USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Cincinnati, the Queen City, 1788-1912, Volume II > Part 37
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It would have been a superficial charity merely to supplement by low-priced board the small wages of a few, instead of giving the means of industrial edu- cation to the whole class. The educational and industrial department was or- ganized in 1885, in a separate building from the home, and in 1910 the house at 26 East Eighth street was acquired by purchase. Here classes have been held in stenography, bookkeeping and all the elementary English branches; in plain sewing and embroidery; in cooking, both for sick and well people, and in physical culture and delsartean principles, which has added greatly to the health and happiness of many young women restricted to the narrow life of offices and shops. Moderate prices are paid for all lessons excepting the most elementary. Though complete self-support has not been reached, it is an aim kept more or less strenuously in view in the departments both of board and in- struction. In that of entertainment, pure good-will finds its opportunity, and the rewards are of the unlimited kind. Every Monday evening the parlors are filled with a happy company.
The Travel Club meets fortnightly under charge of a superintendent, who with the aid of friends brings much of the refreshment and delight of wide wanderings in distant lands to those of more limited opportunities.
The alternate Monday evenings are occupied by entertainments provided by members of the board of directors in their turn. Music, recitations, stereop- ticon pictures, ices, sweets-whatever serves to make a merry evening with guests at home-finds place in these social occasions. Friends remaining at their city homes during the summers have given great pleasure by lawn parties,
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trolley excursions and visits to the Art museum, planned for from fifty to seventy-five of the girls at a time.
Other features of the association's work are an employment bureau, which finds places for many each year; a noonday lunch served to forty-five or fifty women and girls each day ; a limited provision for emergency guests, of whom a couple of hundred each year enjoy the shelter of the home, and to whom more than a thousand meals are served each year, a travelers' aid, organized to meet trains and guide the inexperienced or bewildered to safe shelter; and a regular visitation of hospitals and places of detention and reform.
Comparatively few people appreciate the great work that the Young Women's Christian Association of Cincinnati is doing at its building at 20 East Eighth street. Any woman of moral character may become a member. One of the most useful functions of the association is the assistance it extends to strange young women who are seeking employment, and who also wish to find rooms and boarding places. For women who are forced to take luncheon downtown, there is a good wholesome meal served from II:30 to 2 p. m., and there is also a comfortable rest room where they may spend part of the noon hour.
The Young Women's Christian Association is also solicitous concerning the manner in which its members pass the evening. There is a library provided with papers, magazines and books, and classes in all branches of educational work, some entirely free and some for which a small tuition is charged, are held every evening. A culture club and class in social economics alternates on Monday evenings with a social entertainment. One of the delightful features of the association is the club for young girls, which meets every Friday night.
The facilities of the Young Women's Christian Association include religious instruction and worship for those who desire it. There are Bible classes three nights a week and every Sunday afternoon at four o'clock there is a song and gospel service, followed by a social hour. When the warmer weather comes the association does not forget its members. On every other Saturday, during the summer months, there is an outing, which is a pleasant memory to the present members and is keenly anticipated by them. The present commodious build- ing is provided with fine baths, for which tickets are sold at the rate of $1.00 for twenty baths and single tickets for five cents.
The forty-second annual report of the Cincinnati Y. W. C. A., 1911, makes a splendid showing. Miss Elizabeth Attee, general secretary, in her report cites the fact that the house has been full the entire year with always a waiting list. Notwithstanding the many opportunities offered students by the board of edu- cation, through the night schools, the Y. W. C. A. has had a busy year in its educational department. The enrollment has been in the free classes: Bible study 127, mission study 18, choral 49, English literature 24, English grammar 25, elementary English 8, plain sewing 41, total 292.
