Page 51 - 1913 November - To Dragma

56 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

and are doing good work in the assimilation of the immigrant in the

American population.

The social instincts of youth are paid much attention to. Social

dances and entertainments are frequently held, at which the boys

and girls and adults, too, are given freedom for f u l l enjoyment.

The good influence of these dances is unquestionable. Instead of

hidden meetings in dark streets, the young men and women here

have the pleasure of one another's companionship without restric-

tion. Their behavior has always been creditable, the results good.

One principal wrote: "We have watched many of our girls change

from the silly attitude toward the boys to that of practical indiffer-

ence, or open, frank comradeship, and have seen the boys, who at

first came in untidy of dress and unclean of person, appearing with

clean linen and hands, tidy clothing, and freshly shaven faces."8

Miss Whitney, in her report for 1908 on the City of New York,

states: "One of the marked instances of the year was the rescue

of what the police designated 'one of the worst gangs of girls on

the East side.' In the club of twenty young women, now tamed and

decent, one would not recognize the hoydens of a few months ago."9

Scarcely distinguishable from the recreation centers are the social

centers. Here, however, the enjoyment rests more upon the mutual

companionabiliry of the participants and upon intellectual rather

than upon physical activities. Saturday night, so usually given over

to the saloon, the theater, or the notorious dance hall, is usually

chosen for the social center festivities. Various programs are ar-

ranged, generally including a musical number, a short talk, often

illustrated, several recitations or perhaps an amateur dramatic per-

formance, and afterwards a social dance or basket ball game. The

assembly halls or kindergarten rooms are used for this purpose. The

central idea of the social center as set forth by Mr. Edward G.

Ward of New York City is: " . . Just to be the restoration

to its true place in the social life of that most American of all in-

stitutions, the public school center, in order that through this ex-

tended use of the school building might be developed, in the midst

of our complex life, the community interest, the neighborly spirit,

the democracy that we knew before we came to the city."10

Playing a prominent part here as in the recreation centers, are
the numerous civic and literary clubs organized by both men and wo-
men. The good that they do is almost immeasurable. Movements for
civic improvement have been originated and carried through by

8Perry, p. 242.
9Perry, p. 235.
1 0 P e r r y , p. 272.