216

ON THE BOTTOMS.

Clay banks ragged and weed grown, rise in an irregular line a quarter of a mile west of the Missouri river from Pierce street south and form a section known as ‘ the Bottoms “ shutting in a community of squatters and renters. Probably there are more renters than squatters in the little cottages that cluster together there with their tiny yards, their rustle palings and the wee gardens The people who live there are very poor So poor, in fact that last year hunger was a frequent thing One who lived there could sometimes heat children crying for bread—which is one of the most frightful sounds in the world. This year things are not quite so bad For one thing the distillery is open It employs many men And if the men do not spend all they earn for drinks at the distillery then the children have something to cat but there are men, who after a weeks hard work, have only a quarter coming to them, because the rest has been spent for drinks And any mathematician will a limit that a quarter will not keep a child fed very long And as for feeding eight or nine children and a wife with a babe at breast—but the mathematicians will t[?] the force of the argument without more words

Moreover times are better In places such as the Bottoms it is possible to discover the exact truth about such matters More men are hired for odd jobs More porters have required More people have their lawns cared for More housekeepers desire washerwomen The women of small means are hiring their sewing done and the women on the bottoms sew for such It is incontestibly a fact that the children of the Bottoms are seldom hungry this year

But it cannot be denied that they are [?] This is because it is almost three years since their parents have been able to buy them clothes

You ask why I do not send all of my children to Sunday School said one mother to Miss Country of the Tabe[?] Col [?] settlement Well there are right of them, and if I barely cover then

RS WILLIAM M MCKINLEY

CALVIN BRICE’

Nakedness I must have thirty-two clear pieces I have not that many It is impossible for me to send more than part of my children at a time The rest must stay at home where they cannot be seen

The Taber College settlement had an existence last year through the three months of summer vacation It came as the result of Mr Alexander Irvine’s work down there He put a passion of sympathy into his labors and broke the distrust and bitterness with which the people of that district regard those not of themselves But in breaking down that cold wall of prejudice and hate he broke his health, too And, as will be remembered it was the labor of certain persons in this community to destroy his influence so far as they might They resented disinterestedness they could not understand made public, with many misrepresentations the story of an unhappy domestic life and bowed in the dust a tender and manly heart The result was an illness of a nervous nature which prostrated a very strong young man and has made him almost an inv[ali?] He left Omaha, where he received little support and appreciation, and has gone to Des Moines to reside over a large church, which like his Chapel of the Carpenter here, is among the poor and the miserable But he left behind him an impulse for work in the hearts of a few and a sweet memory which some broken men there in the settlement of the poor and some miserable wives and lonely little children keep treasured in their hearts The college settlement was formed at his suggestion or at heart is a result of his talks at Tabel college and a number of young women succeeded one another last year in living at the settlement college under the chaperonage of Miss Coudry, who had been Mr Irvine’s assistant Miss Condry has had much experience in benevolent work, and is peculiarly fitted for it insomuch as she prefers it to all the things in the world, and also because she is a gentlewoman with all the fine instincts, the tact knowledge and loveliness of character which that word used in its best sense implies Three young ladies from Taber college are now at the cottage, which is on Poppleton avenue, near the corner of Fourth street, under the shadow of the big day out Next week one of these young ladies will leave, and her place will be taken by another and go on during the summer months

Had Mt Irvine never done his work then It would be impossible for these young school girls to enjoy immunity from insult which they now have and to be encouraged by the respect and sympathy which now surrounds them But the Bottoms have been different since Mr Irvine was there Not but there were always some families on the Bottoms who were law abiding citizens industrious workers and happy fathers or mothers There are, for example a number of frugal German families there who have, in course of years made bowers of the bits of ground around their painted cots Seats are placed out under the trees, old fashioned flowers not about the front yard, in which not an inch of ground is unoccupied vegetables grow in the back yard Within, the floor is snow white with scrubbing The curtains clean The bed quilts are wonders to see An air of sweet and homely comfort seems to invite one to simplicity of life But such are the exception Idleness has cursed the place and fastened its death-like grip upon many There are women who sit all day on the steps of their houses Neither sun nor li[?] seem to disturb them The children squail in the dirt the dishes stand unwashed the picnic ground of 10 000 files The beds lie open exposing dirty sheets No water is brought to refresh the facts of cross babies But at intervals they feed as animals feed anywhere anyhow to stop the cravings of hunger The men often beat these wives Sometimes the midnight [?] is pierced with shrieks of injured

Highest of all in Leavening Po

Royal

ABSOLUT

Children Whisky is a common beverage But why go on? Squalor is easy to imagine It is so sadly similar in all places

The worst and the best down at the Bottoms have come to respect the College settlement and the Chapel of the Carpenter, and all the people associated with these places It was Mr Irvine who won their hearts and his influence still lives there, though he has gone He would have liked to have staid But he was really too disinterested Everyone suspected him Disinterestedness looks so suspicious to some persons