In the paid classes in cooking 168, dressmaking 123, millinery 76, art 70, embroidery 31, commercial 48, elocution 19, French 8, German 12, piano 26, voice 10, gymnasium 226, juniors 115, total 1,227. The loss of the vacation house by fire was a calamity that as yet has not been remedied, but by the courtesy of the park commission Mount Echo park, Price Hill, has been placed at the disposal of the Y. W. C. A. members on Saturday afternoons. Places for
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tennis, croquet, hammocks, etc., have been provided and a tennis club formed and the girls have delightful afternoons and sunset suppers. The junior depart- ment, under the efficient direction of Miss Elizabeth Atkins, has done well, but needs more class room. No woman comes to the Y. W. C. A. who fails of re- ceiving the help in the power of the management to bestow, or if the case be beyond its province, who is not taken or directed to the proper source of assist- ance. The work is protective, not reformatory. The lunch department is a great feature of the association, week days serving on an average of 615 meals a day and one month 8,447 were served at lunch. The department of religious work has three branches, mission study classes, vesper services and Bible classes. Miss Helen Taylor has conducted the mission study class faithfully once a month throughout the year.
Miss Mary Lehman is the Bible secretary. The extension department has presented its four branches of the association, recreation, music, health and education, by varied programmes. This year the work has covered twelve fac- tories, in one of which we have helped the girls furnish a rest room.
The department of physical culture, under Miss Dorothy Tucker; the do- mestic science, taught by Miss Edith Voight, and the domestic art, by Miss Mabel McDonald, have all been well attended. Among the teachers are Misses Morrison, Mosby, Henly, Hilton, Barrett, Hamilton, Ida and Gertrude Kroger, Boise, Sellew and Mrs. M. L. Kirkpatrick. Their time has been freely, lovingly given, and the girls, both seniors and juniors, are better prepared to take their places in the industrial world and will be happier, better women for having been under Christian influence at the association. The law department has had the benefit of lectures by A. H. Morrill, T. M. Hinkle, R. M. Ochiltree, William P. Rogers, Judge J. R. Sayler, M. F. Galvin, R. C. Pugh, Judge H. C. Hollister and Judge Otto Pfleger.
The officers for 1911 and 1912 are: President, Mrs. J. E. Baldwin ; vice presi- dents, Mrs. I. Burnet Resor, Miss Elizabeth Torrence, Mrs. Chauncey D. Palmer, Mrs. George H. DeGolyer, Mrs. Edward Mills, Mrs. Henry L. Benham, Mrs. M. B. Farrin; recording secretary, Mrs. Smith Hickenlooper; corresponding sec- retary, Miss M. E. Thalheimer; assistant corresponding secretary, Miss Helen Crane ; treasurer, Mrs. A. M. Dolph.
PROTECTORY FOR BOYS.
This institution was founded in 1868 for the purpose of offering a home to neglected boys and to educate them in order that they may become good Catholics and useful and honest citizens. It is under the management of Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis, whose motherhouse is at Aachen, in the Rhenish Province Bleyerheide (Holland) near Aachen! Four of those brothers came to this country in 1866, and first offered their services to the Franciscan Fathers at Teutopolis, Ill., but were soon induced by the Archbishop of Cincinnati to lay the foundation of a Protectory for forsaken boys. In July 1868, a house was rented and homeless boys were taken into it. The house soon proved too small. and then the archbishop offered them a forsaken hospital, (St. John's) on Lock street, which gave accommodation to about 200 boys and twenty brothers. The
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brothers took possession of it on March 19, 1869. By means of benefactors a farm, six miles from the city, was bought. The change of habitation took place in May, 1871. The erection of a needed building brought great pecuniary embar- rassment, which was only finally relieved by the generosity of two benefactors, the Messrs. Joseph Nurre and Reuben Springer of Cincinnati. A new building was finished in July 1889, and a new spacious chapel was begun in 1893 and finished in June 1894. After many exertions and sorrows this institution is in a flourishing condition.
THE HOUSE OF REFUGE.
