SOCIAL SETTLEMENTS, groups of social workers who live among the lower classes in the slum districts, first, to ob tain first hand information of conditions which create poverty, and, second, to of fer relief and educational assistance at first hand. The idea of obtaining such close contact with the sources of social misfortune originated with the Christian Socialists an association of educated Englishmen who were active during the middle of the last century. One of these, Edward Dennison, was the first who went to live among the poor of London, in 1867, to obtain first hand information of social conditions among them. Another deeply interested student was Arnold Toynbee, who, on his death, left a legacy which was to be devoted to the establishment of what was to be the first social settlement, Toynbee Hall, opened in London, in 1885. Only two years later the Neighborhood Guild, now known as the University Set tlement, was opened in New York City. The largest social settlement in thid coun try is Hull House, opened in Chicago, in 1889, at whose head is Jane Addams. Its influence has extended all over the city of Chicago, and the results of its socio logical studies form an important part of sociological literature in general in this country. The object of the settlement
house is strongly in contrast to that of any charitable institution in that it seeks to stimulate the poverty-stricken classes to improve their condition by their own efforts. To this end clubs and associa tions are organized among the people of the neighborhood for the purpose of study ing a multitude of subjects and for self improvement. Credit unions are formed for the purpose of assisting mutually those who may meet unexpected misfor tunes. As another instance, the Neigh borhood Guild Settlement House, in New York City, has organized among the women of its neighborhood a co-operative society, which carries on a successful grocery store business through which the members obtain many of the necessaries of life at lower cost. Many other settle ments stimulate their neighbors to pur chase their winter supplies of coal by this method. Other settlements devote much attention to the training of mothers. One, the Nurses' Settlement, in New York City, sends trained nurses to the homes in a wide district in cases of sickness, especially in maternity cases. Through out the large American cities there are about one hundred settlement houses.