Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-27
Tn. winter and tho Poor.


/ The annual problem, what to do with the
unemployed paor, will soon again be presep-
ted. And it il Justly feared that the demsnd
upon the charitable will rather he increased
over last winters call, thao diminished. A
year of stagua.iou has wasted The reserved
funds, and destroyed the credit Of many per,
! sons who, last winter, escaped absolute want;
ard it is Justly feared that those may become
claimants fer relief, who have hitherto e.
! cared that notification.
/ |, is well, as far as 10 Us lies, TO guard
az inst surprises, ard when s duty must be
performed, TO undertake it with elaboration
aud care. Ole tact is well established, IS
! the result Of all experience; AID that is, that
money given directly to those who need re-
+ lief, is the very worst and least Efficient form
Of charity. The penny worlds which tho
needy buy. are moro heavily taxed for the
/ profits of retailers and dealers than the pur-
ehases of the rich. Articles Of use and con-
mption contracted Tor 10 large quantities.
! bot distributed with discretion, will cause
the sums expended to 60 much further, and
! effect more good than the same money given
into macy hands, to make purchases in
small quantities. And the expenditure will
also he cOutioed to commodities Of actual
value and benefit. 1t is asking too much
that the charitable should he required to dis
route luxuries.
BY jodlsious use Of partly worn gar
mems, and clearing out of clothes presses,
aod trunks, ari drawers, a vast deal Of char
/ iIy may be done without the gift Of any
money During the remaining weeks Of
warm and mild weather, housekeepers should
institute rigid search upon their premises
! for such articles as they can better afIrd 10
! give away than they can to open their purses.
I Add il would be a wise economy to rePen-
ish wiuter wardrObas, bed ling, sod other
nec;n saries, and hold the slightly worn or
partially defIcsd, ss materials for charity
General purchases of new goods by such a.
Gao afford il, would give an impetus to the
retail trad. which would in itself diminish
the need OF charity; aud wages paid to seam
stresses aud other working people are a
thousand fold better than gifts for which no
! equivalent Is received.
! We have often argued that wages are bot
! ter than aims, aud that over trugslIty, or
parsimOny, is no remedy for hard times, bot
rather an sggravati)D. Ii is we'll Ascer-
tanned that much money lies unem ployed,
the owners o, which could well afford to pu;
! il into circulation. Repairs and improve
ments OF property, the refurnishing or add
! tiUns to the furniture Of houses, can be &C.
complshed to better advantage, aud at less
cost cow than when the competition Of bust
ness ard the excitement Of fashion raises
prices. And the money thus expended may
become the beginning Of better times and
more cheerful. The river begins 10 little
rlIs.
We are hoping for better times; but it will
not do to rest upon hope, without any effort
Of our own. Even now, purse strings which
had seemed to suffer rigid construction in
tue panic, are somewhat relaxed. Let US
have more of this hopeful policy, and rest
assured that whatever is done to improve or
create busluess during the eutumnsl months,
will aid to aba,e the rigOr Of the winter -
Let Us have more of this hopeful and ener
ge,ic spirit, and in the proportion that it il
developed, will the need Of gratuitous relief
he prevented -PhHa american.