It was a cold winter afternoon when I called on Jane Addams at her famous settlement, Hull House. A woman clerk greeted me courteously and, after asking a few questions, decided to call Miss Addams. In a few minutes the latter descended the stairs to the waiting room. We talked for twenty minutes. Age has not dimmed her sense of humor. Her hair is gray and combed back in plain style. The ears are particularly top-shaped and the eyes light. Deep lines of either side of her nose continue down to her chin.
After our talk, she invited me to take supper with her and the staff of assistants. The supper was served in a comfortable dining-room by colored waiters. It was taken in courses, each kind of food being set down before Miss Addams, who filled the various plates, which were relayed to the eaters.
She is without pose and is [skillful] in making one feel at ease. We talked of many things -- of the Blue Books, and her niece, Marcet Haldeman-Julius, particularly.
One of her assistants was a man well over fifty. He found it difficult to understand why men became tramps. I tried to explain that the causes were many, an aversion by instinct, reason or experience to hard work ... the wanderlust ... booze ... wastrel temperament ... but, better than all, chance, destiny, luck. He replied that he still did not understand, though Jane Addams expressed the opinion that I had been lucid in my answers. From my tramping experience, the talk turned to my vicissitudes as an aspiring pugilist, and the old fellow again spoke up, "Why should a man prize-fight when he knows he is going to be punished?"
I had to admit that from such an angle prize-fighting is just as foolish as living.
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