New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12
This Is a Hard Field, but
Full of Interest and
Adventure.
BY MARY MARSHALL.
CHAPTER XIV.

Only a few years ago social settlement
work was a fad. II was-at least many
sensible folk thought-an occupation tor
restless women OF wealth who sought u.s.
traction from themselves. II too often ap-
pcaIcG to the sentimentaly curious young
woman who wanted 10 get a glimpse OF now
the other half lives. II was not at all the
rort OF vocation that a sensible parent
would recommend to his daughter. In iact'
until recent years social settlement WORK
was not a vocation at all.
There are still volunteer workers in set
Element work--young women of wealth ana
leisure vino give more or less or their tinle
ami thought To this work But the work
done in settlement centres IL more and more
coming to be put on business basis ana
II has proycd true that I'm the long run the
work Of women who are paid is worth EAR
more to the cause OF settlement work than
the amount Of the settlement workers
wages. In several cases young women VINO
don't really need the salary they obtain lor
the settlement work they do accept 1t mere
" because they think that in so doing they
nut the whole field Of settlement work on
finer basis. and do not put the other young
women who need the salary attached 10
similar work TO the disadvantage OF COM
netting with unpaid labor.
SO. II your daughter happens to be one
Of those big hearted young women who feel
n strong and persistent inclination to help
their fellow beings. and II this inclination Is
backed up by good health, a social DISPOSE
ton and what famous settlement WORKER
calls "a vigorous outgoing personality
then the place for her to start her Voca-
! tional lot Is In settlement work. Although
she will never grow rich at this calling as
far as dollars and cents go. she may be
sure OF earnings anywhere from 500 10
| 81. 500 a year and great deal in the way OF
the Joy of doing good besides
| At the present time there are many ways
| a Young woman can make herself useful'
| and incidentally self-supporting. in varl-
| Gus centres Of social settlement work
There are openings for nurses kindergart-
| ners. teachers OF cooking dressmakinS and
physical culture. doctors stenographers
| and Office workers who. In addition 10 the
particular speciality they possess. have the
| knack and temperament needed for settle
ment work But besides these specialists
who by the way. receive about the same
/
vices would command In other places
there is q large group OF settlement work
ers who come under the head OF executives
| and assistants TO executives who md their
place without any OF the above mentioned
| special qualifications.
A Young woman. to hold such an execu-
tive position. would have to possess a nat
ural knack Of getting things done and MAX
irg other people do them. To be sure.
many OF the executives OF settlement houses
are college graduates. but degree Is BY no
means necessary for this sort OF work The
schools Of philanthropy In various large
cities also furnish goody number or
graduates To settlement houses. but many
~ the prominent settlement workers OF to-
day did nor have any training Of this kind.
one OF the most prominent and successful
settlement leaders, woman whose meth
DDS and results are II the most practical
sort-says that the thing that a settlement
worker needs above all else Is no. IA krewl-
edge OF facts and figures but the sort or
decp understanding OF human nature that
comes through an understanding OF the
worlds great poets and artists. So 10 the
young gir' who dreams OF becoming a set
Element leader some day the best tdvice
10 give her Is that she go on living and
feeling in lust as broad and syml athletic
manner &C she possibly can. II she can go
10 college, we'll and good. The friends she
makes there and the discipline Of the train
Ing will all stand her in good stead when