Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-17
Great Work Of Ilplift.


Il makes ones heart throb faster when
he reads, in these days Of greed and lust,
that a wealthy New York man and his
wife have given $4,000 900 for home
for the children who become wards, and
to protect them against crueltcs oi ail
kinds, of parents and employers, and
against tho evils If all kinds that beset the
young Of the great cities. In addition 10
this gift which includes block OF land IN
tho most desirable section Of New York
Fifth avenue, facing Central Park--Mr'
and Mrs. August Heckshcr, the donors,
have provided an endowment OF s6o, ,Noa
year for the upkecp Of the institution
II is part of the purpose Of the donors 70
have the work Of the S. Y. G, G. expanded
so that it may reach into every slum sec
ton of the metropolis to rescue boys ana
girls from the debasing, immorai m
fIuences from which they eventually ae-
generate into outlaws and enemies vi
society. 1t does not hold that all cruelty
must be physical, but that greater M
humanity is to be found IN the morai
pcrversion of the young and in compelling
them to live in an atmosphere OF bestiai
depravity. II is, indeed, chopped to strike
at the Very roots of many socia' eviis ,he
seeds of VIII ch are sown in the stunteo nc
of our children of the metropolis, inc
donors explain.
1t NAV be worth adding that the new
building will be equipped with the latest
'.homey" furniture and with oil the nome
accessories in large units. There VIII DC %
tunnel under Fifth avenue by when the
young wards may pass safely to ana from
Central Park which they will use as
playground.
This splendid bcnefaction is especially
worth noting for the reason that II el'-
phasizes the value OF properly training
and educating the children IN the hght
against the growing evils that are found IN
almost every form in the big communities
1t seems like slow and almost imposs'o'e
task that of regencrating slums anu
slum life, but great as IL is. 1t must oe NJ
ternpted and prosecuted with persistent
visor. Shms are the breeding grounds Oh
the worst evils that beset the world, anu
the seeds hatched therein are spread 70
every quarter, until no section escapes
contamination.
II would seem that the next best step in
that direction would be TO abolish 1he
slum. to have no section ofthe cities SO De-
darkened that the light of virtue ana
truth would not shine therein. These un-
desirahles might be prevented from seere-
eating in quarters apart from wholesome
influences. and the houses might pc re-
arranged so that they would have the sem
blsnce Of the home, rather than the herd
inr ground for immoral, base and depraV-
cd peoples To abolish the slum would
make evil less difficult 10 overcome, ana
would relieve the copgested sections oil
cit es, so that they might become purliied'
And again we must stop the flow OF the
vicious peoples discarded by the old worid
that is flooding our country, and bringing
the vices and criminaIity in every form foi
US TO deal with
These reforms should be undertaken and
AT once. 1t seems to no purpose 10 preach
to this class. nor to entrust their regenera'
ton to paid agents and smugly 90 our way
Every one, whether he live IN Wilmington
or New York, must set his face against the
growing evils personally and individually
and help to eradicate them,