New-York tribune., 1904-10-12
SETTLEMENT IN BLOOD FIELD
Mrs. FeTnandis's Efforts 10 Help COIored Tots
Of Washington.
gFroH rHE TRIBUNE BrREAe


Rasa.-gton. oct. u-Nrs sarah collins Ferrsn-
% IS a coiorod woman VINO is helping her race
along the lines laid down by Booker T. N 1sliI1E
tor. and waose work is meeting with success.
AOolt year ago the associated charities Of this
city desired Fo found social centre Tor rpi"re-
people and by way of beginning Miss II. r. Grip
pen phlalthrorc resident offered. rent free,
small house i1 Blood Eieid'--a shanyy section
or Southwest Washington. which earned ifS om'-
nous si1riguet years ago because OF notorious muir
o~r= committed there. The work taken in
charge by special committee o- coored voilI-
1eers. with Mrs. Fernardis at its head. Blood
Field" Is row d comparatively lawabdiug neigh
1orh9od. bur irs inhabitants. mostly c0lC-ed. are
poor and children run wild in the sless and rar-
ioQ- streets while f1eI- parents are AT work
AIRS Fernsudis IS q gEadust= oL Hampton. ana
has done missionary work IL TIE South. Seeing the
needs OF her people here. she offered her services.
and has lived among them long enough 10 prove
that the socaI centre has not been founded ID vain
she Keeps open house every day, aud the women
aud children IN the vicinity free 10 come iu az
amy time to how she arraEges her modest
home and even 10 assist, Z rhey wish ID cooking
and eating meals. IN many instances. 10 observe
Is 10 initiate. and. & result. there are clean
windows ana doors il Blood Field" ana tables
where families sir down ana eat together instead
Of boiting trsir food one native expressed Il.
any which way kin"
LEAVE THEM N sAFETY
The other morning visitor 10 the small house
found lIrz Ee-laDdis looking the picture OF con
t=urueut ana neatness feeding q baby with d
mothers tender care. This brown crlr1b Of hrl-
inanty vas Jess than a month Old. but its mother
mad gone 10 her service place after leaving the
baby and bog ten years old IN the Tea hers"
care In referring 10 -hese children. Mrs Feruan-
dis said The 1u-er around here cannot afford
board their babies oLr. Had IL not been for the
nlrsery here rls mother. for instance. would have
ioft hers a-- Gay in charge of IT'S little brother.
lae baby would not have been properly cared for
and t.= boy would have been kept out % school
80 SOC that -- tiAs clse the settlement solves
a copt.e problem Dur whole scheme. 81 sar as
c-I1reD from seven and over are concerned. IS 20
take Up tAe wors where the public schools leave on
oGr Gay Iao3r begins A. O'Clock iu rho morning
hen mothers %. their way to work stop 70 leave
cEel- children in cur charge. This morning am in
caarge ot sevea. ask 1ve cents day for each
calid. 50 that sel-respcctng mothers VIII not feel
that tney are accepting charity. and also 10 Pre-
vent unworthy parents from burdening Us with
their little ones while they fr0lic around. At
O'Clock come the tiny children OF the He.ghbor-
hood r. - kindergarten class which j under the
n-rectllD ol voting colored woman graduate of
tne National Kindergarten Training School Tier
serE-ces are graruitous a. the afternoon we have
classes Of girls Tor domestic training where we f-
pupils 1r pra et.cal house service There IS also +,
girls wing class ia She afternoon, al which CID
garments are Cut over and made into clothing Tor
needy Etrle ones tu cne kindergarten
Later il the afternoon tEe irst ro0r ~ the little
house. which is plain, 5ut bright and comfortable.
becomes q elu5roo-, where The children OF the
UeighborEcoG may ara-Ee themselves after school;
Che girls fraU 70 g o'clock. and the boys from s
10 O'Clock ~ thls room there are magazines
sid story books OF travels adventures and fairy
rales end = number OF table games Often cuIt-
ured colored men ANA women visitors drop into the
club and tel stories, read or otherwise entertain
the Ch4creu, and the good effect Of this work Is
evident. especially among ire boys who show
disposition - give up had companions Of the
street
'i- AonGaE evenings 0-eclDEG are held fCr moth
Frz, a1u on Fr Gays for young men. Sometimes.
ci t1-se occasions. cups OF coffee cocoa and
sart.U-ioi.eS -r- zerved- opposite the settlement
tcL=- IS dump ieId. wlose owner has permitted
is use PLAYS ground. The boys have cleared
t.e 1iadle ot tE. l0r ~ tons Of scrap iron and
oL,er 81 1riE and tIe Associated Charities has put
~ swings, Enes1Ws and other outdoor pasrinles.
Nof lorg HrE. FerHan6ls made a round or the
ne-Eh-rr1coc. alu persuaded a number OF families
70 peein ~lNfsi- ol 8 suaI scale. This fea of
@ work has progressed so Tar that the depusirOrs
q" .i-r -nG stamps book now come 70 her with