New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-21
NEW HOME FOR ORPHANS
Hebrew SheItering Guardian
Society DediCateS Building.
MAYOR ADVISES THE JEWS
Says They Ought to Go Back to
the Land and Use Hands
as Well as Wits.

The new buildings OF the Hebrew Shell
tering Guardian Society for Orphans were
dedicated at Pleasantviile, n. Y. yester-
day in the presence of about 900 per-
sons. Mayor Gaynor, Controller Prendcr-
CAST. Borough President McAneny and
John Purroy Mitchell, President OF the
Board Of Aldermen, were the speakers
The ceremonies opened with prayer by
the Rev DR.. Joseph silverman. Joseph
Buttenwleser presented the keys OF the
Institution, and they were accepted by
Adolph Lewisohn, president OF the soci-
ETY.. Charles Bell, president Of the vii
lage of Pleasantville, also made a short
address.
Other prominent persons present were
Robert Abbott, secretary of the State
Board Of Charities; Michael Drummond.
Commissioner of Charities in New York,
DR.. Henry NJ. Leipziger and Louis Mar
shall At the close Of the ceremonies
the benedction was offered by the Rev.
II. II. z. Mendes
Mayor Gaynor congratulated the soci-
ETY. on being able TO leave New York and
get into the country, and he expressed
the hope that all Of the orphan asylums
would find II possible to do the same
thing. The worst place in the world, he
said. to bring up children was in the
city and especially large city.
The problem in the congested districts
Is what to do with the children" said
Mr.. Gaynor. why, some people hate to
see them in the streets at all. Where do
they expect them to be? Some old maids,
both male and female, who have no chill
dren, are constantly writing to me COM
planning bitterly of children in the streets
on their roller skates. They bump into
them now and then, II is true, / admit
that, but what is TO be done with them,
pray! As a health measure alone they
have got to have exercise. And so with
the orphans. 1t is really no place for them
in the city"
The Mayor said he was gratlfied to learn
that the children would be taught useful
occupations. To teach the boys and girls
agriculture was important, the Mayor
said. 1t was known in America that the
Jews were not agriculturists but It was
because for a thousand years in Europe
they had been denied the privilege or
owning land.
Mr.. Gaynor told his hearers that any
nationality that votes as a clan or hangs
together on Election Day is doing the
worst possible thing. It was to be said
to the credit OF the Jewish people that
they were fairly well divided among the
political parties OF the country. They
had not voted except from political con-
victiOns. uninfuenced by anything else.
They had been accorded honors, and
when they ran at the polls they had been
fairly treated, and II there had been any
prejudice at all It had been small.
Continuing. the Mayor said: I'VE shall
be glad to see these children come out
good Americans and be glad TO see them
coming out willing to go to the carpen-
ter's bench, 10 the blacksmith's forge or
out into the country milking cows or
ploughing. / was one night in a syna-
Cogue. and l went 10 say this. A man
told me to be careful and not say It, as
Il would not be liked. ! said | was not in
the habit OF stopping to find out whether
what / said was liked. II Is necessary
that those in authority should speak the
plain fact, and l am now speaking It to
YOU as see f. And l think that you see
II the same way; II may be vanity, but
think So"