Page 55 - 1913 November - To Dragma

6 0 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

Forgets th' external
And gets fraternal,
And knows the time for friendliness has come.

One present at a scene such as this could not fail to realize that
the social center is going to play a real part in the lives of many
in our cities. After the program, each meeting ends up with a
social dance, and folk dancing is also to be taught. The Federation
has the earnest cooperation of the School Board, which would doubt-
less do more were it not for the present financial stress.

There is a great sphere for work of this kind in New Orleans.
Although it is true that our warm climate and large area render the
conditions of our poorer classes better than in most cities, still our
population is increasing daily, and our tenements, too, are over-
crowded. We have an Italian problem here to cope with, and a
servant problem which perhaps is peculiar to ourselves. Classes
in English for foreigners here would be a real benefit, and the edu-
cation of our foreign population to purer, higher ideals both of
personal cleanliness and of home life, with an accompanying spirit
of brotherhood and patriotism for the South and for the United
States, would go a long way towards preventing much of the disease
arising through filth and squalor, and of the crime existing in ignor-
ant communities.

Baths should be put into the public schools, or at least privacy
afforded where there are only stationary washstands. Evening study
rooms and classes should help the children's room of the public
library in its good work, and a traveling library which would dis-
tribute books in the playgrounds and parks would not be amiss.
Industrial schools need development. Negro trade schools, with
compulsory attendance, would help soothe the worries of many a
housewife.

But, of course, money is required for all these innovations. The
other cities, however, have not found it an exorbitant amount. The
economic and social results fully repay all expenditure. Just now
the cry is to boost New Orleans. Let us aid by giving our f u l l
support to the education of the masses. Let our city be solid from
the roots up. Let our social cohesiveness be perfect. And, finally,
let each community put every effort into a "long, strong pull for
New Orleans."

THEODORA SUMNER, '14, I I CHAPTER, A O n.

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