﻿HOUSING CONDITIONS IK INDIANAPOLIS 117 



intersections of all prominent streets there are from one to four 

 saloons. Within the district the total number is thirty-four. 

 Women as well as men are habitual beer drinkers. The statistics 

 of expenses do not show that much money is spent for drink, but 

 it is known beyond a doubt that on this point we were misin- 

 formed in most cases. Two or three times during the day many 

 of the women of the district can be seen going to the saloon with 

 a bucket for beer. While this may not in itself be wrong, it is 

 safe to say that it has a demoralizing influence upon the life of 

 the community. 



The question of the recreation of adults in this district is an 

 important one. As on the subject of drinking, definite informa- 

 tion was hard to gain. Less than one-third of the people admitted 

 that they had any form of recreation other than home life. Not 

 one-tenth would say that they patronized theaters or five-cent 

 shows as often as once a week. Yet people who have long been 

 observers in this district declare that a great many of its in- 

 habitants are regular patrons of the Park Theater, going two or 

 three times a week, if the bill changes that often. Located within 

 the district are two five-cent shows, both of which do a flourish- 

 ing business every night. No one would think for a moment that 

 their patrons come from other parts of the city. They live in 

 this district. In spite, therefore, of the statements of these peo- 

 ple that they do not spend their money for pleasures of this kind, 

 we are forced to believe beyond a doubt that they do. This 

 form of recreation, when indulged in only occasionally, may be 

 harmless or even beneficial. But when continued night after 

 night and week after week, it is demoralizing and harmful. 

 Families in which every cent of the weekly income is needed to 

 supply the necessities of life are known to spend from fifty cents 

 to a dollar a week on five-cent shows. Women and children be- 

 come fascinated by them and are willing to sacrifice clothing, 

 or even food, in order to see a picture show. The overthrow of 

 this pernicious influence is a task which can be accomplished 

 only by the united efforts of all educational, social and charitable 

 workers, who come into contact with these people. An educa- 

 tional campaign is necessary to overcome the evils resulting to 

 working people from the cheap theater and five-cent show habit. 



The Family, This investigation took us into the homes of 

 822 families^ who were willing to give us at least a part of the 



^ A family may consist of one or more persons. 



