The St. Joseph observer. [volume] (St. Joseph, Mo.) 1906-1932, 1917-02-17
RICH AND POOR
in SAME CLUB

The 400 of New York's 5th ave-
nue. and the 4 million of its 5th ave-
nue. are to join in a common club,
in which all will have equal mem
bership rights and equal interests. At
least. that was the project inaugural
ed over the tea cups in Mrs. Vincent
Astor's 9Th avenue mansion, recently,
when representatives of the 400 and
the million met in conference. 1t
isn't to be a charitable or philan-
thropic enterprise. but 1 of good cit
izenship only, Mrs. Astor said. She
wants to promote neighborhood
spirit in the district known as York
Vile. which extends from seth to 76th
streets and from 9Th avenue to the
East River. This district, it might
be said, includes some of New York $
richest and some of its poorest resi-
dents, about 20 900 of the latter be-
ing foreigners of a nondescript ma
tionality. I'VE need here in New
York a neighborhood spirit--a spirit
with which we can go into the homes
and needs of each other as friends and
neighbors," Mrs Astor said to her
guests. "A program of AmericaniZa-
tlon that will work for Yorkville prob
ably will work for other localities,
too. We shall never, in my judg-
ment. become Americanized until we
bring up our ranks and make them
as strong as our leaders, and until the
message of Americanism is taken to
the least of our neighbors-the aliens.
We shall try to make this neighbor-
hood the best In literacy and citizen
ship by carrying on campaign
against illiteracy and for naturaliza-
tion and the learning of English. We
need n greater use of the school as
social center and playground where
we can all meet. Then we want to
reduce crime in our neighborhood and
the causes of IT, and to help every
where to get the fundamental of an
American standard OF living. We
must carry to the 10000 or more
immigrants in our neighborhood, and
especially to the mothers shut in their
homes, the principles of American
housekeeping, which we believe, are
better than the housekeeping Gus
toms so often imported and retained
for years. We are striving for 2
things-to make service, not relief
and charity, our watchword, and to
have on call at all times, residents
who will render personal service to
others in the neighborhood as il is
needed. We want to help our proba-
tion officer. We want to get togeth-
er and understand one anothers point
OF view and to know one another, and
to like one another. and to make our
neighborhood a place of courtesy and
accessibility. We want every one in
the neighbOrhood to contribute some
thing to the work-in interest and
time, money and service, because she
or he has a direct personal interest in
the neighborhood We don't intend to
raise a large fund or start a big in
,stitution. We want membership dues
as low as 10 cents and not higher
than 500, in the proportion that each
can give. All dues of whatever amount
entitle members to precisely the same
privileges. We think it good idea
to get together in each others homes
and in the public schools and on the
Fairgrounds. We would rather have
friendly visiting and community meet
ings and do what we can as friends
and make use of every existing center
in the neighborhood than start in
stitutions." Mrs Astor promised to
call in the property owners of the
section soon to discuss with them a
plan of raising the standard OF con-
ditions in the homes of the 4 millions
part of the nelghborhood.-K. c. Star.