New-York tribune., 1918-07-21

! more than half revealed the sinuous
limbs beneath, pointed out the old
house at 146 Forsyth Street and
stood on the sidewalk, friendly
eyed, until DR.. Colt made known his
errand and passed inside.
The Material He
Found at Hand
When he left the University of
Berlin, in 1886, and sought admit
tance to Toynbee Hall, England,
more than the neat degree in scho-
lastic script attested to his creden-
tials as doctor of philosophy. Two
months residence among the work
ers of that institution, attended by
a detailed and careful study Of
Toynbee Hall methods and prac-
tees, fired the young student with
a wish to establish among the for
eign poor of New York a similar
socializing influence. That is why,
in August, 1856, we see him stand
ing at his window on Forsyth Street
looking down on the pathetic mass
of humanity gathered there-the
children bobbing among the traffic,
divinely disregarding the attendant
dangers, as they scurried about
shrieking the fun provoking chal-
lenges of Skinny" "tag," "prison-
ers' den," counting the mechanical
rhythmics of -and-seek, rolling
marbles, or (in the case of the old
er and more daring) shooting
craps. Little girls rolled hoops
with discouraging progress in the
crowds or followed the cheerful
hand-organist as the children of
Hamelin followed their beloved Pied
Piper, dancing from one foot to
another to their own delight and
the crowds amusement. Mothers
nursed their babies huddled down
on the steps of their houses, and
pedlers swore indistinguishable
curses at brother pedlers but
alien neighbors.
He Began With
Half a Dozen Boys
The beginning of the settlement
was humble-half a dozen boys who
gathered evenings in DR.. Colts
cheerful apartment on Forsyth
Street and indulged in all the de-
lights of a "real club" Accustomed
to meet in the cheerless room of an
old blind woman, the change to at
tractive quarters and the joy of
cracking open fireplace led these
boys to bring others, and DR.. Colt
was encouraged to rent half the
basement of his house, charging the
original club and gradually admit
ting new members until lack of
space, as well as comfortable CO.
ordination, made it necessary to
spit into two Or three clubs. The
girls of the neighborhood were in
terested in getting together, until
DR.. Colts boys and girls clubs
were meeting every evening in the
week and on Saturday afternoons.
Several ladies and gentlemen VOL
unteered to help the doctor, and
soon as many as fifty children or
young people met Of an evening.
The founder of this little settlement
followed closely the methods of
Toynbee Hall and met with helpful
cooperation and marked success.
Although he regards this first wear
as merely preparatory, and con-
siders the coming of Charles 3.
Stover, in 1887, as the actual begin
ming of the Neighborhood Guild, vet
the majority would consider 1886 as
the actual birth date Of the settle
ment. Nor is it inaccurate to saw.
that IN founding the University
Settlement DR.. Colt thereby founded
the settlement movement in Amer
lea.
Settlement Makes
Its First Move
Charles B. Stover was the first
head worker after DR.. Colt, and 20
his untiring efforts, his great love
Tor and belief in the settlement, are
due much of it's success. His inter-
est has never tagged and he is as