davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05
To Open a New Chapter i'm Pan-Americs

munities of the different countries an
opportunity to size up American bust
ness men.
The return visits are in a way unique
In all our efforts to cultivate closer
trade relations there never has been
anything exactly like them. There
have been various official commissions
Many years ago. following Mr.. Blaine's
policy, a government commission was
sent to South America to report on the
trade prospects there. Its report was
the first systematic effort to educate
the American people on the subject,
tanned.
Three years ago a delegation from
the Boston Chamber of Commerce MADE
the round trip to South America. and
was everywhere received with marked
attention and courtesy. but 1t had 10
cover too much ground. and Its inter
ests naturally conferred in New Eng
land.
The present scheme is much more
definite and does not undertake to
cover too much ground for any one
delegation. Moreover, the members or
the different delegations are not going
sell goods. They are going on an in
ternational business mission. They are
not official delegates of the United
States. although they will have the
State Department will see that they be
accorded proper attention.
These delegations without doubt Will
be made welcome in the countries
which they visit. They may have to
attend too many banquets for the good
of their digestions, and listen to
speeches in language which few OF
them understand, but they will feel the
warmth of this hospitality. and cannot
fail to appreciate it.
The visitors will also find that their
hosts are just as practical as they
themselves, Notwithstanding the senti-
mental interest which will be mani
Tested. Both the governments and the
business men in the different countries
will avail themselves of the oppor-
tunity to set forth their resources and
prospects The things which the bust
ness men could not understand at long
range they will be able to grasp at
short range.
The visitors, being practical business
men and fnanciers, may be expected to
see for themselves just what the popu-
lar errors are in the United States con-
corning South American markets.
They will be able to familiarize them
selves not only with the general COM
mercial situation. but also with the
special trade requirements.
The visiting American business men
will find that conditions in most of the
countries are very much better than
when the Washington conference met.
At that time the first effects Of the Eu-
ropean war with its shutdown Of credit
and interruption Of trade were Keenly
felt. In the period that has elapsed the
situation has become much better. and
the prospect for future trade can be
judged on something like a normal basis.
1t is more than likely that these
business men. as observers on the
ground, will be able to correct the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05

greater here than in any other part of
the city.
The houses are disgrace to the
metropolis of this country: many of
them have been condemned by the
board of health, but are still steadily
tenanted. There are 6,441 people liv-
ing in this quarter, two-thirds of them
foreigners. They comprise about
twelve Municipalities in all, including
Hungarians. Syrians, Austrians and
Italians. About seventeen hundred Of
the children in this quarter are I'M
der fourteen years of age. In 1913
culosis in the neighborhood of Green
witch. Washington and West streets.
About SO per cent of the mothers in
this section are obliged to work out.
'Our house in this neighborhood is at
Sc Greenwich street. and is known as
Pleasant Place. What such refuge
means to the little mothers and the
babies of the district can readily be
imagined. We have down here, too, a
mothers club. and through it we have
established very friendly relations be-
tween the mothers and ourselves,
which is a great help in the work We
are trying to do for their children. In
this club there are twenty-five scrub
women. They meet once a week and
sew and chat.
Before our last annual bazaar. upon
which we depend for large part of
our revenue, Mrs. Seth Low sent this
club a large quantity of material, and
these women took pleasure and pride
in sewing not alone for themselves,
but in making articles to be sold for
the benefit of our work.
''If these women are in trouble they
consult US. and If they have a death
in the family one or another of our
teachers or nurses or visitors is sure
to be with them. This spirit of real
friendliness between us is the only
one which can exist if we are to be of
much benefit. We occasionally have a
dinner for our mothers club here, and
I remember being struck with the re-
mark of one woman, who, when she
took her place at the table. said that,
so far as she could remember. this
was the first time she had ever sat
down to eat a leisurely meal. Through
this work we get the people to clean
their homes and to take an interest in
the cleanliness of the neighborhood.
Our work among the little mothers
goes on throughout the whole year.
with the lessons lightened somewhat
in Summer, and the babies living out
of doors as much as possible. The older
girls are taught basketry and raftia work
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05
Rare Impudence.

