New-York tribune., 1919-02-02
Mrs. Sidney Borg, President,
Jewish Big Sisters

what it is believed will probably be one
of the most effective methods of deal
ing with one phase of the child prob
lem OF the congested East Side sec
tions and will create new standards of
living for families handicapped by
burdens of poverty, ignorance and un-
intelligence.
But that's just what Mrs. Cohen did.
Mrs. Cohen was a widow. Her Becky
was nine years old. There was apother
little daughter of three. Every morn
ing Mrs. Cohen rose at 5:45 o'clock so
that she could reach work on time. She
left the two little girls still sleeping.
Becky used TO arise at II, get some
thing to eat, take the baby to a day
nursery and then just hang around"
occasionally stealing food when there
was none at home, playing on the
streets and, in the evening, generally
going TO a movie show
Becky" Was Absent
After Mrs. Cohen had collected the
baby and returned home late at night,
there was no Becky. The child rarely
returned until midnight "What to do
with Becky?" Mrs. Cohen asked. "Shc
doesn't go to school, and is always on
The streets And Becky, speaking for
herself, said that it was too cold to get
up early in the morning for school
There was no one to know if she
she did go TO school, no one to take
any special interest, anyhow. And so
out OF the problem of What to do
with Becky" the Jewish Big Sisters
"a section Of the Big Sister move
ment IN which Catholic, Protestant
and Hebrew organizations are CO
operating worked out an idea which
Mrs. Cohen unknowlngly inspired
We want to establish a play nursery
on every block Mrs. Sidney C.
Borg, president Of the Jewish Big
Sisters, said. This is not to be
day nursery in the accepted sense of
the term, but honey, cosey place,
preferably an apartment with a cap
able matron in charge, and play ex-
pert IN attendance to plan good times
Tor the youngsters and supervise their
play.
Plan Well Received
Eve have already received reports
from two Of our field workers who
have -canvassed at least eighty 1aml-
lies on every block of one section.
They say that with no execution
every family is enthusiastic about the
idea and will help us materialize it.
A number of shopkeepers who have
been interviewed have also promised
their support.
All Are to Help
Every family on the block will con-
tribute to the upkeep of the play nur-
scry," Mrs. Borg continued. IF there
are five hundred families on the block
and each one is assessed only 10 cents
q month the nursery can very easily
be maintained. We hope to have the
cooperation of the landlords, too, and
may be able to secure an apartment
either entirely rent free or at a re-
duced rate"
Ia addition to caring for children
whose mothers must work, the play
nursery will do a valuable follow-up
service. IN families where there are
Older daughters the supervisor will
keep watch to see that they attend
school regularly. Through the super
visor the Big Sisters will be informed
oi families where there are such cases
as Becky or any one of a score OF
other @irl problems. and volunteer
workers viii be assigned.
viii Train Workers
And righq here is where the most
delicate phase OF the work comes in.
The organization is offering a free
course IN training TO young women who
are t2ler 10 act as big SISTERS TO tnc
little sisters of the East Side.
The growing girl" said Mrs. Borg.
lone of large number of children, as
rule. who lack the joys of life that
are their hirthright. neglected from
habyhood. struggling through child
hood in m environment calculated TO
destroy the Illusions of youth, put to
work to help support the family Just AZ
aoon as possible. lacking everything
that makes for fine womanhoodis it
any wnnder that she is Uroblem?"