The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-06


distribution. Owners of wood gave us lib
orally; in fact, all the people came to our
rescue and made II possible for us to do
our work. The News sent a representative
hasten shipment. The city furnished four
teams for delivering. OF course, as is usual,
some came for the coal who were speculat-
ing on how much they could get Tor notn-
Ing. As we needed help to handle and de-
liver the coal. we were pleased to put the
able-bodied men to work, more pleased
tnan some, who seemed surprised tnat
there was any such thing as work; 1T was
so foreign to their nature. There were 9TH
ers who wanted to work, and TO those the
opportunity offered was most thorougnly
appreciated. AS a rule many Of these shift
less men steal their coal. and when ar
rested make the plea that they had 1t TO
do TO keep their families warm, when. IN
truth. their families are little benefited by
the theft. We are glad to see that a con-
certed effort is being made to put a stop TO
this pernicious practice. Many boys ana
girls get their first lessons In stealing by
picking coal Many soon graduate from
coal stealing to committing more serious
crimes. For many years these people nave
been licensed TO steal coal and go unpun-
ished on the plea OF poverty. Last winter
one OF these men, wei known TO the So
ciety. was caught, and, with the usual plea,
known to do anything for his family that
he could get others TO do; would rather
spend his money for drink and its accom-
paniments. Work is the law of life.
1T would be difficult to imagine an emer-
gency that the excellent machinery of the
Charity Organization Society could not
handle. Its supporters ave made 1t posi-
BILE for it to develop the best system. In
a day our working force can be adjusted
from the regular routine to emergency
work. In case OF distress, caused by ire,
famine. water or cyclone, the society has
the organization to meet the conditions at
once. and in all cases immediate relief can
be offered all entitled to 1T.
WORK OF CHILD SAVING.
"Some years ago it will be remembered
that the society worked untiringly to form
an organization whose duty it should be
TO save helpless children from vicious, i'm
moral and cruel parents. A law was
passed. and the committee thus created
was called the Board of Children's Guard
ians. whose work has long since proved
It's value. To meet the great Inc growing
Indifference regarding the school life of
many of our children the truancy law was
passed, but not until our society had
worked on public opinion necessarily for
three years or more. Its success has been
great, and 1t is not often now that one
finds children of applicants out of school
as a result of parental Indifference. The
next step to still further the interest of the
child was that of the Juvenile Court law.
tlncTS dSSlSlcu III DTllRlnk ABOUT the ldW
but the society was its most ardent sup
porter and worked untiringly for it's pass
age. What can we now do for the child?
When we find a parent who prefers to live
in unSanitary, filthy, crowded quarters, to
ratfy selfish or vicious habits, some way
should be devised to meet the conditions
and compel a change to a more decent.
a New York or q Chicago, nevertheless on
an occasion last winter we were called to
visit a family where it was found that
RIO r0ra fxyfD IN Ann sAnD1 in IN rnnGf
filthy and squalid condition.
The tenement house question is one OF
the problems before us. A beginning was
made last year toward improving conditions,
but ii VIII take time and much help to effect
a reform in this line.
Settlements and missions nave been doing
good work The Indiana-avenue Settlement
has changed its plan of work; Plymouth
Church has withdrawn and the work has
become a private enterprise. The Harley
Gibbs Settlement, on West Washington
street, has done a most remarkable religious
work, the character of sumo of the homes
has met with wonderful changes. The Flan-
ner Guild. for colored people. has grown
to very large proportions; they have their
classes and Sunday afternoon gospel meet
ings. Tn South Side Mission has, besides
its large religious work, done much for dis
charged criminals. The need of all this
work Is a better equipment in the way OF
buildings and accommodations. There are
other enterprises of a more limited charac-
ter scattered over the city.
We law "a DC5tO HODuldtlOu Ill
this city, and not until quite recently have
they been able to do much for their poor
in a concerted way, but as the thrifty be-
come more prosperous they are thinking OF
the obligations resting upon them in car
ing for the unfortunate of their own race.
The Woman's Club has done much in this
direction. and several church collections
have been taken for people in distress,
among others, a few Sundays ago, nearly
SIP was raised, and that after one large
collection for other purposes had been
I fakon Few xuhifa churches u-opII hors
done better. "A most promising work
among the colored people is the F1anneI
Guild; and IL bids fair TO become a GEN.
ter of great importance for the education
of the race. Our citizens should give these
movements all the encouragement and sup
port possible.
SUMMER CHARITIES.
THE past season has been one OF un
usual activity in summer charities. TIL
vacant lots cultivation and the Fresh All
Mission publish separate reports. The New.
vacation work has taken a definite form and
become an excellent part of the genera
charity work. The News also has Furnished
free ice 10 the sick and pasteurized mill
TO babies. The Indianapolis Star made Z
special effort in behalf OF the Fresh All
Mission and raised a considerable part Of
the funds TO run the work. All the paper.
nave assisted greatly during the year. They
lave never failed TO make public appeal.
for special needs as we'll as for the gen
eral development of benevolent work.
During the past few years the societ,
has made a speciality OF training worker.
for various fields in charitable and socia
activities. Most of the societies in thi.
State and some in adjacent States procur,
their workers from this society. The de
mand for capable trained workers is In
creasing.
I'VE are now making our first effort to
ward an education for the prevention ans
relief OF tuberculosis and a study OF SAM
tary conditions. We hope To be able 4
provide a convalescent home In one of tn