&A compulsory evening dress that GER
tain expensive American restaurants
have taken up. Simeon Ford, humorist,
said in New York:
Compulsory evening dress-being
bossed by the people who serve you
this is an impertinence that the free.
born American will never stand for.
Enough impertinences are practiced
on us in fashionable restaurants as it
is. 1 once saw a farmer seat himself in
a 5th avenue restaurant, and spread his
napkin over his chest and tie the ends
in a knot at the back of his neck.
"'Can 1 get lunch here" he said to
the waiter. amiably.
The impertinent waiter answered:
Lunch, yes-but not a shampoo
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05

That, in turn, was the outcome of the
pan-American policy initiated by Blaine
and carried forward by successive pam
American conferences, and by Secre-
tary Root, when he made his trip to
South America, which did so much to
improve the relations of the countries
of the southern continent with the
United States. The Pan-Amcrican
Scientific Congress. which was held in
Washington a couple of months ago. was
an incidental chapter in the general
policy.
Secretary McAdoo and his associates
will have one of our warships placed at
their disposal to convey them to Buenos
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05

and light needlework. All through
the heated season we arrange for out
off to the country or seashore for one
week of bliss and freedom from care:
for longer. if their condition shows
the need. Their days outings are fire.
rides to the suburbs and to the sea-
shore. In this respect they show great
unselfishness at times.
Il recall one case. A little mother
ties, arranged to have her small
charges cared for one day. The list
was full for that days outing when
she applied, and the child was bitterly
disappointed. as she did not know
when she would be free again that
summer. 1 asked if one girl listed for
the outing would give up her place.
Nine offered to remain behind.
THE children are made happy at
Easter with blooming potted plants.
which in the very poor districts
are the only bits OF living green they
see for months at time. Last Easter
about $50 children were entertained at
a festival. The children helped to en-
tertain one another. The nursery chill
dren from Happy Day House gave
little fairy kindergarten play for the
benefit of their older sisters. and the
latter gave a drill, in which they wore
dresses which they had themselves
made during the season. The poor
children from Pleasant Place sang cho-
ruses and all were given flowers. Last
Christmas the same number of children
had a time of good cheer. and we had
money enough left to send out 200
baskets to poor families.
The children love these neighbour
hood houses, where they learn to ap-
preciate the comfort of regular modes
of work, living and play. One of our
girls, now a teacher of dressmaking in
to Happy Day House: That house was
always like a fairy tale to me. The
only good times ever had as kiddie
were in that house, and the only good
things I ever possessed were given me
there"
The Little Mothers" Aid Association
is supported by funds obtained by
large membership Of supporting con-
by individual contributions.
and every year there is held large
bazaar at one Of New York's leading
hotels, which has become an establish
ed affair and yields a substantial fund.
Expenses are kept as low as possible.
The association has no salaried officers.
and the teaching is mostly labor OF
love, although it is all conducted regu-
larly and by trained women. 1t has
volunteer workers, with about
twenty assistants who receive pay
ment.
You would be surprised" said Mrs.
Burns. "how systematically this work
is kept in mind by the rich. Last sum-
mer little Miss Carnegie, before leaving
her private fund to help with our sum-
mer outings. A number of other rich
children are taught to keep these poor
err children in mind and systematically
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05

underwear and dresses. and under GER
tain conditions they may take the new
products of their needles home. They
also have lessons in elementary hy-
giene They are shown how to take
proper care of the babies in their
charge and taught how to look after
their own health. They are directed
how to guard the well members of their
families by open windows and santa
tion and are impressed with the i'm
portance Of keeping the young children
out Of doors as much as possible. and
prevention against tuberculosis, which
is very prevalent among our people,
is impressed upon the girls in their
hygiene lessons.
las an incentive to good work the
children are given marks for punctual-
ity, attention and neatness in work.
They can make as high as eight marks
a lesson, and these marks are equiva-
lent to practical rewards. Fifteen
marks is redeemed by a pair of stock
ings. twenty-five by a piece of UNDER
wear. and sixty earns dress. while
eighty gives the girl a pair of shoes.
They are taught that these are not
gifts, but their own earnings for good
work. They appreciate what they re-
ceive, and often show a praiseworthy
spirit of self-sacrifice in asking that
the returns for marks may be suited
mother. One sees great development
as the weeks and months go by, and
marked Improvement is noted in homo
conditions by our visitors at the homes
of our charges.
Our day nurseries have kindergar-
tens attached. with trained teachers.
and the babies are given the very best
physical start in life that 1t is within
our power to give them. We take
these babies and care for them from
as many poor women as possible. be-
sides those brought by our own little
mothers II they cannot be brought to
US We send for them and return them
al night. We give these babies at least
two wholesome meals a day. breakfast
and dinner, with cakes and milk be-
fore being sent home at night.
The section from which we get our
poorest children. and come In contact
with the most appalling conditions, is
In the South Ferry neighborhood. be-
tween Liberty street and the bay. and
west of Broadway. Here. just west of
Wall street. mark you, we ind the
worst slums in the city. The houses
are UNIT for habitation. many of them
a hundred years old. The ma jority of
the men here are out of work, and as
you walk the streets you see hunger
marked on their faces. The women
exc out a livelihood by scrubbing and
office cleaning. Infant mortality u
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05
A Welsh Product.

