The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-03
SETTLEMENT HOME
HOLDS RECEPTION
Fine Evenings Program
at Newly Established
Institution Here

Friendship Settlement house
had Its first social affair last night,
when it's rooms were gaily lighted
and thrown open to the members
of its classes for a purely social
evening, in which the members
might become acquainted with
each other, and with the people
who are supporting the work.
The affair was largely attended
and splendid music was enjoyed
by those present. The thirty
italian men who came had'a num-
Der Of fine singers among them.
and the songs rendered in chorus
were exceptionally good. The new
piano in the settlement house Is a
great attraction to the children
and the men who are crowdtng the
classes Of Miss Batemau. the dea-
coness in charge Of the work.
DR., Claude H. King made a fine,
encouraging talk to the men who
were present, welcoming them to
the Friendship Settlement and ex-
planning that the sole purpose Of
the work carried on there was to
help the foreign resident OF Fair
mont to become good intelligent,
loyal citizens, with an understand
ing Of America, its ideals and Gus
toms. While many Of the men do
not understand English, they read
lily understood the welcome ex-
tended to them, and the chance to
grasp probably the first d%isinter-
ested American hand that had
been extended to them since they
came to this country. Those who
could speak and understand" Eng
lish made the talk plain to the
others.
Members of the Women's Home
Missionary Society Of the First M.
E. Church, the organization sup
porting the work at the Friendship
Settlement, were present at the
social and assisted Miss Bateman
in sewing refreshments at the close
of the program.
During the holidays there will
be other socIdls Mt the Friendship
Settlement and n Christmas tree
for the boys and girls. The work
carried or by Miss Bateman has
been increasingly successful, the
classes growing steadily from
week to week. italian men are
eagerly seeking the chance to
learn English. and the boys and
girls are also being instructed, the
girls are learning to sew In classes
conducted after school hours.
Classes are conducted every
evening excepting Saturday even
ing, and there are two morning
classes for men who work at night
or who otherwise find it more con-
venlent to attend in the mornings.
There are two Sunday services, one
in the afternoon and one in the
evening. These services are ad-
dressed by men from the Metho-
dist church and are helpful, friend
ly talks in simple words that the
men can follow. Some OF the city
teachers are assisting in the Eng
lfsh classes, but there is great need
for nd ditional teachers. the work
demanding moro and moro with
the great increase in classes.
Strangers in a strange land who
only see the rough side OF life, and
whose sole acquaintance with the
English language are the emphatic
commands of an American boss,
are overwhelmingly, almost tear
fully grateful for access to some
thing friendly and cheerful. In
the beginning OF tho work at the
settlement there was lack OF tables
and one man had to be almost
forclbly restrained from bringing
his dining table down to the
rooms A number Of the men In
attendance are out Of work and
d%espondant and the light OF the
little settlement Is the only cheer
full hopeful thing they possess. 1t
is tho one aim Of the Friendship
Settlement to assist these foreign
people to see the best IN life, and
to become useful and loyal citi-
zens.