Evening journal., 1908-11-11
MR.. RIlS PLEADS
FOR SETTLEMENT
Prominent New Yorker Urges
Assistance to Elevate the
"Other HaIf'' Of Humanity

Jacob A. Riis. whom President Roose-
Welt once designated the best citizen
of New York" was given the same
characterization last night when he
was introduced by Judge George Gray
to very large audience at the New
Century Club. Mr.. Riis spoke in tits
interest Of tho Peoples Settlement
movement hero. the prem0ters Of which
are endeavoring to raise $4,000 for the
erection Of a handsome Settlement
uilding at Eighth and Kirkwood streets
on the platform with Mr.. Rlis and
Judge Gray were Chief Justice Charles
3. Lore. Archdeacon George G. Hall.
the Rev DR. H. W. Kellogg. William
Il. Shaw. DR.. Albert Robin, Judge r.
c. Bradford. Professor George w. Twit-
myer and other well-known Whining
tonians.
The audience attested its great in
terest in the author of How the Other
Half Lives" and other we'll known
uplifting books by applauding him
heartily on his introduction. Mr. Riis
prefaced his address with an explana-
tion OF the manner in which he first
| became interested in Settlement work.
He had been inspired he said, to write
How the other Half Lives by the
story of a rich woman who had given
Christmas party to her lap dog. 1T
was sickenng" said Mr.. Riis. but II
was because the woman had become
/ separated from her neighbor. she had
I forgotten the starving children. the
mothers in ~retchedness. She knew
nothing Of the other half and that is
why wrote that book. 10 tell just
such as she something of that halt
which she and her kind had left be-
yond."
Was a Newspaper Reporter.
His first work among the slums had
begun while he was a reporter On a
New York newspaper He told how
/ he had invited rich persons TO- send
/ flowers 70 the poor how they hid beer
sent TO him and how he had endesvored
20 distribute them himself with IN,
help Of six policemen with whom hs
had a pull" The organization Of boys
clubs by college girls was further
step toward the success Of tho settle
mont movement. Many apt little stor.
les were told by MIR. Ris Of his ex.
~
that the Settlement hoy and girl hav,
tho heart and manhood and woman
hood TO make them worth saving
Mr.. Riis emphasized the many bcnc
fits of the Settlement. Of which tn
juvenile court and the playground
movement were the chief But NOR
especially he urged the Importance o
the Settlement as being of the great
su1t al
for the best possible citizenship. N
investment could be better to the coun
try than money for the support of
settlement. he declares.
The street and the gutter make ruf
fans. not men," Mr.. Rils said 1T {
the purpose of the Settlement TO brinl
their attention to a higher plane o
life. to develop all the manhood tina
is in them The boy who IS iammc
into a shop when he should be In sohoc
or at play is the father OF the tram
who won't labor. This is the work q
the Settlement to seek the brother
lost in the confusion Of industrialism
There must be nothing about IN
settlement to suggest the institution
The neighbors' prime need Is the hom
he has lost When the home goes. ia
luAhAJ anu haAAARAltN 10. NlIlOI
4 these, a man has nothing to fight fo
This is one Of the functions Of IN
/ settlement TO give the neighbor a hom
) and a purpose.
r I'VE are the friends of the othe
half. 20 teach them and to learn froI
much.
The Settlement is an outpost c
= Democracy. II is revival of IN
a neighborly regime.
4 Il shall not be satisfied until I'll
! public school and the Settlement wor
Il together and when the school become
in fact. a settlement"
At the conclusion of his address. NJ
Riis suggested that DR. Kellogg max
!. few remarks. Dr. Kellogg saw n
s necessity for doing so. lie knew th
n people OF Wilmington well enough
Il known that Mr. Riis address woul
r show results. There was nothing. d
r said. that had been described by M
If Riis that was not TO be found in Wi
lmington