The Social Work of the Salvation Army Part 14

No. 69.

Born in Ireland. Twenty-eight years old. Single. Had lost track of his people. Had been in this country eight years. Had no trade. Had had no steady work all Winter. Drank a good deal. Never worked in the country.

Looked very wild.

No. 70.

Born in New Orleans. Spanish parents. About twenty years old. Single.

Left home two years ago and took to life on the water. Left the boat in New York one month previously and had not worked since. Said he liked to sail and see the world. His people lived in New Orleans, and he expected help from them. Never worked in the country. Looked capable.

No. 71.

Born in New York. American parents. About thirty years old. Single. Had trade as a bartender. Belonged to the Union. Lost a steady job through drink three weeks ago. Was now working four hours a day. Had a room in the Army Hotel. Said he was going to change his line of business because he drank too much. His appearance was good. Never worked in the country.

No. 72.

Born in Germany. Looked like a Jew. About twenty-five years old. Single.

Had no trade. Had been out of work three months. Was now selling old clothing and other things around the Army Hotel. Never worked in the country. Evidently lazy and incapable.

No. 73.

Born in Illinois. American parents. About twenty-eight years old.

Single. Ran away from home and was ashamed to go back. Had no trade but had worked a good deal as cook on board s.h.i.+p. Had been out of work six weeks. Said he was sick and had about $200.00, but it did not last long.

He was working round the Army Hotel a little every day, for which he got his bed and one meal ticket. Never worked in the country. Said he was going to join the navy. Looked bright and capable.

No. 74.

Born in Lithuania. Twenty-three years old. Single. People at home were poor. Had no trade. In New York three years. Out of work two months.

Obtained clothes in various ways and sold them. Was not dissipated, but looked lazy. Never worked in the country.

No. 75.

Born in Yonkers, N. Y. American parents. About sixty-five years old.

Single. Was an old sailor but had not been to sea for over a year. Was working two days a week as janitor. Said he had been a hard drinker in the past, but he did not drink much now. He looked aged, but still capable. Never worked in the country.

No. 76.

Born in Boston. Irish parents. About twenty-five years old. Single. Had no trade. People did not recognize him. Had travelled all over the country. Had been in jail twice. Never worked in the country. Looked like a tramp.

SOME FACTS BROUGHT OUT IN THE 76 HOTEL EXAMPLES.

Nationality. No. Percentage.

American parentage 35 .461 Irish parentage 20 .263 English and Scotch parentage 9 .119 German parentage 8 .105 Other countries 4 .052

Married men 7 .095 Single men 69 .905 Worked a little in country 13 .169 Worked considerably in country 5 .065 Men with regular trades 26 .342[56]

Union men 4 .052 Men who looked efficient 15 .197 Men who looked semi-efficient 14 .184 Men who looked inefficient 47 .619

Ages.

15-20 4 .052 20-30 42 .553 30-40 16 .211 40-50 6 .079 50-60 7 .092 60-70 1 .013

Length of time out of work.

Less than 1 mo. 12 .157 More than 1 mo. 13 .171 More than 2 mos. 11 .145 More than 3 mos. 40 .527

FACTS BROUGHT OUT IN THE 109 INDUSTRIAL EXAMPLES AND THE 76 HOTEL EXAMPLES COMBINED.

Nationality. No. Percentage.

American parentage 76 .411 Irish parentage 50 .270 German parentage 26 .141 English and Scotch parentage 18 .098 Italian parentage 4 .022 Swedish parentage 4 .038 Other countries, parentage 7 .20

Married men 24 .149 Single men 161 .851 Worked a little in country 29 .156 Worked considerably in country 12 .016 Men with regular trades 57 .309 Union men 10 .054 Men who looked efficient 53 .287 Men who looked semi-efficient 35 .189 Men who looked inefficient 97 .524

Ages.

15-20 6 .032 20-30 97 .525 30-40 39 .210 40-50 26 .140 50-60 50 .082 60-70 2 .011

Length of time out of work.

Less than 1 mo. 20 .108 More than 1 mo. 30 .163 More than 2 mos. 27 .145 More than 3 mos. 108 .584

FOOTNOTES:

[38] "How the Other Half Lives," p. 38.

[39] This differentiation is more p.r.o.nounced in the United States, since the work has been extended here more than in other countries.

[40] For adverse criticism see "The Social Relief Work of the S. A.," p.

9.

[41] At the Burne St. Shelter, the largest in London, one large dormitory has 288 beds and another 265.

[42] For rooms, special rates are given by the week; from some of the examples given at the end of this chapter, it will be seen that these are occupied by men with partial or poorly paid employment.

[43] In London, the Army has a mattress factory which supplies its inst.i.tutions.

[44] More headway is being made in this direction in the Industrial Homes where the population is more permanent. We found in one home in Chicago that the men were organized in the form of a club, and enjoyed social meetings together. Also, at the largest Industrial Home in London, called "The Spa Road Elevator," we found a regular cricket club organized which played cricket games with other clubs.

[45] Good examples of this are to be found in the Middles.e.x Street Hotel and the Burne Street Hotel, London. The former hotel is regularly provided, by a large baker firm, with food, which is one day stale, for a very low figure.