a host OF little folks and finds
homes in the country throughout The hot
weather. Last year a number was sent 10
Acton Park camp grounds, where they en-
joyed the shade and cool away from the
dust and heat OF town. Another organiza-
ton which is doing much good among those
who are unable to get a vacation is the
Children's Outing Society. This organiza-
ton carries on a work like that done by
the societies above named. Besides these.
there are numberless private societies
throughout the city whose business IL Is 20
make brighter and happier the lives OF chill
dren and mothers who cannot AFFORD to take
a vacation. and place them out in the coun-
try away from the heat and sultriness OF the
city.
The organizations mentioned do not adver-
tise the work they are doing. but. like the
good samaritans of old. go about doing char
| liable work and casting a halo OF light about
the poor homes OF the city.