where people were too poor to pay; boys in large numbers kept off the streets and taught useful lessons, given bright evenings under helpful influences; tiny children taught in the kindergarten; men taught to read and write; young girls given bright evenings filled with music; sick and maimed children helped by practical advice given mothers, and by placing them in proper hospitals; 'evenings at home' given to tired and care-worn mothers, causing them to forget for a time the burden that falls on them by reason of their environment; books sent out all over the vicinity, bringing pleasure to many families."

Miss Luella Meloy, at the request of Professor Atwater, made a study of typical dietaries and budgets of poor families in Pittsburg. As an example take this picture. An American family was studied twenty-nine days. There were three adults and six children, ranging from eighteen years to seven months. The father is a laborer, and earns $1.25 per day, but loses many days in the year from illhealth. A boarder, by occupation a millworker, earns $1.25 per day. They have three rooms, for which they pay $6 per month in advance. They buy for cash by the day or week and in small quantities. The grocers sometimes give short weight. Meats are cooked by frying or boiling. Children drink tea and coffee when they wish them, but have no milk. The father works outside the city, and pays twenty cents per day for car fare. He gave up this job for a night-turn, as food expenses were less, because the mother and children could

live on bread and tea, and the father did without a hearty meal by sleeping in daytime.

The investigation showed that seventeen people were trying hard to live decently in five rooms; five of these persons were adults about twentyseven years of age, two girls aged sixteen and eighteen respectively, and a young man of nineteen. Privacy, essential to modesty, is almost impossible in such crowded conditions. The ventilation must be bad, the air poisonous. There is much sickness and feebleness, because the food is defective and does not make bone and sinew. Such people struggle on for virtue and honesty until privation and misery have reduced them to moral degradation.

Thus the Settlement reveals to society its problems and perils in concrete and living instances; it brushes away wicked palliatives, the unfair hints that the poor are miserable because they are drunken, lazy and dishonest. It is only by these minute, painstaking studies of actual domestic conditions that society can be aroused to do its duty by the wage-earning people.

WELCOME HALL, Buffalo, is an interesting illustration of the combination of Organized Charity, Church Mission and Settlement ideas. It is supported by the First Presbyterian Church. It confines its labors to a comparatively small area, and cultivates this district as thoroughly as possible. Miss Remington is the Head-Worker. There is no attempt to build up a church, but to induce the people to make use of the churches which are convenient to them. Religious services and Bible

teaching are conducted along with class and club work, and various schemes of coöperation and relief.

WESTMINSTER HOUSE (Miss Emily S. Holmes, Head-Worker) was the first Social Settlement in Buffalo. It is unique among American Settlements in one respect: it deals almost entirely with one nationality-the Germans, and they are comparatively permanent. It is well equipped for recreation and educational ministries. It gives help to a group of married women, in garments, fuel and provisions, in return for work done. It coöperates with the Charity Organization Society by assuming responsibility for a limited district, and caring for cases of distress within that territory. The House is supported by a club of Westminster Church, but it presents religion in an unsectarian way.

WHITTIER HOUSE, Jersey City, has developed along the usual lines, and has made good use of its newsboys' club, coöperative girls' club, and class work of all grades. The House does not seek to rival existing institutions, but to help all to do their best work. The residents coöperate with the city. library system, with trained nurses and physicians, and with the Tribune Fresh-Air Fund. A weekly conference has been held, and interest in the Civic League has been sustained. By lending money at six per cent., in cases of emergency, to honest working people, on the security of chattel mortgages, the House has rescued a large number of families from the oppression of usury. Miss Bradford, Head-Worker, has thus expressed the relig

ious attitude of the residents: "We are here to do

. . CoöperaWe are here to Denominations

the work the churches cannot do. tion, not competition, is our creed. live our lives and to share them. are nothing to us. But the simplicity, sincerity, spotless purity and perfect sympathy of Christ is everything. We are here that we may help those about us into life, and life 'more abundantly.'"

CHICAGO COMMONS was established by Professor Graham Taylor in 1894, and he lives with his family in the House. Several other families have chosen to dwell with him in this colony of observation and service. They have the ordinary appliances of a developed Settlement-clubs, classes, kindergarten, social recreations and technical training. They are peculiarly successful in securing the attention of working men. Their economic conferences are well attended, and the influence of the leaders is felt in the city. Occasionally the more public conferences are held in coöperation with Hull House. The Pleasant Sunday Afternoon is a unique and impressive service, reverent and beautiful, yet entirely unlike a formal church service. The presence of men with their families is a distinct and striking advantage of this House, and gives it an appearance of naturalness and permanence which does not belong to a group made up entirely of unmarried men or women. Residents of the Commons hold services at the County Poorhouse, and some of them assist in the ordinary work of the neighborhood church. Normal training classes for social and church workers are main

tained.

Publications are issued to influence public opinion and arouse interest in civic betterment. "The Chicago Commons" is a most useful periodical relating to Settlement work.

"THE FORWARD MOVEMENT, Chicago, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. George W. Gray, Superintendent, is established in a district where the population, chiefly English-speaking, numbers about 50,000. This work is closely akin to the evangelistic type of "Institutional Churches," and is ranked as a Settlement on the ground that its workers are members of the community and visitors in the homes of the people. The House realizes the idea of a church colony, and its progress will be watched with deepest interest.

A FEDERATION OF THE SETTLEMENTS OF CHICAGO has been useful in promoting unity, in preventing duplication of work, in wise location of new Houses, and in securing comparison of views of workers all interested in the same city. As Houses multiply in cities such a local organization becomes very necessary.

EPWORTH LEAGUE HOUSE, BOSTON.-This House is modelled on Mildmay Mission, London, where Miss Cooke worked for several years. One of its most important branches is the medical mission. Medical advice, drugs and nursing are supplied to the very poor at low rates. The residents come from Boston University and from other institutions. Theological students are among the best workers. The Epworth Leagues of the city and surrounding towns assist with money and personal service.