New-York tribune., 1915-03-21

a good family has been sheltered not only from
the public gaze which attends dis ossess proceed
ings, but also from a possible breaking up.
The work of the Social Service Exchange is con-
fdential. Why? There number OF reasons.
Mary's letter to Mrs. Rockwell-Jones had been
confidential, as much any letter that lady
ever received. The visitor entered that home ask
ing for the confidence of Mrs. Dart only that she
might be of service to the family. Both Mary and
her mother told things about the family which
they would tell only to a friend. Later on, sup
posing Mary applies for another position and the
man to whom she applies is of that unscrupu-
lous variety who figures paying his girls not a
living wage but merely what will enable them to
live on, when the amount has been supplemented
by other sources of income. Let assume that
he knows the fact that up in the Office of the
Social Service Exchange there records show
ing that between three and four hundred thousand
families have been assisted way another
by various philanthropic agencies of the city. He
might reason:
81 will call up the Social Service Exchange and
find out if Mary can get any charity to supple
ment her wages" If he were to make any in
quires at the exchange he would receive no in
formation whatever. No private individual can
use the exchange, even indirectly through char
liable society, until he has satisfied the officers
that he seeks facts purely out of motives of
friendship The exchange itself gives out no in
formation to any one except that family is or IS
not known to regular agencies. II one wishes
further information he must go TO each society
separately and ask for what he wants to know.
Charity in New York is so carefully organized to-
day that the secrets Of the poor we'll guarded,
as they ought 10 be.
WHEN TOMMY RYAN Is PERSISTENTLY LATE
AT SCHOOL.
The Social Service Exchange meets much
greater variety OF needs than be indicated in
one instance. Tommy Ryan is persistently late at
school. He is very untidy in appearance, and does
not appear to be properly nourished. His teacher
feels that she is making little headway with him.
She has not time to 90 to his home and call on his
mother One day she goes to the telephone and
calls up the Social Service Exchange:
"Isnt there some settlement or church or friend
ly visitor" she asks, "who knows the Ryan fam
lily? Surely there must be some way to get to
Tommy's mother and show her how to sive Tommy
a little better show"
"Yes," comes the reply, there is settlement
very near the Ryan home. They know about the
family" The teacher sends a note to the settle
ment. They send in a visitor who invites Tommys
mother to a Mothers Club which meets every
week. Mrs. Ryan comes and, along with some
good hearty amusement which delights her heart,
learns how to prepare proper food for a growing
boy. She also to have hopes and
ideals for her home, takes courage, and all
the other Ryan children come to share in the
benefits of the new influence
One is simply amazed at the number and va
riety of the organizations in New York City
Il Lxs. IL.
a few of them are TO be classed as charities pure
and simple. Many Of them social, others
religious educational, and then there are very
many highly specialized agencies for dealing with
special and peculiar needs. One feels at first
glance that benevolence has been organized al
most to death. Externally it appears to be all
organizations. second glance will reveal that
the organization is all the outside. Each
point of contact with needy family is a personal
contact confidential one, in which some one
person whois in need meets face to face another
person who, backed up by the resources of large
number Of people and the accumulated experience
of years, is prepared to help.
THE BAD BOY PROBLEM AND THE SPECIAL
ISTS.
This accumulated experience plays an important
part in helping people. Take the instance of a
bal boy, for example. Who knows how to deal
with a bad boy? or course, your neighbors know
how but for yourself, you may have 10 admit
after making few experiments, that you have