Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-19
WORTH WHILE FOLK: LILLIAN D. WALD
BY F. L. NELSON

both by the city and by other welfare organizations. In
fact it would be undue praise to say that majority
of the modern expedients for alternating wrong living
conditions in city slus had their origin the brain of
Lillian d. Valid. She pioneer in the movement
for public Fairgrounds, effectively established
in New York. One of the earliest Fairgrounds in the
city that in the back yard of the Henry Street Set
Element. She led the movement for system of nursing
in the Schools the settlement lending the services of
for the experiment. New York now has
ganized corps of school nurses. and other cities
rapidly taking up the movement She showed the need
of public baths by establishing in the settlement.
Now several East Side schools have baths the city has
public bath system that while still lacking adequacys
excellent and recently went through the process of
claiming the first section of its seashore at Coney Island
In the ceaseless upon tuberculosis in the estab
lshment of pure milk depots, vastly important work
in New York. which has contributed to reduce the rate
of infant mortality to proportionatey lower figure
than any other city, the Henry Street Settlement has
been in the lead The settlement maintains, opposite
its Henry-st. headquarters thoroughly appointed
milk station to which of its patrons contributes the
entire milk production of his great estate Miss Valid has
also been leader in the establishment of housekeeping
centers of boys and girls clubs in fresh air work for
babies, mothers, and convalescents
TT is hopeless to attempt to express in figures by
the enumeration of activities, the influence of
Lillian D. Valid. 1t is impressive to say that the Henry
Street Settlement ministers daily the needs of three
thousand PERSONS that the number Of its visiting
has grown from Miss Valid and her devoted companion
to ninety-two; that from the squalid sckroom of
the work of nursing has spread the island
of Manhattan, divided into eleven districts each with
its headquarters and corps of 1t interesting
to know that the settlement maintains well appointed
convalescent home six summer homes, boys camp,
and homes for girls 1t inspiring to visit the set
Element inspect its individual activities its neigh
borhood dances, its gymnasium, its kindergarten its
cassrooms for boys, girls, mothers, and men.
But neither in these things, in the of them is
to be found the true influence of Miss Valid. That may
be found only in the hearts of the thousands of men and
women who have grown into American citizens under
the touch of the Henry Street Settlement, who have
gone among their fellows with the love OF Miss
Valid and the desire extend her work the inspr
ton of their lives.
This is the true secret of the success of Lillian D.
inspire Others with the desire to help 1t is
fine commentary the self efacement with which she
does this that though you will find the walls OF the
Henry Street Settlement the portraits of great socioo
gsts, from Tolstoy to Jane Addams inscribed
with loving testimony of the influence of Miss Valid,
you will look in vain for the likeness of the founder.