The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
PICTURES OF POVERTY.

ton Brought to Light Yesterday-Fifth
Avenue Ladies' Offering their Services
rs Seumstresses for the Poor-Generous
Gift from the Gold Exchange.
All day long the courtyard and vestibue of the
school building OF st. Johns Chapel, in Varick
street-we known for the past eight years. and
famous for the last few weeks as the headquarters
of st. Johns Guild, were crowded with the poor.
Aged women and scantily clothed grls-many Of
the latter pOssess0rs OF rare but unripened
beauty-were there, with the sick anu the
manned among men, as delegates from
the great gathering OF the hungry, homeless
and miserable OF all chimes who have sought for
advancement in this, the metropolis Of the New
World One old and crippled woman, as she left
the steps Of the Guild Office, lifted her hands, and
in the depth Of her emotions or thank1ulness anu
ioy cried out, .'God bless the rich who are char
table to the poor"
Many women, too, from the wealthiest and most
refined families or New York, had congregated
there, Offering the contents OF their purses, cloth.
ing from their wardrObes ana food from their own
kitchens, to those who, for perhaps the first time,
felt their hearts beating with feelings OF love and
thankulness towards those whom they were wont
to regard with envy. one lady, resident in Filth
avenue, and well known in fashionable society,"
came as delegate from her little daughter
Jessie, bearing the proceeds OF calico party
which had been given at their house. When she
saw the real suffering, which she had hitherto but
vaguely pictured, she sought the first opportunity
to propose the organization of sewing society at
her residence. Mrs. Oscar Tbbals wife OF one OF
the partners in the great firm OF S. A. Beekman &
co.,, has already organized a society ct her resi-.
dence in Nineteenth street. This society is known
as 1.-The Helping Hand" and yesterday forwarded
large quantity Of clothing to ST. Johns Guild for
mir fin o
lmitators among the kind-hearted ladies' OF our
rich city.
FEW OF THE MANY CASES OF DISTRESS
found by the visitors of st. Johns Guild yesterday
are given below. They are merely bits OF shadow,
caught here and there from under the wings Of
poverty and death. but are, as such. parts OF the
great picture OF restitution
Mayer Wolfe Is member OF that Abrahamc race
which, enduring much OF persecution many
places, is indissoubly connected with the COM
merctal prosperity Of many countries. He is one
OF those who, born in Poland, are sent out to con-
quer adversely in far away corners OF the world
armed only with their phylacteries and an indomit-
able perseverance, In the Polish village where he
was born he wooed and won a dark hair Jewish
fortunes they embarked for the EldOrado OF the
west. They found the new country to which they
misfortune assailed them from their first landing
Gradually they lost sight OF the bright dreams
and as they struggled on they found themselves
CONSTANTLY SINKING
under the burdens induced by a last increasing
family aad the one OmnipreSent shadow OF 'Ill-
luck.n AT last Mayer Wolfe became O laborer in
the Streets and the two who had started on their
voyage with the example OF Mayer Anselm, of the
Red shield-the Rothschild, or our day-lound a
pauper's home In rear cellar of Ridge street,
ing around their dreless hearth. In the damp,
VIZ etched cellar brave little lady visitor Of st.
Johns Guild yesterday found them. There was no
fire, no food, and there were articles OF furni-
ture in the room, save a cot bed, where they all
crawled together at night to sleep and to keep
NV I'm amin hant
bodies in close contact. The mother had no shoes,
but only pieces OF carpet tied about her Ieet
bed together, and suffering the tortures OF a VIC.
lent scarlet fever, without medicine without food
or drnk, save cold water from the street hydrant.
from its suIerings in death, and before the ink is
dry which prints these words-to be read at pleas
another little soul will have finished It's journey
over the desert and have caught sight OF the
promised land in the world OF the hereafter.
For the living, help will surely come from the
generous people OF their own tribe of judah, as
well as from those of Christian faith VINO have
hearts to pity the mlSOrtunes OF others Oh all
creeds, countries and coors.
COMMON CASE.
Michael and Margaret WALL living in First ave.
nue., between Eleventh and Twelfth Streets have
six children, one Of whom, girl, found work this
Is seventeen and has always paid his lull earnings
to his mother. Now he is out of WORK ana for q
long Ion time past ne could find nothing to do. lit
time past pint OF milk was sent her daily. Lately
she failed to receive it, and, application to the
physician who mad attended the little one, he or
dered IL to be furnished her. The room they oc-
cupy-they have but one-is bare OF furniture, but
Is quite neat and clean. The same lady visitor
who called upon the Jewish family supplied their
immediate wants, and gave them further order
Tor relief on st. Johns Guild.
IN MOTT STREET,
an aged widow woman, who for twenty years past
has supported herself by her needle, was found
sick and utterly destitute. but for the Kindness
of other poor people In the house where she lives
she must have died from starvation before the
visitor reached her. The landlord is clamorous Tor
his rent, saying he must have chs room or his
money! The kind-hearted lady visitor went out
ana procured a chicken, for which she paid from
the contents of her own purse, and there was sent
ner from st. Johns Guild, beef juice 1.-THE gilt OF
Boucke. Fils, sugar, tea, rice, oatmeal and warm
blanket
THE COMPOSERS FAMILY.
Early yesterday morning large trunk arrived
by express from Flushing, l.. l., which, on being
opened, was found closely packed with rich ward
rob Ac L he arficpa taken In