Newark post., 1911-10-18
The Settlement Is Formally Open

head worker of the Peoples Set
tlement last evening, when, fol-
lowing the presentation OF the
keys of the new $4,000 settle
ment house. she was called upon
for speech. Last night, after
nine years of hard work, Of will
ing sacrifices and of many set
backs, the mecca of the dreams,
OF the hopes, Of the one ambition
CT: the leader of the settlements
work in Wilmington was realized.
Last night the new building OF
the Peoples Settlement, was de-
dicated amid rounds of enthus-
iasm. Prior to the starting OF the
dedication exercises proper, which
were held in the gymnasium in the
basement, the building was thrown
open for inspection. Miss Pyle
and her assistants were here, there
and everywhere, anxious to con-
duct the hundreds of visitors on
tour through the building.
At 8 o'clock the guests assem-
bled in the gymnasium and in the
balcony above It, and for two
hours they were entertained by
addresses of men who have taken
an active part in the recent CAM
paign OF the local settlement work.
ers, and former Wilmingtonians,
who know and appreciate the won
derful work that has been accom-
plished by Miss Pyle and her as
sociates. Jacob A. Riis, of New
York, a man who is perhaps tie
greatest OF all settlement work
ers and who, by his wonderful
work in the slums OF New York
City, has made himself not only
nationally, but internationally
known, was present and address
ed the gathering.
A pretty feature OF the exer-
cises, prior to the address of the
speakers OF the occasion, was that
enacted by the boys and girls OF
the settlement. The opening
strains of the settlement march
was the signal FOR their appearance
the boys costumed in the khaki
suits of the boys brigade and tha
girls in white and wearing sashes
and hair ribbons of blue. The
manly lNtlN Fellows Horned IAN
arch just inside the doorway,
through which the little maids of
the settlement marched to their
seats in the front of The room.
Then the inspiring strains of the
Star Spangled Banner were
sounded and in a swelling chorus
the notes of the national air made
the walls ring with their volume.
The boys and girls 'of the settle
ment showed that they too were
loyal, not only to their country,
but to their settlement. The set
tlenent song was rendered with a
vim that proved beyond a doubt
that it came straight from their
hearts.
Judge George Gray was the
presiding officer. He congratu
lated Miss Pyle and her associates
lon this final outcome of their
noble work. Such club as this
he said, brings th. community to-
gether.
He spoke of the environment
that is found in the circle of the
settlement and compared it to the
association q: the streets. The fu-
ture of the country, he said to the
children, is what you choose tt
make it, and by the help you ge
under the shelter OF the settle
ment, you will make it the bcs
government and the best countr,
son the face Of the earth. judge
sGray introduced Jacob A. Riis.
Il have never seen building
in all my experience, he said, "ant
! am not saying this in flattery
that combines everything as thi
fore does. You get away fron
the institution feeling here an
one immediately feels at home.
MIR. Riis said that he felt particu
larly at home when, upon goin
into the room of one OF the work
ers, he saw on the wall pictur
of the Tammany tiger, and hun
just opposite was the GRIMM
countenance OF Theodore Roost
welt.
Mr.. Riis is not what the crit
would call an eloquent man, b,
the force of his message is wo1
derfully strong. Last night /
told stories and related scenes d.
picting the settlement work in tt
city of New York.