The Portland daily press., 1866-03-21
To the People of Portland

TN APPEALING to the people of Portland for aid
to the kindred of those whose lives have been de-
Sosed TO tne country IN her darkest hour only few
oOf the thousands who from this city constituted
part of our victorious Army than four hundred
went forth to battle to return no more. .-a' q ?
OF these large proportion left widows, children or
kindred who We're dependent upon them for their
The Government, it is true. has provided something
to mee the necessities of SUCH but the amount when
realized Is in many cases, entirely Inadequate to pre-
lied by law for widow or, in case Of no widow, to
orphan children under sixteen years of age of de-
ceased soldier, is but eight dollars per month The
aid heretofore granted by the city, commonly called
Estate Aid" ID now cut Off that in ordinary cases
two dollars per week is the only available that
can be obtained for deceased soldiers family how
ever numerous its members. Think for a moment
how far such sum will go in these times to supply
an ordinary family OF six persons with even the
| We do not forget, that in case of the death Of q
soldier his nearest of kin entitled to receive the
rears of pay and bounty due at his decease, but by
reason of the length of time, usually year. before It
can be obtained, the amount ultimately realized has
been largely exhausted, by loans or otherwise, to
provide the necessities Of this intermediate period
the proofs required to establish pension claim many
widow, or orphan child has been, and must be left
entirely dependent upon the hand Of charity for an
Again, there are IN this community the kindred of
some deceased soldiers tor whom the law has made
no provision, who are left to mourn IN loneliness and
want, and who from sense Of delicacy forbidding
them to ask charity, have special claim to the SYM
pathy and aid of the benevolent.
Such brief statement of the condition of things
which have suggested the expedencv of holding the
Fair announced to be commenced on the 23d Of April
next. -.'
We speak advisedly when we add, thar the necessi-
ties for some movement of this character are far
greater andmore numerous than has been generally
supposed.
Such being the case Religion which enjoins special
care for widows and orphans at our own doors =
Patriotism, which demands large eturns ffom those
whose best earthly interests have been so nobly
tected by the Army-Honor, which requires us to re-
deem our Of repealed pledges to the friends of those
who have done more than possibly do to bene-
fit the Republlc-Enlightened sef-interest, which in
every well regulated community seeks to prevent
pauperism rather than await its roach-An these
combine to commend our appeal to the generous con-
sideraton of the good people of Portland and 1t
not be doubted that the noble berality of our cit-
zens viii respond to this call IN manner worthy of
themselves, and in such way as to make many O
widows heart glad u-.4E .sfI't :
Mrs Elbridge Bacon, Mrs Samuel Rumery. pa
Mrs Carroll, Mrs Afford Dyer,
Mrs JAS M Churchill, Mrs Ira Bachelor,
Mrs Chas Clark, Mrs b Winslow
Mrs Joseph w Dyer, Mrs George Head
Mrs Chas Richardson, Miss Mary r Goddard,
Mrs Miller, Miss Mary Clapp,
Mrs Colin E Cross, tIod Miss Marcia H Woodbury.
Mrs Southgate Boyd, Miss Mari Greedy, -
Mrs Levi Morrill,, Miss Kate Libby, a- 3
LOT, =. Ladies' Executive Committee.