Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-21
THE MONDAY EVENING CLUB

OF those organizations which deal with
the uplift OF washington none is more
active than the Monday
Social Evening club. This or
p~nhI. ganization Is composed
Of several hundred men
and women who are or have at some
time been actually engaged in social bet
terment problems and work. The club
can best be likened to q huge caldron in
which are put all the problems that touch
the social life of the National Capital in
the broadest sense Of the term. Once
brought before the organization q ques-
ton Is thoroughly investigated by those
who are competent Of handling the SUBJ
ject. the pros and cons are carefully
weighed. and all possible care is taken
that the course finally decided upon
Is the best from all standpoints.
After this process of slow and thorough
simmering an active campaign outside
Of the organization is begun IL that seems
to be the course necessary for its accom-
plishment. and is continued until the OBJ
ject has been accomplished or conditions
have been bettered
1t was in October, 1895. that the Mon
day Evening Club was first conceived in
this city, the Monday Evening Club of
Botson being taken as the model. 1t was
born at the Young Womens Christian
Home. where an informal meeting was
held of those interested in social better
ment work. At that time the plan was to
include only paid charity and philan-
tropic workers, and consequently those
who attended this meeting were people
9TH in No f, fS,er< nsa
personally knew its greatest needs. The
late Mrs. Sarah s. Fuller Of the Associat-
ed Charities issued the invitations which
resulted in the meeting, and suggested
workers. the object to be the discussion
of subjects regarding the work of their
societies and the promotion of personal
acquaintance. Mrs. Fuller spoke of the
Boston Monday Evening Club as an or
ganization which enabled charity and
philanthropic workers to cooperate more
effectually.
When the club was formed only two
men were present, Herbert w. Lewis Of
the board Of children's
Organization guardians and George
1rA s. Wilson, then general
HAeotAA8. secretary Of the Asso-
ciated Charities. Mrs. Louise Skinner.
then superintendent Of the Young Wom-
ems Christian Home, was present. and
she. too, described the work OF the or
ganization in Botson, after which 1t was
planned to pattern the local club. Mr..
Wilson offered the resolution which re-
suited in forming the Monday Evening
Club Of Washington. The first officers
were Mr.. Herbert w. Lewis. president:
Mrs. Louise Skinner, vice president; Mrs.
Sarah 8. Fuller, secretary, and Miss B.
NJ. Wilson. treasurer.
At the close Of the first year the men,
bership. Of the club numbered thirty-five
and included practically all the PAID
workers In the charity organizations and
correctional and philanthropic institutions
Of Washington. Meetings were held In
various places. while the subjects dis
cussed during that period were largely re-
lating to technical problems Of the MEM
bers.
From that small beginning the Monday
Evening Club has grown until at present
its membership numbers considerably
more than 800 The direct cause of this
large membership Is due to change In
the constitution in 1898 to make it possible
charitable or philanthropic work in Wash
ington to become an active member. This
change from those who were actually re-
ceiving money for their work to the SIM
pie requirement Of being engaged in char
table work had the effect of greatly
addition, broadening the work as well,
as from that time on more compre-
hensive program was followed.
Meetings Of the Monday Evening Club
are held the third Monday in each month
from October to May, in
Public elusive. at the Young
r,n Mems Christian Associa-
AeoAtn' ton. The method of pro-
cedure is to choose some vital subject,
which is not only OF importance in it's
connection with Washington, but which
most likely is being generally taken up
by social betterment workers. and to
make that the general topic during the
year. Thus, this seasons topic Is Pub
lie Health" This general subject in turn
is subdivided into as many sub-topics
for discussion as there are available meet
ings. The November meeting of the past
year was taken up with the discussion Of
Housing Of Our Alley Neighbors" and "A
Volunteer Inspection OF Houses. the re-
spective speakers being DR.. Thomas Jesse
Jones and Gustavus A. Weber. This
meeting resulted in the naming Of COM
mittee under the craftsmanship OF DR..
Jones for the purpose Of thoroughly In
vestigatilng the problem of alley housing
conditions, with the aim OF alleviating the
congestion and insanitary conditions
which generally prevail.
1t was made known that there were
25S blocks in washington which contain
inhabited alleys. while In the alleys them
selves were found 3,148 dwellings, hous-
ing approximately 5000 people. In maxi
ing q detailed Investigation 1t was found
that the northwest leads In the number
No. h~1R fr0
number are to. be found in that section
of the city. The smallest number are
located in the northeastern section. The
average number Of houses to the alley
is 1872.
The four most common causes of
death, with their respective death rates.
were also summarized, show
Death ing that while 31O.9 out
MI Of every 100000 white per-
Ao1l. sons in the alleys die of pneu-
monia, only 117.9 die of the same disease
in the streets. tuberculosis demands a
toll in the alleys of 1865. with a
corresponding toll Of 1912 in the
streets, also among the white. Whooping
cough is the cause Of 62.2 deaths in the
alleys, with but a little more than 5
in the streets. The figures for the
same three diseases in connection with
the colored population show that pneu-
monia kills 1928 in the alleys, as against