The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-14

Al
the law allows. He sleeps there. eats
breakfast and then Is Off ana away,
nobody cares whittier 1t il Mr. Kings
bury's idea to make the lodging house
something more than sleeping quar-
ters for tired. hungry. discouraged
men. In the words OF Mr.. Howe. he
wants to make Of 1t "a great human
repair shop, manned and equipped.
with little II any additional expense. to
rebuild the broken lives OF those who
enter its doors for help"
In order to have definite informa-
ton upon which to proceed in getting
his Idea down 20 practical working
plans Mr.. Kingsbury had an elaborate
study made OF fifteen hundred home
less men who went to the lodging
house and were wiling to give lnfor-
nation about themselves.
This study brought out the fact
that about 10 or 30 per cent we're
mentally deficient: the class OF unfor-
tunates VINO cannot take care Of them
selves and have to be cared for in
puhic Institutions Another small
group were physically handicapped by
Illness. weakness following hunger
and exhaustion. or by reason OF being
crippled in some direction. Another
small group admitted that they were
confirmed inebriates or chronic va
grants, or both.
But we found that those forming
the great majority OF tho 1900 inves-
tgated were neither mentally, morally
nor physically defective. This ma
jority had been thrust into their pres
ent unfortunate condition by force OF
economic stress They were out OF
work, had no savings TO tide them
over and could obtain no new en-
ployment. And II IL among this class
that the human repair shop proposes
to do its work
Before going further IL r. neces-
ssry to state that while only a small
group OF all those studied were will
ing to admit that they were confirmed
inebriates. yet IL Is entirely possible
that overndulgence in alcohol was q
contributing cause which brought
many Of the others to vsgrancy,
caused loss OF employment. prevented
the obtaining Of new jobs.
"Of course those who made this
study did not take the mems state
ments without confirmation. What
they said was investigated. Former
employers were looked up. relatives
and former friends were communi-
Gated with. And the results are as
mentioned.
when the human repair shop gets
into active operation those who como
to the Municipal Lodging House will
nnd there attendants willing and anx-
ious To help in building up bod es as
well as encouraging renewed ambi-
ton. Fer example. many Of the APP
pliCaGts for LOGGING are in need OF
medical or hospital treatment. yet do
not know how to get il, since they
have no money. 1t will be part Of
the human repair shops function to
obtain such treatment.
"If = man - out 81 work and has
no clothing in which to make a de-
cent appearance while seeking new
employment the repair shop will try
10 find him a suit. hat, a pair Of
trousers or pair OF shoes, whatever
he stands imperativeiy in need OF;
and you may be sure that the dis
/ Sorest man who obtains such help
and then pawns the c.Otning will wish
| ne Ddun l.
! 1t happens not infrequently that
nothing but a shave OF weeks growth
OF beard stands between a man and
| some sort OF Job. The Human Repair
! Shop will endeavor to furnish a way
In which a man who needs II may OBJ
] tain the shave-not through providing
free municipal barber shop II is
understood, but by aiding the man to
earn a shave. II the individual unit of
broken human machinery is simply a
poor, half witted fellow roaming the
streets week after week and fillinG up
the bread lines night after night and
needs custodial care for his own well
| fare as well as for the good of society
at large the Human Repair shop
wants to see that he gets that kind o,
care which is best suited to his in
dividual needs.
| II he is, on the other hand help