The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-26
WHAT SUPERINTENDENT PEASE
SAYS,

superintendent Pease, in an interview with .
HERALD reporter, on being asked his opinion Of re-
eving the present necessities Of the poor through
the medium Of soup Kitchens, spoke as foiows:-
al have very definite and very decided ideas
upon this question which the present discussion
on the matter can In no wise alter ! am Of the
belief that with proper accommodations, there is
no more popular and beneficial mode OF helping
the poor and the starving than this one. ! have
practical knowledge OF the workings Of such an
institutions for IN 1855 established the d rst soup
kitchen that ever was thought OF In this city.
Well at that time 1t was only quasi success, as
opened 1t toward the end or the season. Still I fed
some 200 or 800 persons daily, and as FAR AZ
went It did great deal OF good 10
many very deserving people, It was in
1850 that first went down into the
Five Points and established the Ladies' Mission,
which merged into the Five Points House Of In
dustry at later period. In 1867, ct the end or q
disastrous season, the year Of the panic, opened
larger soup Kitchen also In the Five Points.
had possession OF some four five frame houses
which were Knocked into one and here were set
up four immense cauldrons, and fed from 400
to 1900 persons and families daily in this manner
Single people would come and take their soup in
the place, families would send some one to take
the soup home In tins, where they could eat 1t in
their own circles. There ID no doubt In my mind
that this system worked an immense amount Of
good, and the only wonder In my mind ID that 1t
did 30, for the accommodations were very imper-
fect and was surprised at seeing some OF the
people who, In spite OF the trials to which their self
respect was put, came to get the food which we
offered them. They had to come In at one door
and huddle up oil in heap near the cauldrOns in
manner which would cause person of delicate
feeling to shrink from SUCH accommodation and
such cOmpaniOnship."
"But with fair accommodations you have no
doubt OF the success OF soup kiscnensf"
GAS 1t was the Five Points soup Kitchen was
success, but not what 1t ought to have been. With
good accOmmodatons-thati s to say means given
by which poor families might send one OF their
number to get the soup IN tin kettle or some
thing Of the kind SO that the soup might be eaten
in their own home circle-there Is no doubt OF the
success OF the system. II had room here to erect
any thing IKE the kitchen accommodations neces-
sary would deal out 400 or 500 gallons OF soup per
day, for should consider 1t great Improvement
on our present system OF giving out to families pro-
Visions which they cook themselves. How much
better we could cook these than they, when in
many instances they have pawned to the last arti-
cle they have and can by no means prepare the
provisions we furnish them with as they should be
prepared"
.'What class OF people do you find asking for
helpY''
"Generally speaking q most respectable though
very poor class OF people, very lew bummers or
professional beggars. but mainly persons who have
been accustomed to do some work which has
failed them, and who are thus left totally desti-
tute. But these are not the only ones During
the present season many people who are actually
gentlemen have applied to me for relief for u
ma w W nj aanA lu adu
Gated and are evidently driven to this by some
sudden revulslon brought on by the late state OF
Is the point make, that when such people as
these come 1t is proof OF the utter necessity OF
the greatest possible increase Of charities This is
not an ordinary year. New York needs all the
charity 1t can get, and consider the establish
ment or q limited number OF soup kitchens an alb
sOlute necessity TO be sure, bummers and others
OF that class Will resort to them; but that Is no
argument against their usefulness, Tor even bum
mers had better have bread than die OF starvation"
"YOu Internationally, then, approve OF the es-
Establishment OF these kitchensY'
mo- not Internationally. They should, think,
save the sell-respect OF those wishing for help.
you wish, as 10 perfectly possible to help deserving
It @ 5 be
| some people who when they accord q favor do 1t
i'll sucn manner that all the merit Is taken nom
the act by the gruff, offensive manner IN which
they deal 1t out They seem to throw 1t at you,
and by this line OF conduct they wound the sell
sthe wind should be tempered to the shorn lamb
When accomplished h this way charity loses ITS
picked up and cared for, nobody looks upon
it as a humiliation. This is the sentl.
charity. l don't see why there should be any
more humiliation in going to soup house, where
the treatment Is that which would naturally be
accorded to the unfortunate ard not to criminals,
than there IL in going TO store or butchers
with ticket for 40 much OF thus and that. The
whole success or failure OF the project Of
soup houses depends upon the accommodation
and the treatment accorded TO those VINO apply
Tor relief Let those who do not wish to take their
soup in the soup house carry 1t home in their tin
pals. Have . system OF missionary work which
shall consist Of sending visitors around to those
who apply to see that the relief Is properly ex-
pended. Then you will have charity more sue
cessul than any other that could be established at
abused. believe that only those who genuinely
need 1t Will apply to q soup house Tor relief. I
don't think human nature Is so bad that others but
those really IN need would apply Tor provision at
such an establishment"
"Your institution, believe, an0rds help to out
door poor as well as to childrenW
..Uh, yes Every morning at eight O'Clock the
doors are opened and from that time until late at
night anyone may apply Sr food and It Is
and clothing to the children OF the families "a also
to the families themselves. The oDjecJs OF In
siona; third, religion. The last named item
comes 10 perhaps $3.50 year. the other items are
important, the relief, OF course beng the most So
but the educational costs good deal or money,
amt though some people may say that we should
leave that to the public schools, our answer Is that
this is the only way Of having medium between
those needing relief and ourselves. In all we do
there Is no question Of sectarlanism. We make no
difference as to any religion anu IN no manner
could the most bigoted OF any particular denOmna-
ton object TO our mode oil instruction. You must
remember then that In our account Of expenses 1t
would be unjust to put down all our expenditures
Tor relief, though, Of course, the main object is
that"
the following is list Of expenditures and re-
ceipts OF the Howard Mission, from May /, 1878,
until January 3, 1874
Voluntary contributions SA6S5 Is
Board OF Apportionment OF city and county OF
sion 5e5 81
Sales Of Little W audeferG FrIend". a
Total tl6 sos 81
KxPRNDIruREs