Poor -- New York (State) -- New York; Social settlements
that will cast him aside, and refuse him a reason when there is no use for
him. The voter may work during an election campaign half knowing that to
secure another worker in the interests of the political system the place he
holds has been promised to another after election. This fear and this hope
enters the homes; women and children are educated under the moral
degradation that enslaves husbands, sons, brothers, friends, lovers. The
standards of morals are established even in childhood by the working of the
systems of political machines. There is one measure of morals, _success_.
What succeeds is right.
[Illustration: TAKING THEIR TURN IN THE YARD AT THE SETTLEMENT.]
A small house was hired, through the generosity of several women, for the
purpose of providing a place for recreation and social opportunity for a
number of Christians--that is, people not Hebrews--left in a thickly
settled Hebrew district. These Christians, a mere remnant, resented the
opportunities offered the Hebrews, and while they might have availed
themselves of them, they would not, so strong was the race prejudice.
Shortly after the house was opened a delegation of boys appeared asking for
the use of the large room for a boys' club. The privilege was given on the
conditions that one of the workers interested in the house should have the
privilege of visiting the room freely when the club was in session; that
the club should pay twenty cents per month for the use of the room; that it
should be limited to twenty members for three months. Before the first
month had passed, it was decided that unless the club would accept a
director, it was a waste of the space and light to let these boys use the
room. They called themselves a debating and literary club. They knew
nothing of literature naturally and less of debating. They were told that
they must accept a director, a man who would instruct them in parliamentary
law, guide them in debate and suggest subjects for study, or they must
give up the room. They were very angry, but finally decided to accept the
director. Their constitution provided for an election every month, a
provision which kept them in a turmoil all the time. When the majority were
convinced of this, and voted that officers should be elected every three
months, the dissenting minority withdrew to form a new club, to meet
somewhere else. Two weeks later, on club night, the bell rang. The leader
of the minority, who had been elected president of the new club, asked if
they might come back. They did not like the place where they met. After a
conference with the original club, it was decided that, if they chose to
come back as members of the club and pay their dues--three cents per
week--they might come back. The conditions were accepted, and the seceding
minority were to be reinstated as members of the original club on the next
meeting night. As the petitioner was leaving, he turned innocently to the
director and said: "Say, we've elected a couple of new fellows.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account