New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-01
BEGGARS AND BEGGING.

baId is dead, and who has had two children to take
care of. The eldest, boy, she has len upon the
street; the youngest bright, active little girl, some
what pretty, she has employed in begging. Toe
mother drank hsrd and at length was seat to Black
wells Island as a common vagrsnt A lady Of the
City procured work for the boy and, with the con-
zen, Of the mother. sot good place for the girl in
the country After some time, the mother having
been released from the Island concluded she would
have the child again for her own purposes. Teere
was no power TO oppose her, and the girl was sea,
back. The boy, by this time, was earning good
wages that the had no excuse in her power.
ty, for missing the child. She did, however, employ
Der constantly in begging; treating her kindly when
sober, the child now says but besting her horribly
with the poker when she was drunk. At length, in
ore Of her drunken fs, she fell over the stove and
unfortunately did not burn herself fatally but burned
the little cne, who tried to rescue her.
The girl was thoroughly alarmed at this that she
away Of her accord and took refuge with her
friend in the country.
Now in safety snd in home sgain, che tells her
simple story The Old womsn knew she was bright
and pretty enough to make money easily a. begging,
especially in this most sympathetic season; so she
sent her TO the Opera House-to the places where
houses which she knew. She could &C; on most limsy
and shiveriug rags; she had sweet, childs face,
which few could of winter. night peering out of
the old hood, and sskng something for the poor
phan r. or for ga mother with no. morsel of
bread in the house or Whatever was her piteous
story, and help giving literally. Some nights, she
says, she would bring home as much as two dollars
and at others fifty cents Food, too was given most
all live tbe bcst M hair
asked what they had she replied: Oh, turkeys and
chickens, and paItrjges, and such things All the
money gained went for liquor, the family living on
"soup" from the kitchens, and her cold vctuas beg
ged-the coal coming from the Corporation.
This was The life TO which the girl growing up,
and in which unless this excellent police law enables,
US to separate mother and child she will end beggM
ard pr stitute.
This is but one instance of tue mode Of operation
of the street beggars We have come across hundreds
of such. There certain families which known
to our visitors now permanent professional beg
gars, whose children are always on the street, and
bey ond thus far, any influence we could bring to
bear upon them. The best fruit of our Industrial
Schools has been in educating ard disciplnng so
many Of this class, who before were the pests Of the
City.
countered this winter among this cless and among
the whole class of the foreign poor owing to many
msdhected charities Of the City.
1t would be far pesssnter to those engaged among
the poor merely to look at this generous outpour
ing Of charities the needy. IL is not an agreeable
tack TO say cold word to such kindly and symps-
thizing feelings, but we become convinced this
son, as we miugle among the most destitute people,
that immense evils are being sown by those ndiscnm
mate charities, whose crop may be more fearful even
than the hunger and want now.
We fear systematic Psupersm, such as curses
the cities Of the Old World Men beg and eat of
public aims now who never would have done il be-
fore, because the public encourage. The feeling
everywhere is spreading among the foreign popula-
tion that the State must support the une nployed.
miserable, whining imporunate spirit OF beggary is
starting up.
There is not much manliness, not 80 much Of
that qualty-than which the Creator hiss given moth.
ing grander to man--Self-trust among the lowest
classes, as was year ago. The manhood Of the
New York poor is weakened. We fear when this
time Of suffering has passed by, that the worst fr"-
will be fouDd 70 be a cowardly, and dependent, and
mean spirit of poverty, ngraiued and permsnent-a
cure such a. in free States thus far Providence
has spared us.
The evils already, Of an injudging charity, mani.
fest themselves. Children leave the Industrial School.
because they can make much on the streets;
though unfortunately Ii loss has been small but those
children before honest and industrious are called on.
TO this street begging because it is so profitable.
Men will net go to the country because they can
live at the ssup-kitcheDs, or public charity.
The indscrminate raons given out, we have posi-
q, x.tv al
means Of amusement some have been thrown into
the street. some given to feed the pigs. The noble
pity of the rich has been made a game for the i'm
proydent and wasteful to play fer. ard spared gifts
Of money have been made the tools for the worst vices
ard iIduIgences.
The public ought to know Of such facts No one
doubts the generous intention of the donors Of various
charities, Of their dsin,erested purpose to turn
them into whatever will be the most useful channel.
The question only is to the which have been
used. At the most, i. has been mistake natural to
City which has known little of famine; and it has
been an on the side Of generosity and mercy.
But we say confidently that very many Of the Ward
Committee charities, and Of the gifts through the
"soup-kitchens, have been sadly mislsed.
They have been given often without sny sort Of
persoral examination; and have gone to the wrong
objects, or with the aforementioned bad results.
Some of course, have brought comfort to very poor
and destitute homes; some hsye been managed with
great care and discretion all have cost the donors
time, and labor, and money still large part has
gone with bad effect.
The truth is all these public funds, raised for imme-
date relief should be pat into the hands of an expe-
rienced and organized society-and By good fortune
there is such an Association, with many years expe-
rience, with wetested organic a,ion with hundreds