The Portland daily press., 1866-09-29

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRFSs:
Permit me through the columns of the
Press to give publicity to few facts. On
the morning of the ever to be remembered 9Th
OF July last, two families, consisting respective
ly of four and nine, found themselves, like hun
dreds of others homeless. In that pitiable
condition their first impulse would be to seek
out temporary shelter. Leaving the city they
slowly wendell their way towards road lead
ing tothe United States Marine Hospital. Com
ing within very short distance of that insti-
tuition they found vacant house. must give
brief description of this house as given me
byone of the parties. In taking prelmin-
airy and hasty survey, before deciding what to
do, they judged from its dilapidated. appear
ance that it had been vacant for some years.
The sashes were all gone; the ceilings crumb-
ing to pieces; the floors showed unmistakeable
evidence that the rats, (and all other animals
OF the rodent tribe had full swing there
Believing in the ancient maxim, Necessities non
haoet leyes, all delicacy vanished; the para
mount point, at least, was attained-a temper
airy shelter from the heat and inclemency of
the weather So. the thirteen human beings
were forced to take shelter in that apparently
forsaken habitation, toremain there until some.
thing better should turn up
: The parties never allowed themselves to he
lieve that the owner of the place could displavI
such insensibiiity to the common dictates of
humanity as to exact rent, under such Distress
ing circumstances. The intelligent portion of
mankind freely admit that ~ matter how de-
PRAYED q man may be, or however deep in the
slough OF wickedness and sin, there arise GER
tam cases and occasions from time to time for
him to forget bis former NAL practices and if
possible resuscitate and bring into. activity the
inner attributes ofmanhoed. Such an occasion
has arisen in our midst. Let every citizen 1ool,
round and see what the beneyolence and syn-
pathy of the people of this continent have
done towards alleyiating the distress of 80 MANY
Of our citizens. Liberal contributions from
all parts of the Union have flowed into the
treasury of our Relief Committee TO aid the
sufferers; even the lisping children Of distant
towns and cities who have learned from ma
rents or Sunday school teachers of the calam-
ny which has befallen our city, freely gave
their cherished mites. But amidst this gener-
al outpouring of charity it would appear that
one man can stand unmoved and insensible tn
the sufferings of men who by their suffrage a
few years ago elevated him to very important
and honorable position. That man is the own
er of the place and the Landlord who now cites
at this advanced period the unfortunate suffer-
ers before our Municipal Court for rent. ~. 1
Suchis a specimen of the sympathy display
ed by one landlord towards our suffering citi-
.zens. have not the slightest doubt, had the
parties received any intimation of his intenl
tion, that they would have left long ere this
and availed themselves of the shelter provided
by the Relief Committee. Should any of the
readers of the. Press who may doubt the &C.
ctiracy of these statements desire proof thew
will find it pleasant walk OF drive to eo.and
see the place and judge for themselves. Mr.!
Editor, lest trespass too far on your valuable
columns, I must for the present take leave of
the sufferers and this very humane landlord
leaving the former to retrieve their losses by
their own perseverance and industry, the lat
ter to the pleasant society of his own refiec-
tons. ,t,s Yours, E. RS
WEsTBRooK, Sept. q, 1866.