The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-22

 What was easily the most interesting lecture heard in Birmingham in recent years was delivered at the First Presby- terian church last night by Jacob Ris, one of President Roosevelt's most inti- mate friends and a sociologist whose How the Other Half Lives" and ''Roose- welt, the Citizen have won high rank in current American literature.
 The subject of MT. Riis' address last night was "The Rights of the Child" and he brought to it's consideration knowledge that was intimate and sympa- thy that was discriminating. For more than an hour he quite charmed the high ly intelligent audience that listened to what he had to say
 Man, American, kinsman." - In introducing Mir Riis. or J. w. Stagg, the pastor of the First Presby- terian church, said
 This lecture Is made possible by the council of women's clubs of Brming- ham, If ever anyone says anything against the united effort of good women, let public sentiment strike him dead.
 If I should say the lecturer for the evening is Jacob Riis, 1t would be suffi- cient introduction to all reading people, not alone in this audience, but through l out America
 Supreme devotion to the betterment of life, and the keeping of the heart true to the best models makes a man. Earnest endeavors to solve the problems and bear the burdens of this nation makes an American, no matter where born. Kindly interest in human kind makes a kinsman.
 "I introduce man, an American, our kinsman-Jaeob Riis.''
 A Hearty Welcome.
 Mir Rils was given a most hearty well come when he rose to speak, a greeting that was happily repeated when he ceased With sincerity and simplicity that readily won the sympathy of his l hearers, he proceeded to plead for the rights of the child. He pointed out that the child Is essentially the ward of the state and of the municipality, and that
 
 it's wards rights, safeguard them from infringement and surround the children with an environment that makes for, healthful development in body, mind and soul. He emphasized especially the need for healthful homes, adequate public schools and ample play-grounds, saying that failure to provide these for the chil- dren would breed vice and sin and crime that would later heavily tax the re- sources of the community in the form of jails, police, hospitals and asyums.
 Four Cardinal Points.
 Compressed into a few words his lec- ture enforced these four ideas: l. Whenever home is rescued from sloth and wretchedness and decay you're going to have good citizenship where you had bad citizenship before.
 9 The school is the place for the boy, and not the jail.
 g. For the purposes of making a better tomorrow, one Boys club is worth a hundred policemen's clubs.
 4 The boys right to play ball is as im- portant to any American community as the "habeas corpus" and ought to be as sacredly preserved, because you can't make a whole man out of half boy.
 Delighted With Birmingham.
 When seen last night at the Hillmar after the lecture, MT. Riis said he was delighted with Birmingham. He had planned he said, to cancel his lecture en- agreements a week ago. as he had been on the go every day since the election last fall and was thoroughly tired. When he went to the hall last night to speak he was all worn out, he said, but the character, intelligence ana sympathy of the audience were to him tonic, and he warmed up to his work
 "A more attractive audience" said he, fit has never in all my life been given me to address. Twas really delight to talk tonight tired though I was.
 Complicated Problems.
 'T am highly pleased with what I've seen of Birmingham. Yours is a young and rapidly growing city and I feel that the work that lies close to my heart | should not be and will not be neglected here. Sociological problems in the south are of course. complicated somewhat by the presence of a large negro. population. But I am hopeful that with patience and courage and unity of effort all these questions will be settled and settled rightly.
 | A Working Ideal. 'I think a working ideal in our effort to solve the negro problem wsstindcated in the Presidents Lincoln day address. The north must trust the south and the south must trust the north. The north ern people simply cannot understand this negro problem unless they study it at close range, and the south cannot under stand our point of view unless we rub up against one another. I am glad to know that the Presidents speech in New York the other day is commended by intelligent persons in the south"
 MT. Riis left last night for New York Before going he sent to Dr. Stagg 2. sub scription of s2o with the. request that it be given to the miners relief fund.