The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-18
Tho Poor.

fr1enQS OF that sunerlnB class, VINO
have been, are, and will be ''alwnys
with u.s." Notwithstanding the re-
lief extended to the destitute during
the past unprecedented year of
famine, from charity abroad, and tho
prospective amelioration of their dis
tress by our present harvest ut home,
still, until the country entirely re-
cuperates from the effects of de-
vastating war, there will remain much
want and suffering. We cannot ex-
pect help from other States to be
continued, if at all, to anything like
the same extent as heretofore. And
yet, the cry of the needy will still go
up in our midst. Shall this cry, as
it reaches the ear of Infinite Mercy,
testify that we needed it not TITS
true, from our own individual scarty
resources, we can do little, but even
from these, as "out of the abundance
of our deep. poverty" we must dole
out some help to those worse off than
ourselves. Then, there are two sys-
tematic benevolent associations in
our own city, which, if they were
more extensively patronized, would,
at small personal cost, do q great
work towards the amelioration of the
condition of the poor around us.
One is "The Ladies' Industrial Asso-
ciation," which, by selling the needle
work of those in straitened circum-
stances, provides them remuperative
III sc L.
ship being only one dollar per an
mum, a person would suppose this
charitable association would present
q large subscription list, but the fact
is just the reverse-the membership
is very small, and the patronage, in
the way of purchasing from or giving
work to the society, is very limited,
and yet that work is executed and
sold on the most reasonable terms.
For the sake of SO many who have
known better days. now dependent
on this association for the work that
gets them bread, we do earnestly re-
commend it to the consideration of
those who would desire to receive the
blessing promised to them "That
consider the poor"
Also, another blessed charity which
we would commend to the favorable
notice of our community, is that
styled "The Ladies' Benevolent So
ciety of Columbia, for the relief of
the sick poor of the place" This
society, which 80 unobtrusively but
efficiently carries succor and conso-
lation to the needy in their extreme
distress, should surely appeal to the
sympathies of all; but how is it ? It's
annual subscription is but one dollar
year, and yet it has not forty mem
bers. To the mind of the most skep-
tical, its good accomplished can ad-
NIT no doubt. It divides the city
iRt92 2., waras' ,s.yplh ts each Of which is ap:
city, eminent for those qualities
which best recommend them for the
holy work of charity, that personally
seeks out rs we'll as succors sickness
and destitution. We do entreat for
this humane society now, OF at its
speedily approaching anniversary,
the addition of hundreds to its list Of
members. From gentlemen, dona-
tlons of any amount, will be thank
fully received.) Who, but the poorest
of the poor, cannot spare, from some
personal superfiuity or .self-indulg-
ence, one dollar, that may be the
means of shedding ray of comfort
to the sick sufferer, in some wretched
hovel
But now, before taking leave of
this subject, would that 1 might
disabuse the minds of few-even
pious and good people-of some pre-
Judlces In connection with the past
and present suffering and destitution.
!! have been asked during my daily
labor of doing out contributions to
tho poor, care you not demoralizing
the poor by all this charity ?" NV
answer has been, "the question is not
one of morals, but of starvation ="
The appeal to humanity is, "come
down no,o ere my child die" s.But.
why don't they work ?" My answer
has been, "because the work is not
to be had-have you it to give them q"
mo y "Well, who has these times.
that almost all have to do their own
work %
TO be sure, there are cases where
they will not work who can get work
to do; but these, during the past hard
winter and spring, were rare, exceed
ingly rare. Surely few were so lazy,
as to prefer carrying q peck of corn
several miles from Columbia. often
through sleet and rain. to working for