New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-13
THE FAMINE IN NE W-YORK.

To TIE Editor Of The N. y Trtbpns
SIR docs famine prevsil in New-York J"
What evidences have you Of the existence of desti.
tuition, the want Of food In this City at the pres
ent time, except among the lowest class Of society
" who are always in want -
These, and similar questions have been repeatedly
&ked, both verbally and by letter, within few days
past
propose 70 offer some facts in evidence to prove
that famine does prevail that its hardest effects are
not felt by those who 60 to the soup-house or Ward
relief stations or to the Office of the Aims House
Governors
1t is most true, lamentably true, that most sore
famine hes invaded the circle of families, who, until
the pre- sent winter knew the want of all the
comforts, not to say the Injuries of life And it 10
equally true that this want has come upon them,
not by any mprudent act Of theirs, not by extrava-
gsnce wasteu'ness, want Of economy, dissipation or
Incidence, but for want of labor for willing hands
something to DO to earn their daily sustenance.
Want has invaded the homes Of all who live by
their daily labor; for even where they still en-
p,oyed the enormous rents they have pay and the
enhanced prices Of food and fuel have rendered it
extremely difficult 10 continue to obtain the accus-
toned comforts Of lfe and where persons have been
suddenly and Unexpectedly thrown out of employ
ment in mid.winter, want has come upon them like
hungry wolf that would not be driven away
or all the classes upon whom this terrible calamity
has fallen, none, perhaps, have suffered severely
as widows with families Of chldren-widows of those,
and children Of those, who knew abject power
ty-" who would rather starve than beg, and who
" would only ak charity to save their children from
"suffering and degradation" II is such who suffer
most, and who are the last to ask for sid. Widows
OF of no descendants of the first settlers in
America, with helpless unemployed families Of
children have been driven this present winter to
such acts Of desperation, and have endured such suf
fering that full recital Of facts would startle and
arouse the feelings of every true American who has
heart to feel for others woes
A few and only few, Of the facts which have come
TO the knowledge OF the Trustees Of the American
Widows Relief Association, have been given in the
columns Of TIE TRIBUNE.
More than fifty csses have come to light, whore
whole families have been engulphed in the whirlpool
ofmi.ery, which, sooner or later involves all who 90
for relief to those terrible blood suckers Of the amsh
ing, the pawn brokers. To them such season Of
famine lie a harvest.
Thirty eight of these robbers Of the poor starving
widows families are licensed by the City Govern
ment In many cases that have come under
article of decent sppsrel giving not one-tenth It's
value, when they knew-for they have logged them
to their homes, watch the of ruin, and note
the early period of its consummatop-hat they never
could, never would be able to redeem the articles
pledged.
BY such means have these poor widows families
been living through all these dreary winter months
stiIl hoping as Mcssber did that something would
% 10 .Lann from nth dosti.
tuition and starvation, or the degradation Of begging
oreven making their wants known to such as would
have felt at the chance Of aording them relief
Many cases have occurred where the mother has
strpped herself of all the treasured relics of happier
days: such as watches, jewery silver spoons, silk
dresses and warm shaws and coaks, to pay the land
lord bis monthly rent, to save herself and children
shelter from the blasts of winter. And the cases
numerou, where the only susiensnce the families have
had for weeks has been derived from the scanty pit
lance obtained from clothes stripped from their backs
and sent s,ealthily to the pswnbroker
Now for proof that such want does exist, and that
families have been reduced to tie point Of pershins
Ii will be cor ceded that a more severe storm has
never visited this city than the tia. prevailed
during several days of last week. commencing on
Wednesday. Feb !, which ia said to lave been the
coolest day Of the last quarter century.
had been out all the fore part of that day, and,
though well fed and very warmly clad, came home
toward evening severely pnched with cold. found
waiting for me- very modest, pretty girl, Of about
fifteen who had brssed the storm in avery thin
dress and ere spolOgy for shawl, walking all the
WAY from Seventh sv because Ter mother had heard
of an Association that gave assistance t. American
widows, who had seen better days. / fslt, the mo-
utni saw her that che was 3ne Of tie children OF
famine. Her eyes were sunLsn, her cheeks pa>e anu
hollow her lips livid and Toice week. hex seen
lately too many such Of starvation to be mis-
taken. | knew hat hefs was home Of want and
wee. Listened 70 her .-sless tale.
Her father was a na.sge Of oas OF the hourisa'ng
Hudson River towns. In this City he was me-
Charlie always able - give biz family, at least al the
neees saiies Of life. He died two years ago. leaving
only enough 10 psy bis funeral expenses. Her mother
has, besides her .e sekly daughter of II, and an
other of - Year, who ha just gone to 1--we among
friends in the country. The widow is dependent upon
the work of her hands for to live, and nov So
"pethipg 20 do Still, while she could live without,
abe wou' d not beg
speskirg Of the severity Of the wes'her' the sg
said;
"Ys,. but II is warm here it is very cold at OH
teuse.'
Have you no ire 1t.
we had little charcoal in furnace, at whisf
we warmed our fingers this morning
How do you keep from freezing