Whether the men beat their wives more gently when the young college girls are there or not it is not possible to say But there seems to be less noise The places under the Pierce street viaduct are no longer infected with the pool, deprived children who, unguided by parental care frequented them at night for the most vicious purposes The young Indies may pass through there at any time, and ou f fear and respect combined moral order reigns The men never think of annoying the young ladies They are not ungrateful for all the instruction and care given their children Even when they are drunk, they do not forget these services, and would be apt to be merely too elaborately protective when under the influence of liquor

The day at the Settlement cottage begins with an early breakfast Every one turns into the tidy house which is as plain as that of any of its neighbors, but which is, of course kept immaculately clean After that an informal prayer meeting is held to which any of the women of any neighborhood – are welcome A number usually come in After that comes kindergarten which is held in the reading room above the Chapel of the Carpenter Thirty little ones attend This lasts from 9 till 11 After that comes the midday meal and a little time for the young ladies to attend to their own sewing, correspondence or recuperation In the afternoon there is either prayer meeting for the women, an afternoon with books at the reading room for the girls, or a similar one for boys, or games or sewing school The young ladies prepare garments for the sewing school providing the cloth The girls are taught to make these, and are given what they make. It has not been possible to supply enough material for the demands The children are wild to learn how to sew and eager to procure the garments, of which they stand in the greatest need Any lady who, in doing her summer shopping, will buy a few yards of dark dress calico, or some cotton cloth, or gingham or even flannel to be made up against the coming winter will assist this work The package can be sent to Miss Coudry, Poppleton avenue, near Fourth street, care Taber College settlement

Wednesday evening there is general prayer meeting, usually conducted by some clergyman, Sunday afternoon Sunday school is held, Sunday evening there are services Boys’ prayer meetings and girls’ prayer meetings occur through the week They are all surprisingly well attended—much better on the whole than similar meetings in other parts of the city.

The chapel room is decorated with flags and pictures A chromo of the Madonna of the Chair hangs where all may see its beauty Some other cheap copies of great pictures hang about A roll of honor is conspicuously placed on which appears the names of those who have done best at lessons and in deportment A small library is in existence in the reading room Any appropriate additions to this would be gratefully received Games are played there, too, but [er?] games could well be added One cannot help thinking what a delight a good tennis court would be Tennis would be well played by these vigorous young people, who have strong muscles and regular pulses

It is with the little children that the settlement sensibly expects to do its best work These dear little creatures who squat about in groups in the dust of the road like so many sociable chickens are very lovable and affectionate They respond to love as a tuning fork does to vibration They are easily trained They want to do right No violet springs up more [?ly] at the breath of spring than aspiration leaps into the heart of a child We were all made in the image of our Maker’ Goodness is natural Love comes as the smoke flea upward t is only when goodness and love have been destroyed that human nature becomes the disgusting thing which it frequently is Decidedly it is with the children that the young ladies can do the most good

Of course there are, too, down there plenty of men and women who have done wrong only through a sort of ignorance who have sinned because they were environed with evil, but to whom goodness would be as sweet as water is to lips that have been defiled wit heating and corrupted liquors Moreover there are services which can be performed for the women of that community which will never be forgotten by those for whom they are performed

A number of ladies in the city have long interested themselves in the work Mrs William Heming has made the women of the bottoms her close and affectionate friends Miss Tukey has [worn?] the hearts of the children Miss Durvea used to work there There are a number of others, mostly members of the First Congregational church That church has contributed something to the support of the college settlement and Taber college has also contributed something The rent of the cottage is paid by the Congregational Extension society President Hughes of Taber college makes frequent visits to the settlement to assist and encourage his students

It is a labor which should receive assistance By that one does not mean money alone It is a noble and brave impulse of altruism which carries these young ladies into this district and their sacrifice should appeal to the young ladies of this city, who could give them much assistance In New York, Chicago and the other great cities of this country the best people of the town, the most influential and the richest are proud to assist the people who make the college settlements It is counted a great privilege to know Miss Jane Adams of Hull house at Chicago It should be counted a privilege to know Miss Coudry of Omaha and to assist her And there are many who do consider it so But there are others who have not felt, in this busy and commercial town, the full beauty nor the full necessity of such benevolences as the Taber college settlement offers

ELIA W PEATTIE.
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CASPIAN SEA

The Caspian sea is 650 feet below the level of the ocean
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DOMESTIC BREEZES

I wonder if that is the cause
Of all that keeps us now asunder—
If so—then married life has flaws!
I wonder

No doubt it was a silly blunder,
And contrary to all the laws
of etiquette—but why in thunder

Could she not hear me out and praise,
And try to get her temper under
—Will it be long before she thaws
F wonder
—Pall Mall Gazette