r. G. GRACE. president of the Beth.
Ge lehem Steel Company. said in
Washington:
Though we can get any price we ask
for our munition products from Europe.
we haven't increased our price to the
American government one cent.
yet there are people who, in the face
of this. accuse us of overcharging I'm
Gle Sam. These people are as ludi-
crously ignorant as the schoolboy who
was asked:
"sWhat do we get from Wales:'
sJonahs.' the schoolboy answered."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05
EXPOSITION BUILDING. LIMA. PERU.

provided to direct the children. After
ten years of personal supervision of
than personal scope. Mrs. Johnston
relinquished her active presidency to
Mrs. Clarence Burns and has herself
served for the past fifteen years as
honorary president of the organization.
One of our earliest efforts" said
Mrs. Burns. was to purchase a suita-
BILE house in which to carry on the work.
and our first headquarters, beautiful
Happy Day House, at 236 I'd avenue. is
now almost paid for. 1t is pictur-
esque Old mansion about a hundred
years old. which served for long time
as the home of the English consul at
New York. The British lions still guard
the entrance and many OF its ftments
are of early Victorian sol.dity and
style
Right back of Happy Day House is
the great gashouse district from which
We gather goodly portion of our
children. They are the children of
mothers who have to work all day
for their living and therefore must
leave their babies at home to be cared
for by the eldest Of the brood. who is
yet TOO young to go out and make her
own living. They are usually sent out
for that purpose at fourteen, 80 that
our special charges, the little moth
ers. are almost all under fourteen. We
have now four houses in separate tene-
ment districts. in which we care Tor
several hundred children at a time
whom we are endeavoring to help.
Three of these houses are in the very
poorest parts of New York and one
is in Brooklyn.
Besides teaching the little mothers
how to care for their baby chargea in
a general way we teach them how to
cook. to clean. to set table. to wash
and iron. to sew and mend and all the
essentials for sanitary and wholesome
living. The children come to us of
their own accord, and 1t is with regret
th4t we have TO turn many away. We
have day nurseries connected with each
Of our four houses. with caretakers
for the babies. while the girls are be-
ing taught and entertained.
In cooking classes we instruct them
how to prepare food for invalids-Gru-
els. eggs on toast, etc. We give sim
pie lessons on food values, and then
we visit them in their homes to see
now FAR our teaching is carried out.
We also like to get acquainted with
the mothers of the children to enlist
their cooperation in our work, and SO
make our efforts as far reaching as
possible.
In the laundry classes the children
are taught by washing their own
clothes. which they bring from home.
The washing Is done one day and the
ironing the next. 1 recall an amusing
incident in one Of the laundry classes.
A girl was being shown how to wash
hannels without shrinking them.
There Is no use in my leaning that,
she said. There are eight of us. and
what grows too small for one fits the
next
In the sewing classes the girls are
taught to mend and darn the garments
they have washed. as well as to make
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05

widespread error that we have greatly
increased our exports to South Amer<
lea This error is due to the official fig
ures given out, which. by showing n
large increase of exports in 1916 over
1915 and 1914. seem to indicate a big
gain. The visiting business men will
probably go back to normal years, such
as 1872 and 1913, and then they will
md that most of the South American
countries are importing no more from
US than they did three or four years
ago. We have increased our exports of
coal and a few other commodities
as freely as formerly because Of the
war. but we have thus far made little
actual gain. The business men may be
able to find out why this is so.
=
In some things. also. they will be abla
to see wherein real progress has been
made toward future growth of trade.
One of these is in the establishment Of
better banking facilities end closer
communication between finan ,ial insti.
buttons.
Dollar exchange has developed very
rapidly since the financial conference
last May. Ecuador now handles its ca
Gao crop by means of drafts on New
York instead of drafts on London.
Chilean banks are now steady purchase
ers Of ninety day drafts on New York
in handling the nitrate fertilizer and
part of the copper output New York
banks and commercial houses doing an
extensive business in Chile by their co.
operation made it possible to establish
an official quotation for dollar drafts at
Valparaiso.
Both Buenos Aires and Rio de Jan-
GIRO have awaited themselves of facil.
tiles for exchange with New York.
Progress also has been made in an.
other direction. This is in investments.
American financial institutions, during
the last year. have handled South
American loans approximately to the
value of $75.00O,000. The greater part
of this has been for the Argentine gov
eminent, which quite recently supple
mented it's previous loans by borrow
ing S18.500.000 in New York. through q
group of private banking houses.
There have been, however. small loans
to other countries. such as s1.o00.0O to
the Bolivian government, and, more
over, private enterprises have borrowed
in sums from 100000 upward
The point Of all this is that the neces-
sity of promoting trade by making in
vestments in the countries whose mar
kets we seek has been fully shown. The
South Americans may be depended on
to point out to the business men and
financiers from the United States the
good resulting from what already has
been done in this line and the further
advantages which may be had from
further Investments.
South Americans also are likely to
point out that trade is reciprocal. and
that, in order to secure larger markets
the United States must buy as we'll as
sell. On this point the business men of
the United States will be able to show
them that we are recognizing this
principle of reciprocity. because we are
buying increasing quantities of South
Americas leading products.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05

