New-York tribune., 1922-01-08


habitants and by virtue thereof tho Wall
Street and the Rector Street stations pour a
smaller quota OF humanity into the subways
lightly, for which the more northerly stations
mag give thanks. Those who owell In This
forgotten village" composed Of old-fashioned
houses transformed into tencmentss five aud
nlovo and have their being Also, thsy have
,heir families and hence the Bowling Green
Neighborhocd Association
However lambs may love to gambol in Wall
Street aud vicinity, it is not ideal play
gtound for the children of the colony, few
blocks to the west For them-as it often is
with the lambs, too-the mortality was high.
Living conditions were not good in this
furthest downtown colony. Wall Street
showed a solicitude which it never had mani
tested over the fate Of the lambs, and brought
into being that association which in six years
Aas made home life better and calmer near the
district which finance claims as its own.
Giving altruism all due credit, It must be
admitted there also was something practical in
Wall Streets act, for in Bowling Green Vii
lage live many who, in their humble but essen
tial way, minister to the easy and comfortable
functioning Of Big Business From the neigh
borhood come army Of jantors, elevator op-
orators and so forth who man the big build
mgs, longshoremen for the docks and men for
other callnga The women Of the district
~. T.
early and late hours which would make most
unfeasible Journeys to distant homes
A mother Of the neighborhood, for instance,
may be the holder of three daily Jobs. Early
in the morning she may have quota of Offices
to clean. That over, she has few hours for
tho work Of her own home before she reports
to a restaurant for work as dishwasher in
the luncheon rush. After an afternoon at her
home she may have another assignment to in
crease the family budget by tidying other
Offices in the evening.
All Of which would be hard on the children
if 1t were not for the Bowling Green Neighbor-
hood Association.
In the building Of the association, at 45 West
Street, day nurseries, playrooms for the
cold weather. Fairgrounds and sand piles when
it's warmer-and all only step from Wall
Street, which supports them. Most Of the
children taken care Of there while their par
ents are away at work Of foreign descent
Syrian, Polish, Slavic, German, Spanish,
English and French
Domestic difficulties and social conditions
are handled by the social service department
Of the association. Workers engaged in vari-
Gus duties gain the confidence Of the vii
layers, thus doubling their ability to aid
when sickness other troubles disorganize a
family. They tell with pride, down at the as
sociation, Of case in which they were able to
come to the aid of certain mother being
sued for divorce. Through testimony believed
to be perjured the was going for the
plaintiff, who would have been awarded the
custody Of the children, who, the association
felt assured from its Investigations, might far
better be In the care Of the mother The in
tervention Of the association reversed matters,
winning decree and the children for the
mother. Many juvenile problems also arc
handled, the association aiding parents with
unruly children
Housing circumstances and living costs are
other conditions in which the association has
great opportunity for service. Little or no
direct charity is given Pauperization Is
avoided. The associations knowledge of the
status Of the families In the district enables It
to require only such payment for coal, ice or
milk as the families are capable of paving.
New Office buildings continue to supplant the
tenementa The reduction in the number Of
homes without decrease in the population Of
course greatly complicates the housing situa-
ton.
Through the courtesy Of owners, vacant lots
adjoining tho neighborhood building are avail
able as playground space. There are swings
and slides and games Of football, baseball.
basket and volley bail, as well as regular ath-
letic meets. Minstrel shows and parties suit
able to the various holidays are indoor fea-
lures. To finance the Halloween party the