The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-08
A New Way to Help the Poor.

A Boston broker and banker, named
Samuel A. Way, died few weeks ago. de
was not an urbane man; on the contrary he
had the reputation OF being harsh creditor,
and those who owed him money found it to
their comfort to pay him as soon as possible.
As rich man he was respected, but be was
irreyerently called Sam Way by the general
public. He. ."went for" money and he got it.
And vet when this stern bil-broker came 10
the disposition and distribution OF his estate
he made one OF the most considerate OF wills
the most touching which the world has
heard of since Stephen Grard founded an
educational asylum for orphan boys. Mr..
Way constituted the needlewomen OF Boston
his residuary legatees. After liberal devises
to his kin, with due remembrance OF his SER
wants, he gives the remainder OF his estate
to trustees to be used for the benefit OF the
aforesaid seamstresses He observes In his
will that sthe chief embarrassments to which
.sths class OF persons are exposed result
..from q failure OF employment at certain
.sseasons, and scarcity Of suitable dwelling
ssplaces." He wishes, therefore, to secure
to needlewomen, l, a supply OF work when
ordinary resources fail; and 2, provision
of houses containing convenient, healthful
apartments. my principal object" says
Mr.. Way, 'is to help aoorkerS to constant
employment at fair prices, and to desirable
..homes at fair rent" But Mr.. Way does
not stop here. His main object is to help
those who are both willing and able to work;
but when this has been done sufficiently In
the opinion of the trustees, he then provides
that aid may be extended to those who are
unable to work. His chief wish, however,
is to give temporary relief:tp the. casually
necesstous. He thinks it better that this
should be afforded for limited period of
three successive months, and that after this
resort should be had to charitable nstltu-
tions. The trustees, however, under extra
ordinary circumstances, and in their discre-
tiou, may depart from this rule. The trust
estate Is to be divided into labor fund and
building fund, to be allowed to accumulate
il necessary, but to be practically employed
as soon as possible. "The supply OF work, F"
says the will, "may be provided by investing
"capital in undertaking the manufacture and
''sae Of the various descriptions OF goods
'produced by sewing women. Stores and
'ssalesrooms may be opened, or goods may
'be manufactured upon contract" But they
sare to be manufactured at times when sew
sing women are in nee1 OF employment. ,
In the houses, apartments are to be let at
fair paying rents, the proceeds to go to the
general fund: ::
We have made this special mention OF
Mr.. Ways legacy because, as a piece OF
plain, practical, common sense benevolence,
it makes all manner OF ianciiul projects for
| ameliorating the condition OF women appear
| ridiculousy shallow, and because, also, his
plan bears certain resemblance to that OF
an association in successful operation in
this city. Mr.. Ways idea OF rational relief,
like that OF the Charleston Mutual Aid Asso-
citation, is to help those who are willing to
help themselves. This, in any sensible
scheme OF private relief, must be the first
object, the care OF the disabled being COM
mitted TO public institutions.
Let US hope that the example OF the Bos.
ton broker will be followed by other wealthy
men. The Ladies' Mutual Aid Association
OF Charleston is hampered in all its opera
tions by the smalIness OF its means. It de-
pends entirely on annual subscriptions-a
small endowment fund would place it upon
sure footing and enable it to extend the
| sphere OF its usefulness.