New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-11
r. The late Census Returns show the follow,
A Strangers Futo In New-York.

To The Editor Of The Tribune;
became acquainted with the writer Of the fol-
lowing note year ago last June, while the Cho-
lera vas making such dreadful havoc in the Thir'
teenth Ward learned the following facts con-
corning him. He was the only son OF wealthy
Irish Landholder; he had been educated IN Eng
land but not for any profession save that OF
gentleman landhoder. His father died, and the
property was so embarrassed, that In the settle
ment it was entirely wasted. After lew vain
tndeayors to save portion, he came to Amerlca
to find employment in some commercial house, or
counting room, not Directing to anything winch
might Weld support. He has no friends In the
country, and only one acquaintance, and no
man whose oaiaIy and position In the olce OF the
Ne1c. York Herald made it impossible for him to
render any aid. | endeavorod to aid him to
place; but my acquaintance had been only OF
few weeks continuance and too comparatively
4 stranger it proved failure.
| then went his security for ton dollars worth
Of stationery at the house Of n. L. X +. Double
day. 40 .ohn.st. aud he has gone about the city
selling these articles but realizing but trte.
His poor wife has labored with her needle in plain
sewing to obtain bread. They have pawned their
clothing and all they had till they are literally
destitute OF egery comfort OF life. An educated
man, brought up on the lap OF luxury reduced to
the lowest degree OF want! He had called at my
house again. and again. had received more in
formation from him respecting European laws and
customs than any other source. saw something
rested upon his mind which he wished to COM
muncate He requested the loan of a few dol
lars had not the money and was sorry to re.
fuse him, for l had found him be perfectly hon
est He left, and then sent me the following
note:
TUESDAY, Dec 3, 1850.
DEAR SIX: will no longer be deferred by
spurious pride from describing to you the manner
in which and my poor wife are prepared to en-.
counter the seventies OF the coming Winter.
Our bed at night is or, to speak more correctly,
was originally of straw, but is now melted into
chatF our tedstead is the boards and our covering
one Do0r sheet, with our dayclothing in place Of
blanket Such are night Injuries and our
day Injuries are OF a suitable character-our
clothes threadbare, broken and shabby, and our
feet, when we 60 abroad in rainy weather liter
ally on the flags Nor is this the worst; There |
is balance Of this months rent unpaid and, !
should il remain so longer than TO morrow even |
lug, we are liable to be driven into the streets
ard left without house to shelter US. Our other
hardships We could bear with, and will bear with, !
but this would prove the deathw0nant of my !
poor wife, the very thought o.. which fills with
desperation For myself care not, but for her !
who has turned her back Oh the comforts and !
pleasures OF lie Tor my sake, who tolls late and
early that we may keep together and be happy |
for her to suffer bus IL more Than could bear
You Sec then, that even in this happy land
man mag be competent 70 til q commercial s.tQa-
ten and yet may be as | am for want Of friends.
lop see, then, tina. man may be a scholar even
in this growing country and might starYe ere he
could meet with man who could so tar overcome
that dIstrUst Of strangers winch exists every
where, as to pa. his competency and integrity to
the test
You are rot, however, to conclude from what
have here stated that lcourt public sympathy in
the way Of CLARITY. No, no. what I seek is
means care not now how humble of earning
honest and humble bread and the loan for one
month, OF halt a dozen dollars to enable me to
put myself and ny wife into q condition TO meet
AID endure the hardships Of the Winter season.
Il You cannot aid me, burn this letter and leave
me and mine TO perish under the rgors Of the
coming Winter. If you can, you win lind me at
GO Le~is-st. in the rear house, on the top floor
hand in this letter at your door, bat as my ap-
parel is now more fitted for cel2ar than sitting
cdon shall not call on you again, save occasion
aly or book ill | can make a more respectable
appearance than at present.
am dear ST, most gratefully yours
To Rev: Il J. EDDY. RICHARD sMYTHE.
P S Perhaps have been wrong in addressing
you on the subject OF this note-you, stranger
whom have right 70 trouble, to whom am
bound by no bond, whether spiritual temporal
bur the great bond OF our common humanity. IT,
then, have done wrong in this matter be this
my apology that from my first acquaintance. your
afiability and kindness have led me to look on you
as friend and have emboldened me TO 1nbosom
myself 10 you with the hankness OF friend; and
now | have done so, moved by my affection for
nv wife, and because there is not in this great
continent another man TO whom | would apply
the sacred epthet Of friend or venture to make
the same revelation. RS.
40. -ocaiy;r, tho ahova conld not reaf ti |