The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27 00:00:00

CASUAL WARDS IN PARIS.

A correspondent of the L(lncet writes :—While in
1878 all the world was flocking to Paris to participate
in the gaieties of the great Exhibition, I noticed a
modest work, begun in June of that year, in the
Rue de Tocqueville, a very poor quarter of the capital.
This was the opening, by private inithitive, of a
casual ward, where a night's rest and a good bed are
offered, without distinction of race or creed, to any
man in absolute distress. In exchange, he is required
to give every particular concerning himself, and
to be perfectly sober, and, though not necessarily
to participate in, still to observe a decorous attitude
during the brief reading of prayers. It would require
too much space to relate at length the wonderful
and rapid progress of this institution. The poor
readily availed themselves of the help offered, and
with equal promptitude the rich came forward with
the necessary means. Three casual wards now exist
in Paris—the one at the opening of which I assisteA
another at 14, Boulevard de Vaugirard, and the third
at 81, Boulevard Voltaire. During the recent fearful
winter, which has caused so much havoc among the
poor of Paris, these institutions rendered the greatest
service. They gave warmth and shelter to 19,412 men
for an average of three nights each. To these were dis-
tributed 11,528 tickets for bread, and 16,663 tickets for
animal food. Letters were written to the friends of the
distressed, passports and legal papers procured, and,
better still, employment of a permanent nature was
found for 2,116 of men relieved. When the hospitals
were so overcrowded that the doors had to be shut upon
the sick, room was found for some of the latter in these
private casual wards. No less than 1,936 foreigners
were assisted, of which I am glad to note only 45 were
Englishmen. The foreign nations that provided the
greatest proportion of destitution in Paris were the
Belgians, 655; the Swiss, 412; the Germans, 259; and'
the Italians, 254. I need scarcely point out that the
timely and prudent assistance given by this institution
must contribute considerably to the maintenance of
public health. A good bed in a comparatively
wholesome ward is provided, and sometimes a little
bread or soup sufficient to preserve health, while every
possible assistance is afforded for the procuring of
work. Money is not given, and care is taken not to en-
courage pauperism, while seeking to prevent absolute and
dangerous misery. Already the towns of Lyons, Lille,
Bordeaux, Montpelier, and Baiers are preparing to fol-
low the example set in Paris. From Vienna and from
Pesth demands for information have been received,
and Mr. Rubens, the chief of the Stockholm police,
has been sent by his Government to Paris to report on
this institution. On the other hand, one of its leading
promoters, M. le Comte de Cars, recently visited
London, and, aided by Dr. Bridges, of the Local Go-
vernment Board, inquired into the condition and ad-
ministration of English workhouses and casual wards.
This latter incident is, perhaps, destined to bring about
one of the most fruitful results of the work. The
French would have much to gain if they studied the
sanitary advantages of our charitable institutions;
while we should be equally benefited if we could im-
port from France the economy with which their chari-
ties are managed, the tact and gentleness that direct
their distribution, and prevent the pauper losing all
sense of personal dignity.