The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-12-20

Now that we walk in the keen December winds
that the sharp biting December air outdoors, makes
the bright, warm indoors more fully appreciated,
it is time to think Of the poor. In great city like
Newt Orleans, the poor abound. Their shivering
and creuching forms meet Us at every step, creep
along upon our public streets, and crawl humbly
through our places Of public resort. In many an
unnosiced howell life is ebbing away in the misery
Of desttution and the living, less fortunate than
the dead and dying, are craving the common ne
cessares of life This is one view Of life in every
large city, particularly when the large city is
port place, an avenue opening for the throng of
emigration. Our warm climate, our moderate
winters, our periodical throng Of pleasure. seekers
make this an eligible point for beggars.
We are not unaware that many Of these beggars
are rank impostors We know that few of the
multitude Of beggars who throng our public places
are genuine objects of charity. We know that
some Of the blind can see, the hal. walk the para
lytc dance. We know professional beggars-
those who make profitable living out of the pro-
fession, abound that the annual return Of the win
ter brings to, and the annual coming of the sum.
mer dismisses from, our city, pauper throng.
Hence, we are fully aware that the sympathies of
the public are liable to be imposed on.
But then, there are genuine cases of misery and
distress in our city. No one with the least eye for
observation can be ignorant of the terrible fact
that even in our land Of plenty, even in New Or
leans, daily, people die in the agony OF suffering
and the misery Of want. They are fellow crea-
lures, human beings, made like US, with the same
hunger, thirst and sensibiity to heat and cold,
the weathiest and most favored. They appeal to
our sympathies. But how to relieve them, how to
distinguish the deserving from the undeserving,
now to avoid wasting liberal charities, this is the
matter to be resolved.
We think we can propose plan by which the
means of relief may be literally provided and
afsy disposed Of Our plan is this:
In every church in this city, on every Other
Sunday, during the winter, let collection be
taken up for the poor, and the money deposited
with the Mayor Of the city. A mite from every
one would secure liberal relief. Then, let The
congregation of every church appoint the ladies
and thus General Relief COMMITTEES for the poo
be formed. This committee would have, by il.
own knowledge and by the information of pastors
an unusually accurate idea Of the proper quarter
in which to apply relief Then further, to prevent
imposition, and, at the same time, to reach The
large class Of street beggars, book might b.
opened at the different police offices of the city
and thus members Of the class of street begears
recommended by the officers of the watch, nigh
have relief extended to them. The order of the
proper officers of the committee might AWAY,
command the disposition Of any funds in The hand,
Of the Mayor
This is the plan we propo,e-brief, simple, and
we think, efficient. If a better one can be sug
sested. We are as ready to advocate it as we ar,
| anxious TO learn it. But really we think some
thing should, at this season, be done to alleviat,
the sufieriDgs of the poor, to succor The feebl,
auman forms which shiver in our wintry streets
looking like any animal but man, starving il
| novels, and forcing their young children to fate
too horrible for description. New Orleans, will
ali her Wanted liberality, sadly needs House o
Refuge, q Poor house, and an Office of Charitie
to supply food and work. We have not, to. day
space for further remarks, but we are not dor,
with this subject.