New-York tribune., 1904-09-11
By James French DOrramce


younger generation of tene-
ment dwelers; Is one of the questions that social
settlement workers IN every large city continually
asking themselves How gam the real interest
of the yovng men. especially that work may be
To them the fullest measure of good2"
There various answers, according 10 the nation
aitv of those whose interest sought and the
Of the work 10 be done. For instance, the workers
at Huh House IN Chicago got hold the Greek
peddlers who dwell within their sphere OF nlu-
ence by training them 20 Greek dramas, which
were given IN the settlement house. Philadelphia
institutional workers found trade school most
effective among the OF poor artisans. In New
York East Side settlement has found the way 10
the hearts Of hundreds OF young Italians through
free business college.
The trial and DEVELOPMENT Of an entirely new
vehicle for reaching the hearts and arousing the
interest of the young Of the foreign districts
has taken place IN the last few months 1t Is orches
tral work along serious lines. So great has
been the success of the first experimental orchestra
that several others viii be organized different
quarters OF Nev-York at
Inquiries have come from other cities-Boston St.
Louis, Chicago, Cleveland and Philadephia-and
workers there are looking for organize
these Orchestras The plan Is one that promises
10 be effective II any city having a large for
eign population. and II commands more interest
because It has a practical as well as an ethical
side.
An account Of the birth and growth Of the initial
orchestra which VIII serve a way a model for
the others. may be interesting. The idea
Alfred l. Segman, wealthy New-York musician,
when he began phlanthrOpIc work among the Russian
Jews of the East Side early last winter For several
years he had been interested IN semi-educational
work among the Irish lads OF the West Side The
road their hearts through their muscles he
soon learned
He puts II this way Give the little rascals a
chance 20 bang their heads together develop their
muscles and play their rather rough games, and you
can do wonders the way OF their mental and moral
development" SO the Irish boys provided
with a fully equipped gymnasium. They put on
boxing gloves and hammered each other with great
goodwill They worked strenuousy al weight
machines dumb-bells and Indian clubs II kept them
off the street, and gradually they were persuaded to
train their minds as well their bodies.
The gymnasium idea did not appeal to the young
Russians. They came from esthetic race, though
poverty and oppression had blotted out most OF the
external signs They eager for chance TO
study for an opportunity 70 work out the art that
IS born IN them
In moving about the district, getting his bearings
and trying figure out plan Of work the musician
came across number OF boy vlonists, OF whom
showed unusual talent. He found that they
IN the habit Of getting together IN little groups and
IN their feeble unframed way making effort at
ensemble playing.
What these youths need IS orchestral training
was the decision he reached and he looked for a
leader who would undertake the work Such
was found IN the leader Of Of the big OrchestTas
He was busy man: but he would give up his Sunday