New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-24
AMERICAN STUDENTS ABROAD
The Need of Safeguarding Their Morals
Is Declared To Be Urgent.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The discussion that has arisen
over American students OF music abroad
opens a wider subject than that Of the
advantage or otherwise of musical educa-
ton I'm Europe. It touches upon'tAe moral
status of students of both seXes-not alone
of music. but Of medicine. law. drama,
painting, literature, science, etc. and the
Importance of their being in moral sur
roundings.
1t is natural that an cutlery should come
from Berlin, where 50 much has been
done to protect American girls studying
in that city; also. because a loss If pat
ronage would mean a serious dehclt to
the landladies. Agencies abroad state
that So per cent of European travellers
are Americans. But notwithstanding the
Berlin protest. all landladies there are
not scrupulous, either in feeding or In
housing students, nor regarding the
moral atmosphere Of their homes.
Recently I spent two years abroad.
making a study of the conditions under
which students live. The result was the
starting OF the International Association
for Housing Students and Travellers, of
which the Duchess Of Marlborough was
the first president.
1t is true that a voting man or woman
can lead a clean life If possessing self
control and purity of character But put
artistic or irreligous students in lax sur
roundings. and they easily yield 10 temp
tatons Those least in need OF protec-
ton are Just those who gravitate 70 safe
quarters, found through the Young Mems
| 4 ,;c Women
Christian Association. but many students
are averse to living IN places connected
with church institutions. IT is this class
(perhaps only indiscreeD who often give
American students bad reputation
abroad, and It is this class who especially
need wholesome and clean surroundings
TO develop their moral natures.
In Munich there is a saying that every
landlady is a cast-of mistress started
in business with a check. Certainly
large percentage, when investigated, were
found 10 possess very easy morals. IN
London. in the neghborhood of the Brit
ish Museum, University College. the
schools Of medicine etc. there are count
less cheap boarding houses frequented by
students OF both sexes. \ great many OF
these landladies are beyond question i'm
moral and addicted TO drunkenness. The
wife Of a police inspector told me he
could not make raids on these houses be-
cause of the respectable people boarding
there.
This is the danger: There are land
ladies who cater to a few old fogies or
unsuspecting girls, so that these will ad-
vertise their places; but. sub rosa, the
boarding houses are immoral and con-
taminate the young men entering them.
At a public meeting, with the Mayor OF
Holborn and the Duchess of Marlborough
present. testimony to this effect was given
by Catholic priests and clergymen OF
various other denominations
Young men as well as young women
should be protected and afforded decent
homes while abroad. The French Consul
in London told me he could keep one GER
titled house permanently filed from APP
plicants he had for respectable boarding
and lodging houses.
The growth of the International Asso-
citation for Housing Students and Travel
lers proceeds slowly. because people do
not realize the imperative need OF this
work-not only abroad. but. as the presi-
dent OF Columbia University and the dean
Of Barnard say, right here I'm New York
The object OF this association is TO pro-
vide lists OF certified boarding and lodging
houses, where transients travellers and
students can find clean. safe quarters at
moderate rates. These lists will be fur
nished to travellers agencies. c3nsulates,
cergymen. social workers. etc.
SO much has generously been done for
the working girl and map. but the stu
dent class. including men and women OF
education and refinement. but with limit
ed means. has been overlooked When
this class locates in strange cities. tho
most difficult problem. usually. that faces