New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01
6g'orkfnS Among the Poor.


gether, and they were talking about settlement
work on the East Side.
"AIl the settlements that were ever founded"
Eaid the cynical man, have not done as much
good a SNOWFALL ina place that is under
stood to be very hot"
Don't say that" protested q girl who is
herself a worker in a nurses settlement in the
crowded district around Corlears Park.
Haven't they at least done the workers some
good?"
The workers as a rule are too good, or think
they are. before they go into it." said the man.
Il don't mean you" he added. smiling at the
girl. You couldn't be accused Of an T-am-too-
good-for- this sort thing spirit. But many
have it. and It's one reason why settlements,
with all their activity, haven't really accom-
plished much in the way of battering holes in
the barrier between the very poor and the we'll
TODD. Some day I shall start a settlement and
OF every one who wants to join I shall ask,
among other things this question: How long
have you felt yourself to be a superior per
SOM"
II know what you mean" said the girl
You're too sweeping, as usual but it's true
that too many Of US have that attitude of reach
ing down from higher plane. The other day
1 heard a woman who Is interested in our set
Element say to a young Hebrew who born
in that quarter, and who still comes
down from his uptown law office to help
in the boys clubs: Don't you think that it's
very noble Of these refined young women
meaning us-to give their time and energy to
the task Of uplifting these poor East Side peo
ple? Fancy saying such thing! But he only
answered quietly: Well, I've always thought
that these people receive quite as much as they
give. And he was right There is no work
more fascinating than settlement work; nothing
that brings you closer to human nature, only
go IN rfChf
IF you make the mistake of keeping always
In your mind a sense Of your advantages In the
way Of ancestry and education and feel your
self so much better and more loral than the
people whose finger nails aren't as clean as
yours. you're not likely to get on much. The
best worker know of is youngest member;
she has no theories about the elevation of the
masses, but she has the widest. keenest interest
in humanity; she loves to be in the thick of It.
She is perfectly happy visiting her Yiddish pa
tients down there-she is a nurse-climblng
miles Of tenement stairs in a day, doing disa-
greeable things in smelly. crowded rooms: she
seems TO understand the people instinctvely
especially the sinners. One day some one said
to her: want to tell you how much like your
attitude toward these people She didn't make
much answer-whats the use? But afterward
she said to me: Attitude! If I'd had an atti-
tude when came down here, I hope I should
oOOl nave oSGl Hndl Il OIdWDdCk II Is, ana
should have got rid OF it,
THE delightful thing about the East Side TO
me-" said the quiet woman at the end of the
table, us the way the emotions there overflow
to the pavement Take the man who beats his
wife. In the winter he has to do it in the house,
but as soon as the weather is warm enough to
permit Of outside diversions he does It openly in
the street or course Fifth-ave. has its emo
TONS
But even in summer the Fifth-ave. husband
doesn't beat his wife in the street." laughed
the girl But you mustn't take the East Side
as a means OF entertainment merely. I per-
ceiTe your ideas need rectifyins, as well as the
cynical mans Why not come down and go the
rounds with me tomorrow? I can't take the
cynical man. but take you. And you'll
see that there are not only quarrels. there are
other things, such family affection and mu-
tual helpfulness, to be observed there; and you
can report to the cynical man OF course, car
ing for the sick is only branch Of settle
ment work; its social side is considered more
important, but as to the worth OF that side /
can't argue-Fm not wise enough. And there is
this to be said for the work of sending nurses
into homes too poor to hire them-it has an i'm
mediate practical value and it brings US close
10 them, don't you know"
L am always open to conviction" said the
cynical man they rose from the table, but
all you've said merely goes to prove what 1
stated-that in settlement work, in many