A battalion of female students from fourteen colleges in the East trooped into the Altro Workshop in the Bronx yesterday morning (an institution for Jewish tuberculars) and surveyed the field of practical sociology for themselves.
At the head of the little army marched Mrs. Carol Rouse, secretary of the Association of Volunteers, and her assistant, Ruth Weinberg. One lonely male, Effret Marten, of the Welfare Council, hung rather disconsolately along the edges of the parade. He was desperately outnumbered.
Grave of face, their pencils at attention, the girls shot question after question at the patient head nurse, Hannah Chrystall. She returned fire with information that proved her knowledge.
Advancing upon the factory, a large sunny room, with many windows, the students quickly captured the attention of every male in the room. The hum of the sewing machines, combined with the bombardment of questions, raised a small tumult.
QUESTIONS FLY
“What are the type of clothes made here?”
“Mostly uniforms.”
“What system do you employ?”
“Piece work.”
“How many hours does each worker put in?”
“That depends upon the verdict of the doctor.”
“Is this a non-profit organization?”
“Yes.”
“Under whose supervision?”
“The Committee for the Care of Jewish Tuberculars.”
“How often is each patient examined?”
“About once a week.”
“What does the name Altro mean?”
“It’s derived from altruistic.”
“How long do the patients usually remain here?”
“From one to five years.”
MORE QUERIES
“Are there any active cases?”
“We have cases in all three stages.”
That ground apparently thoroughly covered, the army then proceeded to dispatch the lunchrooms, the sunrooms, the roof garden and the rest room. Nothing escaped their vigilant eyes.
Information elicited from the girls brought to light the fact that most of them were ambitious to enter into social work after graduation. Many of them live in small towns. This expedition is an adventure to them.
Next on their list of visits is the East Harlem Health Center, Bellevue Hospital, the Lavanburg Homes and the Seamen’s Church Institute.
Asked which visit they had enjoyed so far, the girls voted unanimously for the Bethlehem Day Nursery, which they had visited Tuesday.
“The babies there were just too cute for words,” said they as with one voice.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