Anyone who wishes to have his heart made glad by visible proofs of what can be done for boys and girls who have appeared, to some degree, rebellious or badly disposed, should visit the Cincinnati House of Refuge. The work being done there would require a considerable proportion of the commendatory ad- jectives of the English language to characterize it. These young people are be- ing trained to be useful and strong men and women. They are happy, wonder- fully so. The superintendent, Mr. Allison, is a phenomenon in his understanding, management and sympathy for these young people in his care. There is no more touching sight to be beheld in or about Cincinnati than the Sunday after- noon meetings when these boys and girls gather in the main hall for services, march like drilled soldiers, sing so cheerily and rousingly as to make their music ring in the hearts of visitors for days afterward. All the while the affection of the young people for their superintendent shines out, and his own face beams as if they were all his children. A very great and important work is being done there, and it will do any one good to get in personal touch with it.
For more than fifty years this House of Refuge has stood as a bulwark be- tween society and the growth of criminal and pauper classes. It has taken boys and girls who, but for its guidance, would have graduated into the army of the vicious or helpless, given them a home, supplemented by mental, moral and phy- sical training, and sent them out into the world well equipped for life's battles.
During its early history, when it was unjustly considered a penal institution only, it was indeed a correctional, industrial and educational home, although reformatory discipline was then in its infancy. It was not thought by people generally that a boy or girl could be punished, if need be, in ways that were uplifting as well as corrective. For instance, solitary confinement in a dark room was considered a necessary form of punishment. No matter what a child now has done, it is not subjected to treatment that hardens and left to brood over misdeeds or fancied grievances. Sunshine, pure air, good books and elevat- ing associations, instead, are the influences used to touch the heart and awaken the conscience. The spirit of progressiveness, and of tempering discipline with kindness, is emphasized in the present work of this home.
It has kept pace with advanced methods. It has been the public at large that has not kept pace with the institution, and if its work is misunderstood in this latter day it is by those who do not visit it or seek to acquaint themselves with its good works. Except a rear wall, which would not be necessary if the Refuge were located well beyond the city limits, there is nothing about or in the Home that is at all forbidding or even unpleasant. The school rooms, read-
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ing and dining rooms, dormitories are all bright and cheerful. From the moment that a child becomes an inmate the greatest of care is given to its refinement. The treatment is most humane; as mild as is consistent with good discipline. Work and recreation are equally mixed in healthful doses. As soon as possible a child is put on honor, and after a little of this wholesome teaching there is as fine a presenting of bright featured boys and girls as is to be found in our public schools.
A walk through the Refuge,-seeing the boys at work, or play, or drilling, and the tot girls in the kindergarten, or the larger ones sewing, doing house- work, or playing,-and one does not go away with heart depressed in sadness, but it is rather lightened and gladdened that such a large and happy family is gathered under that broad paternal roof.
There have been about 20,000 boys and girls admitted since the opening of the Refuge in 1850. The proportion of boys to girls has been about four to one. There have been several thousands established in permanent country homes.
The course of instruction in the industrial and manual training departments is on the most practical lines. For the boys there are the printing, tailoring, shoemaking, woodworking, masonry, carpentry, painting, (glazing, etc.) flori- culture, gardening, engineering, steam heating, electric lighting and bakery depart- ments. The average age of the boys is fourteen years. Think of a fourteen year old boy learning all the intricacies of the printers art, getting out the official organ of the Refuge, Our Companion, or printing the annual report of the in- stitution, letter heads, bill heads, etc., and in as fine and tasteful form as in a city printing office. Think of boys fourteen years old who can make coats, trousers, caps, overalls, aprons, shoes, slippers; or who can do work in wood turning, or carving that would make even a high-priced "jour" lift his hands in surprise, the Sloyd (Swedish) system of wood-workings being used. Think of a boy of fourteen being entrusted with a full set of the brightest and sharpest tools. It is enough to make the average boy outside the Home turn green with envy. The boys first begin by whittling with a pen knife, and as they improve they advance to the turner's table or carpenter's bench and the complete set of tools. Think of boys of fourteen laying brick or stone walls, cement pavements, drain pipes, or making repairs in the building, laying floors, putting up partitions, mak- ing benches, tables, sash, blinds, and then doing the painting and glazing needed. Think of them becoming adepts in floriculture and gardening ; of gathering prac- tical knowledge in engineering, and the running of electric light plants, of be- ing able to make any thing from a cake to a loaf of bread, and a fine one at that. Each year these juvenile bakers turn out of the ovens about 50,000 three pound and 20,000 one pound loaves, 25,000 small cakes, 6,000 pieces of ginger bread ; this is not all-only enough to whet your appetite.
