The Dickinson press., 1913-11-15
Goodall Dray Line

(By Bessie Flynn

O0lI6 U0Q6MlS 0IlQ uUll HOUSE
(By Bessie Flynn
Jane Adams was three and a half
years old, when one day upon reaching
home, she saw two flags waving above,
the gate posts, an American flag and.
a black flag. She ran and asked her
father what was the meaning Of this.
he told her solemnly and in tears that
the greatest mar of the world. Lincoln,
had died. This incident laid hold of.
the young girls heart, not so much be-
cause Of Lincoln's martyrdom as be-.
cause Of her fathers love for him.
In her childish eyes, her father was
great. He was a man of grave Quaker
mein. a respected miller of Cedarville
and a state senator Of Illinois. Her
pride in her father had a curious effect.
upon her; she imagined that she was
unfit for his company. In public. gath
she would pray that they would
not associate her, a homely girl, with
that distinguished and handsome states
man.
At seventeen, Miss Adams entered
Rockford college from which she vas
graduated in the summer of 1881. The
winter following her graduation vas
spent in the Woman's Medical college Of
Philadelphia, but the development Of a
spinal trouble caused her to leave. The
next two years were spent in travelling
in Europe. While in Europe a curious
sight met her eyes which told her dis
tinctly what her life work would be.
One night while travelling through the
East End of London. she saw many lily
clad people lowering about a hucksteis
cart filed with decaying vegetables
which, on account of the laws. could not
be sold on Sunday and would not keep
until Monday. One man in particular
had won a large half decayed cabbage
head and he Immediately sat down on
the curb and devoured it unwashed and
uncooked. This made a great impress
sion upon her mind and Immediately
upon arriving home she determined if
possible to better the conditions Of this
class Of people.
On September. 1888. Miss Adams got
a leasehold Of the Charles j. Hull house
which still bears his name. The first
undertaking was that of a kindergarten
and a nursery. Then later a library
was established. Here all classes
came for help and assistance. "A gym
nasium and playground were provided
fol. the young and a sewing and cook
ing class was opened for girls and be-
lievine in the power of the drama she
instituted this feature alsoin full house.
The settlement casts aside none of
the things which cultivated men have
come to consider reasonable and goodly,
but it insists that those things belong
as we'll to the great bodies Of people
who, because Of toilsome labor. are un-
able to procure them for themselves.
Miss Adams issa modern democrat.
But her democracy is not low and vul-
gar. Il is Identical with culture. the
culture Goethe defined as I. entering
into the life of the race
Hull house at Chicago, which has
Just finished its twentieth years worl
10 today the most extensive and i'm.
portant social settlement II the United
States No one other institution per.
hapss has had more influence in shap.
ine AMI inspiring the present movement
towards social reconstruction in thi.
country, ss
Behind every vital Observation-Disclosures.
vital personality. Without thu
f~abonndine faith j i carrying II out,
without noble! qualitiesso courage aalnlie
sympathy, no such institutjors coult
lriset 10 - place st power and influence.
Such q personality j Miss Jan,
Addams and such are A tie hilseh qualities
which she possesses. no sur.
prisins that saftetiw entYsssysa1 az Hui
House she would come 10 knosvn ..
tho foremost citizensof Chisageol.:,., A,
Zine whensssswomen me taking
GREATER part Ii public affaifs than eve
tbefose, Miss Addams maxwell D
called The iorenost AmefiesanNwofnan. 81
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