Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27

Resident Worker.
The close proximity of honest poverty and
vicious sloth renders the task one of great
delicacy and tact
between 1st and I'd streets on the south
side of NJ street. and is not outwardly dis
tinSuishable from the other dwellings which
environ it. The free use of this building
was rendered by young lady who is in
terested in 'Neighborhood House. a SIM
liar undertaking for white people on n
street q few blocks away. The establish
ment has been in operation for about two
years first a social center and later as
a social settlement, and its promise and
partial fultllment have filed the workers
with enthusiasm and determination to
carry it forward to fuller frutiOn. The
movement is the outcome of a conference
of colored workers, who, under the aus
pieces of the Associated Charities, have I'M
dertaken a study of the various problems
connected with the dependent. delinquent
and deficient colored people in this COM
of the Associated Charities has given the
fullest encouragement and assistance.
Aided by Their Own Race.
This endeavor of the more favored ele-
ment of the colored people to aid their less
fortunate fellows is regarded commendable
and significant. The seeming lack of sym
pathy and helpful relation between the two
classes of the same race has been widely
remarked upon a matter of reprOach.
Inc COlOreu lnQlNluQdlS VINO rise above the
level OF their race usually have so many
dependents in their CWn family or among
their relatives and immediate circle of
friends as to exhaust their charitable en-
ergy and resources. This accounts in large
part for the fact that while three-fifths of
the public charitable relief in this com
munity goes to the colored race, the coll
ored man himself has contributed very lit
tie in either the way of means or organized
effort. 1t is encoura ging. however. to know
that the educated colored men and women
are reaching out in wider and wider cir
cles to include in their kindly ministrations
all who suffer and are heavy laden. The
social settlement enterprise is chiefly de-
pendent upon the educated and resourceful
colored men and women of Washington
for personal service and financial support.
The best-known names in this community
are among the volunteers who are carry
ing on its various branches of activity.
The Resident Worker
The most difficult problem in social set
Element work is to find suitable resident
worker There is perhaps no field of phi
lanthropic endeavor that calls for so full a
measure of self-detachment, altruistic de-
votion and winsome resourcefuness. The
cheapness of good advice is pressed in a
well-known and well-worn formula. In
this day of gigantic philanthropic coutribu-
lions almsgiving has become almost as free
and as readily bestowed verbal advice.
But this is not looked upon charity
which the apostle describes as the greatest
of all virtues. The successful resident work.
er possesses the quality of courage both in
the active and the passive voice. She
knows how to approach all sorts and con-
ditions Of men and more fearful to be said
of women, too; and is at the same time
easily and pleasantly approachable by
them.
The promoters of the social settlement
have been very fortunate in securing the
services of Mrs. Sarah Collins Fernandis
as resident worker. Mrs. Fernands is a
graduate of Hampton, under Gen S. c.
Armstrong, who evolved his own pedagogic
method. Through this former pupil the i'll
f1uence of Gen. Armstrong; spirit has
touched the shade places and plague spots
Of the national capital. Mrs Fernandis
has done educational and missionary serv-
Ice in several southern states and cities,
and brings to the work the ripe experience
OF seasoned worker. To observe her as