A word about the girls. They are taught the work of the kitchen, the laun- dry, the sewing room and general housework. In the kindergarten department, (four to eleven years) there are made yearly nearly 1,000 pieces, consisting of aprons, bibs, bath towels, pillow cases, roller towels, etc.
The boys and girls go to school half a day, the other half being given to their appointed work. Nor is it all work and no play at the home, only each has its proper time. Music forms a part of the education received.
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There is a military department. Every boy is a soldier as well as a gentle- man. There is a battalion of four companies, a military band, fife, drum and trumpet corps. The boys wear cadet gray all the time, except when at work in the shops. The gymnasium and the drill make full-chested, manly little fel- lows. Homes and situations are found as rapidly as possible. The average time of the inmates in the institution is less than two years. Boys and girls of good behavior and trustworthiness are sent out on parole, and are required to report only at stated intervals and in this way are kept track of and it is also seen to that they are properly cared for in their new fields. The children are really committed until they are of age, and the Refuge is responsible for them, and the return of a paroled boy or girl is always attended with deep interest by those in charge. Often the officials go out to meet these paroled ones. During one week forty-three were thus visited in Kentucky, and there was not one un- pleasant report upon their return.
But children are never separated from fathers and mothers where there is a prospect of reform on the part of the parents. Some have fought sickness and poverty until all failed, and with no means of support or hope of a brighter future they have given up their children or have been forced to part with them, perhaps through intemperance or dissoluteness. Children are often sent back to their homes on probation, and investigation made at certain periods, and in many instances they are permitted to remain with their parents where there is sufficient indication of ability to care for them or that affection is stronger than habit. There are instances where children have gone back to the parents with the good seed of the Refuge so strongly implanted in their little hearts that they have been the means of reforming father and mother, literally fulfilling the words of Holy Writ that a little child shall lead them.
The half has not been told, only enough to give insight and furnish an in- centive to visit the Refuge and personally absorb the good points of its noble work.
THE CINCINNATI UNION BETHEL.
The Cincinnati Union Bethel, located for years at 306-312 Front street, has been an evolution. It started about seventy years ago in a small building, after- wards transferred to a boat near the Public Landing. It has gone steadily for- ward through the years, changing its methods to meet the new conditions as they have appeared from time to time until today it occupies a large and import- ant place in the Christian and philanthropic forces of the city.
The two great lines along which the institution makes its deepest impression upon the city are the great Sunday School which meets at 2:30 p. m. and the daily charity distribution in connection with the visitation of experienced mis- sionaries who carefully investigate all applications for aid, keeping constantly in view the principle of self help. The Sunday School being one of the largest in the world brings under religious influences multitudes of neglected children who otherwise would be destitute of such instruction and of high ideals of good citizenship, while the distribution of food, clothing, fuel and medicine opens the way for an exemplification of the teachings of the Man of Galilee who went
OLD FOLKS HOME, McMILLEN STREET, WALNUT HILLS
THE OLD UNION BETHEL ON RIVER FRONT. 1895
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about doing good and whose mission seemed preeminently to be to the common people.
While conventions and conferences spend much time in discussion of the question how to reach the masses, the work of the Bethel illustrates in a very practical way how to do it. As a business basis, this splendid philanthropy through the generosity of Mr. David Sinton and others, had a fair endowment ; this ought to be largely increased in order to meet the pressing demands of a rapidly changing situation. New conditions are appearing of which the founders of this institution never dreamed, and these must be met with Christian states- manship and enlarged liberality.
