American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-28
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
BonovoIonce.

To the Editors Of The american Telegraph.
GENTLEMEN: Having been acquainted with
the merits of the case of distress on the Point,
referred to in your paper some evenings past,
and which no doubt was seen by nearly all of
our citizens, as it was previously published in
the Clpper-and, between both papers must
have gone to nearly every part of our city-we
were curious to know how much would be given
by the benevolent and humane to meet this and
other cases of distress and upon inquiry found
that the whole city, owning as it does its thou
sands and hundreds of thousands, could only
afford to deposit for their relief the meagre and
paltry sum of five dollars
We have no doubt the Tract Society is very
thankful to have even this sum to assist in re-
lieying the wants of the distressed; but we
would respectfully ask if this is to be considered
a fair sample Of the benevoence of the citizens
of Washington an..
Now, these persons must be supported by the
beneyolence of the community, as they cannot
support themselves and certainly no one will
| think that the above sum will be sufficient for
| that one family-passing by the many other
cases of similar restitution Astounding in our.
midst, arising from sickness and want of en-.
| ployment.
| For instance, poor family was visited by
the members Of the Tract Society lately, where
the husband, a skeleton of a form, was found
hopeessly extended upon bed, where he per-
haps had lain long time, having lost the lower
part of his body by slow modification, which
had to some extent since healed, but leaving
him in a state of wretchedness and agonizing
pain, utterly indescribable, to be taken care Of
and supported by a distressed woman, his wife,
with scarcely any ability, if any whatever.
Another case also of poor sick woman, q
widow with family of six children who, upon
being prescribed for by the physician, said that
she would be very willing to take the medicine,
but, bursting into flood of tears, told him that
she had no money to get it. She also told the
tract distributors that she had not had cent
with which to go to market. And many other
kinds of cases also of those who are out Of en-
ployment, and who are deserving Of aid.
Now, surely, these cases must all be attended
to, and by our community and we are Of that
class who believe that there are people enough
and ability enough to do all this, and leave a
surplus, if necessary, FOR coming time.
Did Christians really feel in their hearts what
they profess with their tongues, that they are
but the stewards of the Lord, of the property
entrusted to their care, we apprehend there
would be but little difficulty in getting any
amount whatever for such objects.
And we hold, that perhaps there are none
that cannot give something, and none that can
not lay by something every month for such OBJ
jects, and, as a consequence, none that ought
not to do so. Now, will our citizens refuse,
with so much suffering in our midst?
Mr. Gray's hand is ever open at his Book
store on 7th street, to receive whatever each
may have to give, however small or large the
amount, to be faithfully appropriated to the
relief of the INDECENT and distressed by the
members of the Tract Society, of which he is
President T., C. TT -.