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

4 -
$50 dollars and "a cents have been paid Out iof
work-423 dollars and 81 cents have been receV
| ed for work done TO order-and 223 dollars anu
! II cents for ready-made articles sold. When The
liberaliiy of The public enabled US to purchase ma
I teria.s 10 be made up for sale, our reports snow
an amount paid Tor sewing Of more than i,ooO
dollars yearly; and in those years, the call for
gratuitous charity was proporiionably less; now,
/ we can do little more than meet orders for WORK;
and, while this is means OF great good, II IS less,
/ far less, than we onght to do.
] One of the objects OF this Society, as expressed
in the second article of its Constitution, is TO as
| certain the habits and circumstances oil the poor,
| The causes Of their poverty, SC. Alter seVeral
years observation by the managers and visitots OF
! this Society, many Of whom have been engaged
in lis service since lis first formation, they are sa-
tisfed that The erireme ignorance OF the lower
| classes lies at the root Of most OF their misery
| Not knowing how to read the Bible, from which
! they might draw motives 10 industry and good
conduct, and consolation in the hour OF their dis
tress, il is 10 them sealed book. Their ignorance
shuts them ont from many ways by which they
would earn their liv G; many of them scarcely
know how to use their needles, and are denied
work at our House Of Industry, because il is done
so badly, that our patrons would not receive II,
nor could we dispose Off. In this state oihinss,
often the individual Of this character resorts 10
/
The evil is increased; and down they rush 10 the
lowest point ofdegradation and suffering; become
slreet-beggars and common drunkards, and die a
miserable death. Convinced Of these truths, il
has been the earnest wish of This Society 10 es-
tabish and support school for girls where they
could be taught, besides reading and writing, all
the handicrait, BY which women may obtain a
livelihood.
This they were enabled to do for about Is
months, and lis results were such as 10 convince
them, that could such thing be carried on, il
would be the greatest charity ever bestowed on
the poor. Upon this object, they constantly keep
their attention fixed, but as yet the are
lcanfins. In this great city, where thousands and
tens of thousands are spent TO contribute TO luxu-
ry or TO crafty curiosity, we have for Ten years,
pursued our annual rounds, hoping by our collec-
lions 10 be able 10 accomplish this desirable end
and when we have finished with heavy hearts
we find we have scarcely enough 10 keep The mo-
theirs and children from perishing, and not cent
| 10 spare. In 1889, We made our largest collec-
lion, which was al 1872 81. The present year,
even With The add OF the gentlemen, j, has only
amounted TO 81 ,3.S Al.
Another cause Of their poverty is the low price
paid for sewing work. This evil is increas-
ed by the poor themselves. Urged on by their
destution, they underworld each other; and
rather than not obtain piltance to buy mouth
full of bread, they will work hard all day and part
OF the night Tor III cents, or even Tor less. This
We know. The House Of Industry, which might
be fountain sending forth streams Of sadness
10 many more atodes Of poverty, is SO poorly
supported from this very cause, that many an
aching heart and sorrowful step turn from that
door, on hearing The response No Work"
| Another cause OF their suffering is the high
price Of rent TO the poor. For miserable garnet,
or We, cellar, many poor widow has TO pay
| 81 per month; there she shelters her little father
| less children-the labor OF her hands is all her
,upport-her children cry for bread, but She has
none: for The pittance she has earned must be laid
by for rent Sickness is induced by the comfort
less abode, and even though our benevolen, ply
sicians wait on The poor without charge, the apo.
thecary's bill must be paid. She rises from her
bed of illness, her little savings all gone; sorrow
is heaped upon sorrow-ahe wanders forth hope
! less and starving. This is no sketch OF fancy
| We tell you of sorrow which our eyes have seen,
| over which our hearts have bled, and which your
visier, endeavor 10 ameliorae as far as they pos
sibly can. But is there no remedy more ettectual
than that which they can offer Let us, respect
fully. suggest plan: While SO many stately
| buildings are erecting, is there no one with
heart to build houses for the poor? Will not
some Of our capitalists erect in the suburbs OF h-
| city, where land is cheap, few small houses;
with a little spot oil ground attached Y! Let these
be rented only TO those who could bring testino-
malls OF good character The interest on that
/ particular sum might not be very great; but He,
who has said, BLESSED is he who considereth The
poor" would not forget them, bur would repay an
| an hundred fold.
! Benevolent fellow citizens, we leave the cause
1 for which We labor and for which we plead, with
you. When gathered around your domestic
hearth rejoicing in the blessings which cluster
around il, and ;ihe winds and the rain beat dark
| December" remember he poor. When sealed al
| your Luxurious table, crowned with The gifts OF
beneficenl Providence and the light 10y illu-
| mines your dwelling then remember The poor
Let your thoughts bear You 10 that dark, cheer.
! less abode, where no fire blaZes on the hearth
see that lone one with an inch of candle plying
her weary task-sle breaks her crust among her
| little ones and turns weeping and starving away
| Oh! how she would rejoice 10 receive the crumbs
| which fall from The rich mans table," And yc,
| daughters Of fashion, when wrapping yourselves
| in your magnificent attire, remember the poor-re-
member her who would feel placed above all
want, could she receive the value oil one OF those
ornaments that glitter on your brow. How lovely
would that brow appear if irradialed with The
consciousness of having scattered blessings all
around you
thought and desire, incline all hearts 10 remember
| Tie po0r!
Mr.. Samuel Reeve, in behalf Of the gentlemen,
presented The
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
or TnE
Gentlemen's Benevolent Society.
OF which the following is an abstract
T..