The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-17
REGENERATING
 THE TRAWIGS
The Story of the Panhandle Club-A New Way to Keep the Wolf Out Work of the Visiting Housekeeper.

Housekeeper.
 T. J. EDMONDS,
 financial Secretary, Cincinnati Char
 ity Organization Society.
 Exclusive Service The Survey Press
 Bureau.)
 Nestling amid the hills of the Lit tie Miami Valley is a quaint village exploits of Mad Anthony Wayne in those parts over a century ago. In recent years a group of twelve girls existed there known as the "Panhan- dle CIub.'
 What strange name for a club, D says reader. It was not so called from the gentle peripatetic art of ''panhandling". Panhandle" meant what it said-the handle of a pan. The Panhandle Club was a cooking club. Each month 1t met at the home Of one of the twelve and the hostess prepared repast of the most whole some pieces de resistance and the most delectable fluffinesses. There were twelve lucky men invited to these feasts. And-well eleven of them have now married eleven of the girls. and the twelfth, an unhappy bachelor, curses the day he left that village of romance
 The history of the old Panhandle Club illustrates the importance of the housekeeping art before marriage; the experience of social workers in the homes of the poor emphasizes it's inn Portance after the home has been es- tablished.
 Every social worker has learned that although sometimes the wolf en- terS the home because the income is too small, more often he comes be- cause the outgo is too large; that too many pennies roll away in the wake of burned and discarded food mater ials and unmended garments; that when mothers don't know how to fight germs with cleanliness and sanitary habits disease becomes a culture me dfum for poverty and poverty again for disease in what physicians call a vicious circle.''
 To cure poverty arising, from ignor- ance of the principles of domestic econ omy the Associated Charities of Gin cinnati employed visiting housekeep- CT, Miss Greif Her work and just how she gets results that spells the ultimate redemption of families from the curse of poverty may be most strikingly told by a true story of one family.
 The Trawigs were a study German family consisting of Wentzel Trawig, his frau, and the six little Trawigs Just as many years ago as there are members in the family, the Trawigs came from the Fatherland lured by tales of the great rewards in the Land of Promise across the sea.
 Late in November the visiting house keeper of the Associated Charities found the Trawigs living in rear apartment of wretched tenement on West Fifth street, approached through a long narrow hallway full of sudden windings and turnings and even in day time utterly dark. There were two rooms for eight people. The first of these with two beds was the typ ical dark room'', lightless and unven- tilated. The rear room opened upon narrow court by two superlatively dirty windows In it were two cots, a stove, a table piled with dishes un- washed and enough rickety chairs to accommodate quorum of the family.
 MT. Trawig was away from home in his vain search for work. Little Mary, aged seven, was along the rail- road tracks picking up coal. Mrs. Trawig was endeavoring to restore the original color of underclothing which Italian workmen in the neighborhood had brought to her. For this she earned from SIPS to s1.75 per week.
 Miss Greif persuaded the mother to clean the children. Dena, who had temperature of 102 and legs all broken out with large red blotches, was sent to the hospital. The kitchen was put in order and a place found for the cooking utensils. The furni- ture in general was strengthened up. The beds were neatly made, the win dows cleaned. better ventilation se- cured. The door leading into the dark room was opened. At nearby stores Miss Greif ordered coal and provisions sent in at once
 Later MT Trawig, stimulated to greater efforts by the improved tone of his home, was more successful in finding work. The week after Miss Greif's first visit he earned s4.50 the next week s750. Finally he secured a position in the railroad yards, where he is now earning very comfortable wage. The foreman says that Trawig is one of his most trustworthy em- ployes
 The family were found a house-a whole house with three very large light rooms-in the suburbs. five minutes walk from Trawig's work. In the rear of the house is little yard and beyond that is a stretch of wild hill side upon which the little Trawigs may romp themselves into health and happiness. As Wentzel Trawig trudges to his work in the morning, the rising sun filings silver sheen put or US LTedSur6-nOuSe m the EdSC and lays it at his feet, promise of nope that makes him glad for his chill dren's sake.
 Mrs. Trawig too is a re-made wo, man. Neatly dressed and wearing the air that even the beginning of brings, she looks every whit the type of most intelligent and German matron. One can see that she is really quite a l handsome woman. And the children | are immediately clean. The home l rom kitchen to parlor is spotless, and | l most delicious odor from the region | of the stove declares that Mrs. Ira | wig is a graduate cook and that Miss | Ireifs services as a housekeeper are | 10 longer needed. But she is always 70 come and see them. for they wor- ship her as the patron saint who plan led and executed with some magic power their complete redemption.
 The Trawig family is only one of he forty-four which Miss Greif visit ed last month. some once week, some several times each week.
 Miss Greifs work differs from the nore specialized work that is being lone elsewhere. Miss Greif not only | does. She scrubs, she va shes the children. she cooks the meals when necessary.
 ."The fault of so many homes." says Miss Greif in describing her work, lis general confusion and filth and lack If system and neatness. Cooking utensils should be hung up Or put in heir places Clothes should be hung ID. It makes them wear longer. Pro- ha mn ir1f fn