Visit Secretary
Will
Conference Held in Washington Will Formulate
Code Which Disputes
Be Adjusted Y
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05

States, or it may take the railway
across the Andes to Santiago and VAL
paraiso and come up the west coast to
Panama.
This outline of the plan of the return
visits shows what was in the mind of
those who prepared it. The main pur-
pose was to familiarize American BUSH
ness men of high standing with the
resources and the general commercial
prospects of the countries with which
trade relations. At the same time it
was the idea to give the business COM
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05
special Correspondence Of The Star.

NEW fohh, -haTCn i, 1910.
M 7HEN the mothers of the land
MAN. are celebrating Baby week,
WV and Master Baby himself is
placidly sitting back and
taking the attentions showered upon
him with the aplonb characteristic of
his royal highness. there is a woman in
New York who makes every week of
the year Baby week, and her children
are not royal highnesses at all.
This foster mother of thousands is
Mrs. Clarence Burns. president of the
Little Mothers Aid Association Of
New York and her children are the
waits of the great eastern gateway to
the United States. The title of Little
Mothers is a term now well known in
the metropolis for the thin-armed
daughters of the tenements VINO take
care of their small sisters and broth
ers- II was taken from Dickens Bleak
House where Charley" being short
for Charlotte Neckett. a child of thir-
teen. is pictured bending over the
washtub and doing all the homework
for her grun bailif of father.
u know OF no more worthy charity
than this rescue Of the children
of the poor. said Mrs. Burns
to recent caller at her New York
home overlooking Central Park. The
founder of the Little Mothers Aid
Association was Mrs. j. II Johnston, a
woman of wealth and beneyolence. She
was touched each time she visited the
poor section of the city by the sight of
the small girls whose lives. were
blighted by the burdens, which they
seemed to bear SO heavily, Of their
younger brothers and sisters One sum-
mer she invited ten of these children
10 go TO the country, and the result
came she asked number Of them to
come, with their charges, to her home
in Stuyvesant square. ana there in
the basement of her house she and her
daughter taught them many useful
things, fed and clothed them properly.
-
"One warm afternoon her husband
coming home early from ONCE found
himself tumbling over a group of poor
BARNS on his stoop. Inquiring into the
reason of their presence there he
learned for the first time what his
wife was doing and also became in
terested in their welfare. His interest.
begun on that warm autumn afternoon,
has never waxed nor waned during
the Intervening quarter of a century"
Mrs Johnston was member of So
rosis. oldest of women's clubs. and, en-
listing the sympathies of her fellow
members. her work progressed with
their help. and further teachers were
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05

Aires. This. in itself. will give dignity
to the mission.
The international high commission
will open its sessions early in April:
There will be delegates from most of
the other countries which participated
in the Washington financial conference:
Among the jurists who were present at
the conference last spring there was an
almost unanimous belief that some
thing could be done in the way OF for.
mulating an international commerclai
code. The idea was that code could
be drafted under which commercial
disputes between business men of the
United States and those of countries
with which they were doing business
could be adjusted The chamber OF
commerce at Buenos Aires Endorsed the
general plan, and similar bodies in the
Latin American countries also nave
given it their adhesion. Since frof'
John Bassett Moore Is one of the dele
gates from the United States. the SUD
iect ia assured of treatment on the
highest plane of comfy and interna-
tional law.
The different sections at Buenos Aires
representing the respective couItrie :'
will present programs for discussion by
the high commission me onlteo
states section has completed its pro-
gram to be presented Tor dlscussion'
The subjects include transportatioli'
improved banking fachities. arnitra
ton of commercial disputes. negotiable
instruments, uniformity OF customs
regulations, postage rates, parcel
post facilities. cable rates. wireless
biography and commercial tra'eieie
and their samples.
Many of these topics have been con-
sidered at previous international con-
ferences, and thus some progress mas
been made, but the forthcoming meet
ing Of the international high commits
sion will be in a better position to
make recommendations that may De-
come effective.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05

Most of the Latin American coun-
tries have very complete commercial
codes That of the Argentine Repuo-
lie, for instance, is considered model
of commercial legislation. These
codes are. however. based on the Roman
system of Jurisprudence. and on the
Code Napoleon, which has been adopted
in Latin countries. They, therefore.
differ in many respects from commercial
law in the United States. An interest
ing question will be how far these diff
ferent systems may be unified and
harmonized. Not too much is expect