Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-25

noon and the following Officers were !
elected for the ensuing year; Chief |
Justice Charles b. Lore, President; |
Miss Lucy Bancroft, First Viee-Presi-
dent: Mrs. John hendlnhal, Second
Vice-President; Frederick =. Stone,
Treasurer; Charles NJ. Curtis, Recording
Secretary; Miss Mary Malone, Correspond
ing Secretary.
During the meeting announcement
was made of a donation Of $1,000 for the
purchase of a lot upon which to erect q
new home for the settlement. II was
decided not to make public the name Of
the donor, but a committee was APP
pointed to look about for a suitable site.
At the close of the regular meeting the
executive committee met and named
Miss Sarah Pyle as head worker and Miss
Mary Johnson to have charge of the
kindergarten.
Miss Pyle reviewed the years work
and told of the Improvements that have
been made. She said she could not tell
adequately what the work is doing. She
likened the settlement to a hive of bees
and only system prevented confusion.
1t is necessary to know the individuals
and be with them in joy and sorrow to
realize the result. In addition to the
work in the 26 clubs and classes il has
sent a helping hand into many a home
and has given strength TO the weak
and spared neither time nor strength to
help develop useful men and women
The club work has been a natural growth
from the beginning, limited only by the
need Of room.
In all of the settlement work the rela-
tionship is rather sharing than giving.
To encourage all a study room has been
opened to boys and girls and any who
are specially talented the way is opened
to develop those talents The idea was
brought out that it is sought to bring
out in each a sense Of the individual
power and to develop that power for
good. The settlement comes in close
touch with the boys and girls and though
the condition is cramped the settlement
feels that coming in contact with the
home life strengthens the work.
Most every member contributes few
pennies each week to belong TO the clubs.
The settlement is self-helping and self
respecting. Each child attends because
they all feel that they have a right so to
do.
One of the aims is to improve the
neighborhood conditions. Last fall il
was instrumental in having an arc light
placed at Taylor and Church streets.
She told of the settlement camp,
which was attended last year by 97
members, and it has proved to be a
source of benefit and pleasure to the
people.
The lecture course was a great benefit
One especially enjoyed was given by
Mrs. Benjamin Nields. II was on civic
purity and one of the women led a move
ment in the Womens Club to pre-
vent vote-buying. The A nti-Cigarette
! League was helpful to the boys. They
I we're given lectures, showing the harm
from smoking. Many ceased smoking
and have brought in others, the league
now having 80 members.
The drawing class, under one Of
, Howard Pyle's students, is doing good
work. st. Nicholas Magazine has
offered to consider some OF the draw
ings.
The Penny-a-day Society, composed
Of parents of the children, has been
working hard and adding to the building
fund, over $50 having been raised since
January.
There are over 100 depositors in the
Penny Provident Bank, and they aver
age $40 on bank night, once a week.
The people have shown their appre-
ciation of the library, which is loaned
by the Institute Free Library There
are $50 volumes and an average of 100
month are taken out.
The play hour has proved a great
source Of delight. The children have
learned to play fair and honestly, which
makes a vast difference in the kindness
toward each other.
During the winter the five rooms
were filed at each session with boys and
girls
Miss Pyle said that though others
were encouraged over last years report,
to her there was a cloud, for she had
been hoping and working and tried to
place before her audiences the great
need for a new building, but no response
has come. This year there was a rain
bow of hope in that $1,000 was given
for the building lot and she felt that it
rested with the people as to whether
they should have their building this
year. She asked for a vigorous cam
paign of hard work, effort and sacrifice.
She said she had been assisted by a
loyal band of faithful, devoted CO.
workers who had some times been called
upon to share burdens greater than
human strength ought to bear, and they
have never refused. "No earthly reward
commensurate with the effort, she con-
tinued, twill ever come TO these brave
souls, but 80 far as the headworker's
gratitude is their reward that is fully
theirs, and if good has been wrought at
the Peoples Settlement this year it is
not because so many hundred dollars
have been spent, but because men and
women have caught the vision Of human
brotherhood and service, and have ac-
eomplished the work in this way.n