Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1832-12-06
ron Tnx rRrE rHK.s.
THE POOR OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
lis not tho poor man ais,i,.
when nc hesrs . poor DIrn mann.

THE POOR or JEFFERSON ,,t>,,
lis not "thc poor man als,,,.
When he hear poor saaH ftsr,,
From hrs morsel a NOR Sel" .Lyu,i a,.
Ifthcre be one virtue more lovci, adm.
Die, and enobling Than any otl,er a..l
asSimiiafes IA any degree "Goa-like MAJ.
the 6ner Of all good" il n.ust he. I..
'en-born Charity" Nor j. ihcr. az, NJ
certain criterion Of peoples ,l,,rcey...,
IN the scale OF civilization aud r,G..,,...
than liberal public prorisien for IA. Pa
" idow aud ia. or,h,.,
fhs - subject ia which ever, on. IN
community should manifest regard and -,
PATTY, and indeed IN which all an, in,,r.,i,4
How astonishing Is the mu,abilI,V of b,,.,.
snairs--ahd who knows but that n. m, DE-.
the nck' subject OF overw hclmins .Nts,., Inn,
deserved or innocent OF TIE latter ri..
there are, alas many /; ard Tor such m -.
ucnisr. there should be proper rcrcff,'I.
house OF refuge, where the, could me.
with welcome and succour. al ,,,br.,.
them ~itb chcerfulness and cout,rin.,t >,
thcr Than suffer as outeasts or sink INTO ,,-..
bonds.
suppose stranger TO question us unon the
condition Of our PooT-could we .tsWer vi.
credit and honor TO oursei,ess Could "a,
point with pride 10 a spacious. neat. aud con,
Portable PoOr-hows-or must We feel dee,
reProach, and confcss tllai their condition ~
the,r house, ~ poor indeed After a cosa
ue' oil inquiry relative 10 this matter, 1 ind
that ihere u no regular Poor-housc m Jcf.r-
son county that the Gr,,,,,,s of The Poor ,r.
obliged every year 20 hawk them oil fer keen
ing, {" the lowest bidder, but that the great
mass oi them have such horror az xbot.
called the " Poor-ho..,,' that they prefer
scuiiiing along " out of sight Of Il, with th.,
ala oi small annual bounty from the Over
secrs. la August last, I VISITED the Pour
mouse establishment, at tho Harding farm IS
miles from Charlcstcwn The buildings were
very indifferent, but they told me tina, they
hai been there so short a time that Ia. 49,.
perintendant had no: yet fixed them A. com
iortatly as hc iutended. To nv great salts
iacuon, hey informed ne that they were well
ciothed ana led, but one of them complained
oil having been SICK three DAYS without see
ing the Physician. owing to the rcmoteuc>S tr
the place from Chariestown, and the r,l,r
ness Of his salary not UNDERWRITING him for
visiting them very often. find. too. that ,b,.
present system Is exceedingly tToubie-ome to
the oFerseers, and that many of the most
competent and useful declare that nothing
"hl induce thcm 10 serve again.
Ana nov Tor remedy for these evils Let
he Magistrates appropriate the sum which
was intended to buiid up a fine house for
themselves, 20 buying lot of 10 or ~ acres
81 land IN some central situation, oonven!ert
10 the county town, and erecting thereon 4,
suitable Pcor-house. Justice has now been
me'ed out Tor Almost 80 years Ia the present
-FOUR, house, aud though IFS size and appear
once be rather dcrogatory To this wealthy and
intelligent country, yet il might do "a h,t.e
longer" And il would indeed be inst and gc-
nerous, TO permit the louder cries Of the Peer
Tor sheHer, 20 prevail over the minister, of
the law, who, even II htir Temple was tot
tering, could console themselves with The en-
cIamation,
" Fiat Justitia, rust" ii etism CLria,
But indeed, the h.nor Of our county de-
mands tha: both these works should BE- car:
RED on, and its wealth would Justify even
simultaneous action. How many cfrfs .so,;lr.
" abstract from the pockets Of each citizen
10 complete both objects And who is there
so penurious as Ia withhold his mite For
this II contribution which Is 10 be made bar
once, and the fruits OF which will stand even
after We are gone have met with many
who wish To give largely to the erection of a
Poor-house, and thirk | know more than
one who would wish to make gift Of the ne
cessery land. Attached to a Poor-house there
snouid be supervisor, always present, who,
whhe ne supplied their wants, should see IN
turn that such az were able, should earn
their daily bread" and contribute TO their
support. Ry system lise ills at the North,
the foor have almost ceased To be a trouble
or tan, md IN some places more than de-
Tray ihe'T current expenses. I might hero
enlarge upon the great meliofation which
snch plan would effect, upon the morals,
inc happiness, the ccntentmcnt, and the r.
speciaOllity o. the poor but any one can IN
up The picture for+l ,and my object will
bave been answered, II I but succeed la A.
les1sH'ns public Alteration 10 so interesting
'"eie' HOWARD.