The Rev. M. Swadener, who assumed control as the general superintendent January 1, 1899, brought to the administration of the office splendid platform and preaching ability, and ten years of practical training gathered on the field in many of the large cities of the country. Under his administration the institu- tion increased in vitality on the legitimate lines for which this institution for the masses was organized. Mr. Wright was the next in charge and had a very suc- cessful management.
Under his successor the Rev. Mr. White, the work has broadened and deep- ened still more. Numerous gifts have been received from generous philanthro- pists. Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft have been exceedingly liberal. A new home at 501 East Third street has been provided.
This institution is one of Cincinnati's chief points of interest and is visited annually by large numbers from other states and cities, who carry away a care- ful study of the methods employed, inspiration for larger usefulness along lines of forward movement work. The Bethel is undenominational, having a board of directors composed of representatives from all Evangelical churches, a fine body of representative, professional and business men, who devote their time to the business side of the work, purely from the love they have for the neglected.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft were the donors of the New Settlement House of the Bethel, as well as of the Anna Louise Inn. The Anna Louise Inn is a home for working girls. It was opened in June, 1909, and within six weeks it was filled. It has a capacity for one hundred and twenty-five girls, with one hundred and twenty single rooms. Experts from other cities have pronounced it the best thing of its kind in America.
In the new lodging house on Front street, over sixty thousand men are lodged in a year. Thirty-eight thousand, five hundred baths were given in a recent year. In the nursery more than eight thousand children have been given a day's care during the year. There have been five thousand patients at the dispensary.
For the Anna Louise Inn, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Taft contributed about $40,000. A host of friends gave sums varying from $3,000 down to $100, and down to $5 and $I.
THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is the representative charitable organiza- tion of laymen in the Catholic church. Although named after St. Vincent de Paul, that great apostle of charity who lived and labored in the seventeenth cen- tury, it was not organized until May, 1833. Then Frederic Ozanam (who was
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born at Milan of French parents in 1813, and was thus at the time but twenty years of age), and seven associates, decided to prove by actions as well as by arguments to their companions in Paris schools that their Christianity, which had been so glorious in the past in works of charity, was still living and active, and banded themselves together to serve the Almighty by relieving the distress of His poor. They began so vigorously seeking out the destitute and bringing them relief in person, that their labors soon drew upon them the attention of the whole of Paris, and the recruits that flocked to their standard were so numerous that in a short time a number of conferences, or branch societies, were formed, each of which had its own organization yet strictly followed the rules adopted by the original association.
From this small beginning the St. Vincent de Paul Society has grown rapidly and steadily until now it has conferences in India, China, Egypt, South Africa, Australia, the islands of the Pacific, the countries of Europe, the states of South and Central America, and all sections of Canada and of our own country. In all, there are 5,500 conferences, with 90,000 active members and 100,000 hon- orary members, all engaged in the same work, all conforming to the same rule and all under the direction of the council general at Paris. The active members of the society, who do the active work, must be Catholic laymen. The honorary members also must be Catholic laymen; they contribute a fixed sum annually. Other benefactors, who may be men or women, Catholic or non-Catholic, are called subscribers.
The conferences, occupied in practical works, are the foundation of the so- ciety ; over the conferences of a town is the particular council, composed of rep- resentatives from all the local conferences. The particular council reports to a central or superior council, which, in fine, reports to the council general in Paris, the center of the whole association and a bond of union among the many branches.
The methods of the society are simple and thorough. Every conference meets regularly once a week. Then all applications for relief are brought before it and referred to a committee of inquiry. This committee visits the applicant at his home, investigates his circumstances as thoroughly as possible, and at the next meeting of the conference submits its report and recommendations. In the family is found deserving, the society authorizes the payment of a certain sum weekly in the form of tickets which are accepted for groceries at designated stores in lieu of cash, and are afterwards redeemed by the society. These relief tickets are distributed every week by subcommittees, which visit the families in person once a week, keep a close watch on their condition and report to the society any change in their circumstances. As soon as any family is considered capable of caring for itself, relief is discontinued. Every endeavor is used to encourage parents, educate the children, and make the family self-respecting, self-reliant and self-supporting.
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