Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-31
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terested citizens, to help by study and advice
cities that want help in solving their utility
problems; to encourage the introduction Of
cost-keeping methods, similar to those fol-
lowed in the industries, throughout the util-
ties whether publicly privately owned
to serve as a national agency
through which American cities may COOP
crate by exchanging data as to cost factors,
service standards and rates.
Deep in the Heart of the City
Lillian d. Wald, founder of the famous
Nurses Settlement on the East Side of New
York, and for 21 years it's head, knows the
city of the other half, not only with the
familiarity of her years of residence there,
but with the subtler closer intimacy of
woman of keen sympathies and delicate per-
ceptions, which have enabled her to enter
into the lives of those about her and become
a vital factor in her adopted community.
Her story of The House on Henry Street
which is appearing in the Atlantic (3), gives
vivid glimpses of child life in the tenetnents
Happily some of the early prejudice
against ball playing on Sunday has VAN
lshed. We were perpleXed in those early
days to explain to the lads why, when they
saw the ferries and trains convey golfers
suitably attired and eXpensively equipped for
a days sport, their own games should out
rage respectable citizens and cause them to
be constantly CHASED" by the police. The
saloons could be entered, as everybody knew
and L remember u father defending his s.
year-old son from accusation of theft
instancing as n proof of the childs trust
worthiness that 'all the Christians Jack
son street sent him for their beer on Sun
days"
The woeful lack of imagination displayed
in building a city without recognizing the
need of Its citizens for recreation through
play, music and art has been borne In upon
us many times. New Workers need to be
reminded that the Metropolitan Museum OF
Art was effeCtualy closed TO large pro-
portion of the citizens until, in 1891 1t
opened its doors on Sundays. 1t is inter-
esting to recall that of the $4,000 signatures
to the petition for this privilege, $4,000 were
of residents of the lower East Side and were
presented by the working Peoples Petition
Committee" The report of the museum
trustees following the museum opening
notes, that after a little confusion at the
start the experiment proved a success; that
the attendance was respectable, law abiding
and intelligent" and that "the laboring
classes were we'll represented" They were
also obliged to report, however, that the
Sunday opening had offended some of the
museums best friends and supporters" and
that it had resulted in the loss Of a be-
quest of $4,000"
I cannot efface from my memory the pic
ture of a little S-year-old girl whom once
found standing on a chair to reach wash
tub trying with her tiny hands to cleanse
some bed linen which would have been
task for older person. Every few min
utes the child got down from her chair 70
peer into the next room, where her mother
and the ew-born baby lay, all her little
mind intent upon giving relief and comfort
She had been alone with her mother when
the baby was born. and terror was on her
face. l think the memory never left her
but II may be only that her presence called
up, even after the lapse of years, vision
of the anxious little face inevitably con-
trasted in my mind with the picture OF ir-
responsible childhood.
"Cheesit, the Cop"
The Survey (4) reports a new method OF
reaching and influencing the boys OF New
York's East Side:
Folks have the idea we're rearing buneh
of toughs and gunner down here on ths
East Side. We've got to show them they're
wrong" This is why Captain John Sweeney,
of the 18th Police Precinct. has organlzea
the kid Cops" Captain Sweeney knows
East Side youngsters. For 29 years he mas
watched the mimic warfare between boys
who shoot craps on the sly and police trying
10 catch fellows shooting craps. SO he mas
recruited the Junior Police Force. Ihefe
are now about 800 on the force, and as these
prove their efficiency, the number VIII ps
gradually increased from the 200 or more
names on the waiting list. These youtnlnl
guardians of the peace help keep streets
clean, Microscopes cleared garbage cans ~
proper condition. Captain Sweeney points
out: "Sinee the force was formed we have
had few complaints about street Donnres.
whereas We used to have hundred lsht
sometimes. We expect TO save the CITY lhou
sands OF dollars in asphalt"
"Cheest. the cop" may yet slip from ths
vocabulary Of the East Side.