The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-12-28
CORRESPON DENCE.
FROM PHILADELPHIA.
PHnADELPHIA, Dec. "a, l96

TO me Edktor OF the WohkhoAAAs ADFOcAfA.
: The press as . general thing is appealing
TO the public in behalf OF the poor Of the
city. The old established soup houses are
all open, and new charitable associations are
springing up in several sections Of the city.
Meetings are held, in which the sufferings Of
those who are intended to be relieved, are
set forth in such q manner as to touch the
hearts and pockets Of the most careless.
Those who are generally sided BY these so
cieties are not always the most deserving,
81 The mechanic u laborer with health and
muscle, and willingness 70 work, will not
accept OF charity SO doled out On many
sides you will hear the worn-out expression
athe workingmen are 50 improvident." But
win the charge Of improvidsnce bear in
vesdgaion. The average pay OF the mechan-
ic during the year past would not amount
to SIS per week, and the day lsborer about
90 Der week. Let those who make these
charges of improvidenee eadeavor to pay
rlsonse rent, cIothe ana heed . family, no mat
ter how small, on either Of the above amounts
per week, and il at the end Of the ye-- they
can make both ends meet and have . Surplus,
then, and not till then, win their cry be
listened to as other than the rawlings Of fools.
Why should . man who has worked faith
fully for nine or ten months in the year, IL
unable to procure work the other two or
three months, De compelled to beg or ACCEPT
the Haunting charity given IS o general
thing by those who are living in all the pride
and pomp q wealth, made BY those TO whom
/ they 90 extend charityf Can it be called
charityf Should not the sums given to
these institutions be given to the working
men in the shape Of wages 7 just think Of
! IL, the last census Of our poor-hosse shows
the number OF inmates to be ., AL, with every
prospect Of large inc Ease before the close
OF the winter.
The weather has peen rather more pro-
pitious the last few days, and our fashionable
streets are crowded dasy with women and
children, seeing the sights and laying IN their
stock Of holiday presents. The re-keepers
say there is as large q quantity sold this
year as on previous years, but that the
| quality is not 50 good. There Is not 90
1faach money spent in useless fancy articles.
The most of our large manufacturing es-
Establishments close this evening until after
the HOLIDAYS. with the understanding that II
business doss not improve they wsii % csoeed
for an indefinite period.
Nothing Of any general interest has trans
pired at the late meetings Of the differen,
Unions, the election Of officers taking az
most Of the time.
Yesterday afternoon the Camden Rolling
Mills and Nail works were entirely consumed
BY Gre. There were in the establishment
seven pudding, four heating and one scraE
furnace, thirty-two nail machines and .othel
machinery. The mills have been I'm con.
stant operation for five years, and tbeil
destruction throws out Of employment ~
msn. Loss, $685.
A movement Is on foot here to open .
home for the news-boys similar TO one nov
in successful operation In New York. This
10 good move, a. many Of the boys ~;
without home or friends, and have TO de-
pend entirely on what they can earn In their
vocation.
The Fenians expect to have large gath.
fering On New Years day. They have sent
invitations 10 societies in al parts OF the
State, many Of which have been accepted
Jota OsBxyne, one Of the first lawyers in
me city, has been chosen orator of the day.
William B. Sehnidsr, prominent mem.
ber Of the Masonic fsternity, died on Thurs
Day. He wss Grand Tyler Of the Crane
Ledge OF this State for tie last twenty Hv,
years. He was buried yesterday with Ma-
aoaic rites, shout 1 500 members Of tn
osder attending the funeral. :
An investigation into the csass Of the
fbeiIsr explosion mentioned In my last shows
that the boiler wss In use before beina
placed ID the distillsry, and that " vsl
biistssd and nos AZ for uss. The verdict
mo deubt viii be, "Nobody 70 blans.S
| The theatres will b open day aad evening
until after the holidays, end. no doubt viii
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