Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-03
SLAMS, Japanese and many, very many
unfortunate Americans.
Lies Other Side

SLAMS, Japanese and many, very many
unfortunate Americans.
Lies Other Side
Down here is where we find the real
picture of life's 'other side" It is
what the fashionable folk would desig-
nate "the dregs," the hoi polloi, the bot
tom stratum of humanity; and some
times the fashionable folk almost for
get that these people are human, al
though they areas much so as the best
of us; and they are flesh and blood, with
hearts, souls. feelings, though among
them are many who seem to be
stunned, insensate, with faculties and
| feelings that have dwindled in despera-
ton; smothered in futile strife and
deprivation.
But the fashionable folk awake, at
times, and remember them. Now and
then, from the glittering maze of auto.
mobiles and hanson cabs that tour
from the Westlake boulevards to
swerve and steer for Vignes street.
And inside there is a woman, or a man,
carrying provisions, castoff clothing,
medicines, or perhaps a sum of money,
to be distributed among the needy.
These autos come often to the Beth
| lehem institute, and by them-aided by
countless other sources, unguessed and
81
part of the funds and materials neces-
sary to carry on the big work of the
| institute.
1t was after lunch when arrived al
the Bethlehem. Two score or more OF
workingmen, mostly Americans, were
grouped on the front porch, waiting for
word from Rev. Dana Bartlett's office
| that would direct them to work; or dis
cussing, hopefully or gloomily, the
prospects of employment. None OF
them glanced at me. If / was seen il
was merely to be regarded as another
| of the long line of unfortunates who
hourly stream to the institute in quest
of food, bed or labor.
| On the corner of the street, adjoin-
ing the main building, was the chapel
an unpretentious affair with common
benches and pulpit, where the doctrine
of the Galilean is preached to the in
mates on Sundays.
Adjoining this chapel 1 saw a sign
"Free Dispensary," and I entered it,
In the corner, nursing two sick chill
dren, was a Mexican woman and her
husband. Their sole belongings were
piled on a sheet in the center of the
| floor. A third child was playing on the
| lounge. 1 learned afterward that all
of them were penniless and that the
husband, who was old, was unable ia
get work. Rev. Mr.. Bartlett was pro-
V1QlnR meQlclne, IOOQ anu DldnK6IS. IOl
them until such time as work could be
given them.
pretended to be looking for someone
and passed on into another door. IT
was large schoolroom.
Mother Teaches Children
A destitute Japanese mother, with
two little girls, was sitting by long
table on which were piled primary
school books She was teaching them
to read and write their native language.
In another corner were several Mexican
boys studying English.
This school is run almost night and
day." said an educated Japanese, stand
ing close to me. "In the daytime there
are no regular teachers, but at night
they have big classes and good in
structors"
l nodded, indifferently, and passed on.
Nearly fifty children of dozen ma
tionalities were playing in the alley
way at the back OF the chapel, and in
the dusty street at the corner. They
were all happy. The struggles going
on in the minds % their fathers and
mothers, many of whom were actual
dependents on the charity of Dana
Bartlett, did not seem to bother them,
Their laughter was the only pleasant
thing that for awhile impressed me
about the institute. But, later, when |
bot a broader insight into the great
humanitarian work that was being