New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-25
AFFORDS STEPPING STONE
Hence Name of "SociaI Labora-
tory" for Men Out of Work.
FORBES TELLS OF METHODS
Describes How Clergyman's Son,
Sea Captain and Sculptor
Received Fresh Starts.

street, is the social laboratory In which the
National Association for the Prevention of
Mendicancy and Charitable Imposture is
doing its constructive work.
The association, under the direction Of its
general secretary, James Forbes, has been
doing active work for more than three
years. but Stepping Stone House has been
open since January J only. Already
enough men have found this home a real
stepping stone to better things to make It's
founders feel that their plan has proved its
value
This is not refuge for tramps, nor free
lodging house for reformed beggars and eX-
tramps. II is temporary home for the
exceptional man who by virtue of his own
ability does not belong TO the vagrant type,
but who is losing his grip owing to cir
cumstances and sliding into mendicancy
for want Of friendly aid at the right mo-
ment. The purpose is the same IS that OF
the social settlements-work with the in
dividual and not hasty grouping OF in
dividuals into crowds, to be dealt with all
alike.
I'VE do not treat the men like cattle
says Mr.. Forbes. we do not lock them In :
we do not treat them as eases but as
guests They are made TO understand that
the place is real home for them. There
ia no definite limit TO the length of mans
stay. This is determined by circumstances
The home is made the basis Of operations
only. and as soon as he can step into some
thing better he does SO. Some men need
10 stay only a few days Others are with
us for weeks"
Since the capacity Of the house is only
twenty-five guests, Mr.. Forbes is careful in
selecting them to choose the exceptional
man. the man for whom something can
really be DONE the man TO whom such as
sistance means permanent reclamation from
the ranks of beggars
"One man who is with us still said Ny.
Forbes, rs a graduate of the University
Of Bresau and a good pharmaceutical
chemist He had a severe attack of ty-
phod fever, which laid him UP for five
months 4 peculiar result OF his illness
was that his hair turned gray in patches.
Because of the effect upon his appear
ance he has been unable TO get work. He
would be glad 10 work in a drug store. but
they won't take him because he doesn' I
look Young. This is just one. instance OF
the social cost of disease In a big city:
Another OF our guests is an lrishman
who is too old 10 continue in his regular
profession Of horse training, but ne hopes
him TO the country.
"A Dane, who was a foreman boiler max
or for a railroad in the South, was knocked
out by rheumatism. He came 10 New 1orK.
a police ambulance took him TO Bellevue
From there he was transferred 10 the Met
ropolitan Hospital
him adrift on the street again. don't tel
this as a reflection on the hospital They
can't keep the men Longer because otbszs 'ag
waiting TO come in; but, while the hospital
does the best II can. the result, as far as
the individual Is concerned. Is pretty %lS
is q homeless man, with no family 10 60 70
That man came to us, and we kept him
until he was able 10 go 10 work
CIereyman's Son Stranded.
We have still with us a young man
whose father is an Episcopal clergyman
IN a Southern state He came TO New York
and secured employment during the holiday
season as salesman in one OF the best
retail book stores in the city. Being one
Of the more recent recruits, II was his fate
70 be laid OF as soon as the rush was over,
and he was left without work for some
time.
The next place he obtained was as clerk
IN a railroad Office at so month. He had
drawn only one months pay when the coal
strike caused his indefinite suspension. He
vas stranded In New York without money,
and he was a stranger
That is the kind of man who ought not
10 be hit on the head with offer CT
Woodworking. In the first place. the man
isn't used to hard. muscular eXertion, as he
had always done clerical work, and one
DAVIS work in a woodward would take more
out Of him than the 80 cents remuneration
could repay. In the second place, he was
80 fortunate as TO have decent clothes,
which are a decided asset in looking for the
Kind OF fob he wanted, and q day Of wood
yard work would do more than 80 cents
worth Of damage 10 his clothes This young
man Is we'll educated. and so far as can
tell is a capable fellow. who would make
good All he needs is the chance.
I'm frank to admit that out Of Il large
number of unemployed men in New York
City a great many are unemployable, but
even these were not so in the beginning.
Mr.. Forbes believes that enforced idleness
tends to create voluntary idleness. and GER
tainly too long a period of unemployment
is demoralizing.
And. on the other hand" he said, those
who are now promising and capable may
unless we give them help at the critical
moment slide back into the mass OF In
capables and mendcants. II Is only mat
ter OF letting them go long enough. There
ought to be some way Of arresting this
evil at the start
III there were organizations big enough
TO do Just what we are doing on large
scale they could go TO the lodging houses
and 10 the Mills hotels and get hold OF the
nro,nising men before the ambition and
Initiative are Slapped out OF them by tina.
Kind of environment. OF course, / think
. lot OF money could be well spent in
sending some of these men back TO their
former homes.
"AmonC our present guests is an elderly
pbysician, the granddaughter Of former
ice-President of the United States. He
came here from the West, where he had had
employment lecturing. Unable to get work
IN New York, he walked the streets in des-
peration until a policeman sent him to us.
He expects to find employment lecturing at
some beach resort this summer. lie is a
good talker
Case Of a Young Sculptor.
1--WE had one very interesting experience
with a young sculptor whose father is a
prosperous business man. the Mayor Of
a city in Germany ind a shining light in
ali anti-mendicancy society. The boy
wanted TO be an artist, but after he had
tried II a while, his father, who did not
share his love OF art, told him he could
give I'D his studies and come home TO work
IN his business as the other sons were
doing. or he could have no further financial
help from the family.