INTRODUCTION BY IDA M. TARBELL SIGHT TO THE BLIND AFTERWORD


The illustrations reproduced in the Introduction to this volume
have been selected from those in Miss Furman's "Mothering on
Perilous."




Introduction Ida M. Tarbell




Introduction

A more illuminating interpretation of the settlement idea than Miss
Furman's stories "Sight to the Blind" and "Mothering on Perilous"
does not exist. Spreading what one has learned of cheerful,
courageous, lawful living among those that need it has always been
recognized as part of a man's work in the world. It is an
obligation which has generally been discharged with more zeal than
humanity. To convert at the point of a sword is hateful business.
To convert by promises of rewards, present or future, is hardly
less hateful. And yet much of the altruistic work of the world has
been done by one or a union of these methods.

That to which we have converted men has not always been more
satisfactory than our way of going at it. It has often failed to