The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-31
THE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS OF NEW
YORK.


Thus far the winter has not been particularly
severe, and to this perhaps more than to any other
cause Is owing the fact that gaunt not OBJ
truded itself and its objects prominently into
public notice. The experience OF those who are
obliged to deal more directly with the poor in the
distribution OF aims shows, however, that there Is
much real poverty to be found In the metropolis now
as in any previous winter since the beginning
Of the war. To those who do not take
the trouble to ascertain the condition OF
those whom they meet from day to day
1t may appear to be somewhat inexpcable that
there should be SO much poverty existing when
trade seems to be quite brisk and mechanics gener
ally better paid and supplied with more work than
could be obtained during the last winter. Now,
during this season of festivty when all Christendom
Is rejoicing little time might be spared to look
into the condition Of the poor and needy and OBJ
serve what influences at work to ameliorate their
suaerings. In this connection 1t may not be out Of
place to ascertain the
CAUSES OF INDIGENCE.
In this city the causes are many, but Indulgence
chiefly results from "lmprovidence or lack Of wise
economy in the affairs OF life and over
whelmlng misfortune which paralyzes effort
by inducing encouragement and hopelessness"
To liquor, aso is very large percentage
OF the existing poverty to be credited either directly
or indirectly Too great fondness for the dram gives
rise to great amount OF improvidence in regard to
the real necessities for life and comfort and helps to
make more INDECENT widows and orphans and
paupers generally than any other cause. In addi-
ton to these, In this city, may be added the great
flow OF lazy and thriftess persons from different
parts Of the country, find here SO many methods
OF obtaining reeft can scarcely be called charity
their casesthat they leave those localities In which
their habits and dispositions too well known ana
MA hp mca1u tp fba avpfIN
In our public institutions. A large proportion
of these find employment during the summer
months on the canals, but their scant
earnings are generally squandered before the severe
weather sets In, and with the closing Of the canals
commences their return to the metropolis. There
are also many OF the same kidney who remain in the
city, living as best they during the mild weather.
who are only too VIKING to take refuge on "the
Island" as Migrants or paupers during the severity
Of the winter. Still another fruitful source Of ind
gence is the enormously high rates OF rent charged
by landlords. The rent In fact with very many is
the greatest trouble. Landlords generally require
payment punctually in advance, ana this fact adds
to the infection which is otentmes so heavy as to
be intolerable. The poor tenants cannot meet the
demands OF landlords or the unnecessary severity
and in many instances the brutality OF the land
lords or the ''middlemen," real estate agents ana
collectors is such that they Obliged seek poorer
and less healthy localities or pawn all their available
property to satisfy their prosecutors. 1t is notable
fact that the more tyranncal tenement owners and
rent collectors are those who. in times past have
been as needy as many whom they so heavily OPP
press, and their mushroom growth and little brief
authority In almost all cases. fully prove the many
adages In regard to ''turned heads ''beggars on
horseback" and such like.
But to return from the depression. It must be seen
that families driven to poor and therefore less
healthy localities become sickened in mind and body
The former leads TO encouragement and hopeless
Vxh ar VVutn nj fhn latte In
ducing the persons thus aiicted to indl-
gence and .abect poverty. The reactioDary
effects OF the late war have also tended materially
to add TO the poverty OF large number of residents
Of the metropolis. II cannot be doubted. therefore,
that there Is large amount OF aims needed to allie
viate the condition OF the poor during the coming
winter and the recent report OF tie AssO
citation, organized for tnat especial purpose from
which report the majority Of the above facts have
been cuedl together with the testimony OF the
perintendents OF public and private charities, shows
such to be the case. The report OF the New York
Association is exhaustive the subject OF the con-
dti0n OF the poor and has evidently been prepared.
with much care and labor, ANA while It contains
questionabic, both re-asa 60 veracity ana ,a,,-
cacy 1t contains also much that viii be found OF in
In comparing the amount OF distress which has ex-
listed here during the past year 10 Gle
SUFFERING ABROAD,
says
Great however, tho distress In this city and portions
bs e o Va @ s han he
Old The commercial and Industrial interests half the civil
lied world were sub eced almost eed
Britain was more severe had before
sn Se be every s
ne Inc ON r SnD &c
The amount given to the poor in London beyond
i the had the highest We
are not the eassncss Of the present season win far
London SIR Of later date says:-"Msn and women die
hopeless destiiqtio9" The condition many parts
n poP"as spain the scarcity sRSa"s
se e The n,s ed iaa
secretary q state presented to Congress letter from The
for Contributions behalf suffering poor and
oVs from fcsbs daa hat there are respns IL North
sses hars Millions Christian
SeSpe se gh0 NUT se be .nr upPsd gh Io@s
frying than the sssn paper. state Sa
everywhere Il Russia we learn that the horrors
land the died OF starvation by hundreds In Norhera
Africa the distress was still AZ Algeria the death:
IN trenches ike = baeded In Tunls 5000 thus
the United States Consul that writes that the a7
day of December 200 died Of starvation the
cause exceeded one hundred"
THE REMEDY.
From the above it may be adiudQed that this city
Is unfortunate than others In the ratio OF
poor To IT'S entire population and condition There
many VINO come to TINS country from abroad, and
who, finding their golden dreams OF easily acquired
independence and fortune in tins country to be no.
thing but Dreams that they must work II they would
eat take advantage OF The provisions OF the Emit
grant law, live under the charge OF the Commission
ers OF Emigration OF and on during the time al
lowed-hve year5-and then become burden TO
the country. But witha the influences at work to
create paupersm la the metropolis II must be adj
miled that 'if this city has more poverty than
others 1t mas more wealth." That a very
large amount of this wealth Is annually
and probably expended, and that 1t Is ex-
pended In as equitable manner as
the nature OF circumstances Will admit there be
doubt. IL has been very wisely said that the in
OF benevo en Institutions and relief societies
does not lessen the number OF claimants for charity
and aims but that the very reverse rs the that
the more methods the INDECENT for obtaining
relief the less anxious will they be to exert their
ergics In their behalf. 10 defeat this tendency
TO thrIftlessness should, therefore, be of the
OF those to whom Is allotted the dspeDsation OF re-
lei and that that fact Is wen known and fully ap-
preciated the rules adopted generally by Charitable
Institutions and associations plainly show. The
Citizens Association with that sweeping peculiarly