Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-21


rage Of the daily applications at either house d'd
moi exceed IL 10 IS. The soup was well made,
of wholesome meat, and plentiful supply OF
vegetables On this poin; no complaint was mace;
hui some, as an excuse for declining the profiered
bounty pleaded living 100 far off others that they
had mo- one 10 send. Having tested the matter
fnlly and fairly we think that il would be lnJndi-
cion, 10 re establish the Soup-Houses, believing
Thai The money necessary 10 keep them in opera
lion. could be more benehcally expended.
at i, an adage, the truth OF which we seldom
realize, that One half OF the world know not how
The other half live Until We explore The haunls
of vice and the abodes of poverty personally, We
can form no adequate conception Of human woe
of The suferinss OF the destiule-oi disease
conloined with waEt-ot lie iorlorn widow, un-
able 10 procure the necessaries OF lille Tor her sui
fering children, preierrng 10 suffer patiently, ra-
Their Than 10 beg. Such cases, TO be elt properly,
must be seen; no recital can give just impress
sion Of them, though il may convey partial
portrait"
The Report then, after quoting from The Jour-
nal OF Visiler-Iclerring 10 the amount OF sut-
terng during the last Winter, ascribable to the
sickness Of the previous season-lo the many in
,eresins cases found among this class Of the
poor, in whom are often found well cultivated
minds, and no, unirequenllya scrupulous morali-
Is, and tenderness OF feeling, truly remarkable,
to The embarrassments OF the Visier in vari-
Gus situations, especially when the intemperance
Of the husband has done the evil work,-cites
TWO strong cases, in which The Society, by the eI-
pendture OF a comparatively very small sum of
money, and Obtaining suitable employment for
the parties afforded most valuable and interest
ing relief 1t then cites the following instance:
I'm The Basin district one OF the lady visitors
wa ted IN q
was represented 10 be pitiable She went and
found the woman on bed Of straw, nursing an
infant only few days old. The entire furni-
ture Of the room consisted OF q part of an old
chest and broken chair. Misery and wretch
edness were stamped on the inmates and the
abode The husband was drunkard, whose ie-
rocous appearance and horrid oalhs might have
frightened the most resoluie man, much more
deienceless female But the visitor was not TO
be deferred from her errand OF mercy, though he
ordered her 10 leave his house, and declared that
il his wife should take any thing from The vlsi-
TOR, he would kick both down stairs. The visiter
was compelled 10 leave without giving any thing
10 the wife, but left money 10 relieve her wants
with one Of her neighboIs, whom the husband
would permit 10 come into his house, and By such
means her immediate necessities were supplied.
Such was the brutal character oil This man, that
no hope could be reasonably INDUCED Of lettering
his condition The ysiter, however, continued
10 call al the house, and was unllfing IN her ei-
forts to render the family more comfortable. ln
the course of few weeks the husband became
reconciled to The calls OF the visiier, and would
al times even converse little. These occasions
were never permitted TO pass without some time
w admonitiun. Soon a slight change was obSer-
Wholesome additions were made 10 the scanly
stock of furniture, and blanket and other ani-
k,,h far u,;ia i,nf no
chung TO his Incorporate habits-and his vile
continued the innocent victim Of his vices-a mi
SCRABBLE situation for one who had been tender
" raised and in early life enjoyed every
comfort Once they had been happy and con-
tented, but the demon of incompetence had
made the husband his prey, and turned
that home then 50 comfortable, into an abode OF
vice and misery. Calling as usual, when visit
ing in The neighborhood, the viser found that The
family had removed to some other place, but
could not ascertain where. About three months
after their removal, whilst walking on The basin
bank she was politely accosted BY well-dressed
man. OF good appearance, whose name she could
not recall He asked ii she did not recognize in
him the husband OF Mary? She replied, No
for Mary's husband was dissipated man, and,
She feared, bad man too" "Such was the fact,
madam, (hc rrjoinei;) but your kindness and
counsels have won me from my habits OF intem-
prrance, and am now teetoaer, and intend
10 remain 50 as long as live. All oil my pre-
sent happiness owe 10 YOU and the gratitude oil
ms heart leads me 10 seek TO repay that kindness
il would never wish 10 forget; and shall be ever
ready to do you service or mIisterto yonr hap.
piness By any sacrifice in my power" "Go IN
peace and sin no more, Che visiter replied and
take care of gen, Mary, as in your fits you used
10 call her" "Come and see Mary, then" ne re-
piled She did so-bul how changed the scene
Her home was now neat white cottage, sur
rounded with the comforts OF life and she evil |
IDENTIFY as happy now she had been miserable |
before. Soon after, they left the CITY, and from
their new abode sent letter Of grateful acknow
ledginent to the vsiter, and in postscript Ma |
rvs mother added her thanks 10 those OF her |
ia Ughter"
The Report indicates that ii is the wish of the
Board, in every instance, 10 give employment
rather than aims; 10 raise the INDECENT out OF
sloib, whether resulting from mere ndsposion
or from inability TO obtain work, as well As Judi
colsly 10 minister 10 their want. In this connec-
ton, il refers to the prejudice often encountered
among parents against educating their chill |
dren; and as the ysiters were especially careful
10 make enquiries concerning the morals, habits
and pursuits OF the children, the Board say:
"Possiby il might be expedient sometimes 10
send their children 10 the Lancasteran, or other
Free School. Scores Of children are roaming
through our streets, growing up in vice and igno-
rance ready 10 engage in any mischief Many
of these youths have minds, which, duly cuiva
ted, would enable them 10 become ornaments 10
Society, and benefactors Of their species Cannot
he done 10 enforce their attendance al
SCHOOL, Ii is subject we'll worthy Of our serious
consideration.
The Report concludes:
at must be apparent 10 every careful observer,
that the amount Of work suitable Tor respectable
females, is very limited in our city. How TAI
this stale OF things can or ought 10 be corrected.
your Board are not prepared TO say, because il
may involve questions respecting which there
would possibly be conflicting opinions. The vast
amount Of ready made clothing brought from
abroad, and sold on very favorable terms to The
consumers, is no doubt one important cause why
so many families among us are without adequate
employment But there is no remedy for Ibis
stale OF things unless the same work may be ex-
ecuei among ourselves upon the terms at which
i, is in other places And we see no reason why
this may not be, since provisions, clothing fuel
and house rent are very itile il any, higher here
than in other cities"
Mr.. Robert R Howson, Mr.. John r. Thomp
son, Mr.. WIN. II. Mcfarland and MIR. VIM.
IN brief, eloquent and most appropriate
enforced The strong claim, OF The So
cielies illustrated by reference 10 The Reports
just read.
On motion OF Rev. WIN, s. Pluiner,
Resolrcd, That The said Reports be received,
and that the same be referred 10 their re.pec
live Boards for such form Of publication as may
10 them seem hest.
On the nomination Of Mr.. George r. Peakc,
the following named were elected a the officers
of the Union Benevolent Society, he members OF
that Society only voting in the election:
Mrs. Plumer, Isl DUccfress.
Mrs. Magoon, end Dueciress
Mrs. Burlington, Secretary.
MIS- Van Deursen, Treasurer.