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(September 1891)
Publications:
- The Path, vol. VI, no. 6, September 1891, p. 198
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CTD entry in Russian: Кейтли, Джулия - Работа в Лигах
DATA
Title for references: Keightley J - Work in the Leagues
Short description: Signed "J. C. V. P." A short report on the growth of the Leagues of Theosophical Workers: a picnic a...
198 A steady increase is seen in the field of Practical Work. The principal New York journals published Mrs. Ver Planck's letter describing League Work, and various newspapers through the country had editorial or other notices of it. Five Leagues have now registered, and two more are about to apply. At League No. 1, one member is about to give a picnic to 40 boys at his country residence. Six working girls have been sent to the country for two weeks each: a letter from one naively and touchingly describes the marvels of country sights and sounds. One of the Doctors who visit the slums takes a mid-day meal at the League restaurant, and with this help the matron and her helpers are able to get drug-store orders, to have repairs made in buildings, and to give other sanitary aid. In one case, the mother of a dying infant was given a daily meal that she might have life to impart to her child. In others, the Doctor pronounced the sufferers to be "not sick, but only starving." Poor invalids, covered with vermin, are bathed, fresh clothing put upon them, and the place thoroughly cleaned up; the other inhabitants are taught to keep it clean, the necessary articles being given to them, and they are encouraged to "work out" the assistance thus afforded them by helping the League. The N. Y. World sent one of its reporters to visit Suffolk St., and through her some clothing, grocery, and drug-store orders, cases to visit, and the Doctor's assistance were procured. Kind friends placed a small fund in the hands of the President of the Central League for the use of the Suffolk Street Matron in her visits among the starving poor. Beef was also bought with a portion of the money, and beef-tea was made for those destitute and starving ones unable to take anything else. A helper writes: "We took them beef-tea and flowers; you should have seen their eyes." Her description of the filth encountered is too revolting for publication. And here was a girl child working among the Sweaters with but a single tattered article of clothing in her possession. These and other sad tales, told to the children taught at the League, have made their impression. The little girls who are learning to sew are going to give a fair, selling the articles made by them to pay the rent of an aged and destitute couple in the neighborhood. These little girls have chosen for their club the name of "Friendly Helpers". A friend sent them two "cutting-out outfits", with two large dolls. These outfits teach how to cut and fit dolls' garments, and an accompanying scale serves to enlarge the patterns for the child's own use. Another friend sent a large barrel of pears for the children and the restaurant. Several small subscriptions have served to give meals where they were most sorely needed; cast-off clothing serves first to teach mending, and then is given to the bedridden, after purification and a bath. At the League, every mite helps. A Professor of one of our noted colleges has a choral singing class at this League; the girls will later give an entertainment for benefit of poorer neighbors. In Brooklyn League No. 2 has established two Domestic Libraries, and visits the poor for the Board of Charities. Still other activities are reported. The President of a Brooklyn Orphan Asylum, pleased with the practical altruism taught during her visit to the League, requested that a theosophist should give a Sunday talk on Karma and Altruism to over 300 children and their teachers. Who next will help this work?
J. C. V. P.
Footnotes