New-York tribune., 1874-11-24
CHARITY'S BEST METHODS,

VIEWS OF JOHN II. KEYsER ON INDIsCRIMlNAIE
CHARITY-A REPLY TO DIR. JOHN HALL
Mr.. John II. Keyser, long known for his
charitable efforts the OF this city, forwards
to THE TRIBUNE communication Of considerable length
in criticism OF the views of Dr. John Hail. recently pup
lished. Much OF what Mr.. Keyser says hardly bears
directly enough the subject to warrant the insertion
of his letter full. Beginning with the idea Of contra
venng what Dr. Hall has said Mr. Keyser drifts into
statements which do not to reach this end and
incidentally gives information and suggestions OF value
and interest which are reproduced below. He says:
cnItnraI or mecennca is employing its own people
Much less is 1t ready TO absorb the $1,000 or UVV en-
forced idle population OF TINS m INV IL
partially parayzed; In many secil9ns Wnoiy ns sT
are and apparently Trustworthy statistics show
that the suspension OF smelling or Dast iurnces
have been deprived Of employment This is than
OF the lumber interests over the whole and ana
ceased since the war; there ominous silence Last
year many needy men from tne city i1una 1nml
6er and ship timber; this year none. Norwalk,
Conn, is ordinarily q thrifty busy town with
a lock factory employing 200 hands, with iron works
giving work to about the same number; with nqmer.
steel manufactures; and 1t also gives skilled iaDor
@aterips Now with the exception of the hating
interest which is large all industries are st and hope
scSy %or2 s SI Going the lower
give work to d9zfn sked s an @xeeen asreura
conntry for miles around but whoe yer should
contract to place twelve abOrers the farmers at
even hoard and s5 or IS per until May next would
fail Them too, must remember that this dearth Oh
nrovident nave exhausted their stores and Ill pre-
pared meet the Winter before them , !.
The condition of the industrial classes IN our city Is
deporabe such crisis has ever existed as now Inc
great heart of human sympathy in our metropolis Is not
alive to their condition or 1t would have warmed lnto
life and help ere this. No such widespread calamity
The whole mas and ds
cretion among rulers and welltodo people 10 Drdge
over the Of poverty tnat threaems US 80
spectacle to-day Of from 500 10 1000 homeless hungry
men Ior M % SSw pow sopp n 1a are these
unfortunate men I Fully tbree-quarters OF this mutt
house charity They are helpless and poweress 10
prevent it, and they demand our Immediate care and
protection But the greatest suffering among families
who have gradually reduced until they now stand
nendent middle classes are also beginning feel the
strain and the wall of want. Therefore this is no time
to commence at once to tue sad and pressing
igency The experiences of the hour demand prompt
mnsterng 70 the pressing needs OF the poor and few
can do more than can Dr. Hall with his influence
those who hold the TO allie yiate the threat
ened dangers of suffering and starvation In our midst
Let vessel and repair her by and BY She Is
freighed with too many thousand precious human souls
who must be somehow ded over the rocks of poverty
cold and starvation. and that at once
A word on "soup-house charity" which Ia spoken so
lightly OF In many quarters agree that IL is debasng
huniliatng. pauperzing. But there is no other mode
of ministerIng hunger cheaply and wellelght
cents per day will give square meals per day to any
hungry man woman. This have practically demon
strated Therefore, a pressing necessity war
measure this Is the only Temporary plan that VIII
meet the emergency Next there should be lodgings ior
the thousands who must be housed out OF the streets
where they compelled to sleep, or in the lester
ing station houses now being rapidly filled up We snoua
select pnoccuped lofts, warm them thoroughly and accom-
odate homeless persons Oh the door with plain straw
pillow, costing 90 cents, The can be kept warm 81
as to require no bedding. Then by making seeelo,s OF
lnen and women, the hummer class could pe appor'
toned the station houses while the better class Could
be classified and be kept cleanly and Respectable.
The hummer class" Of which so much has been SAID
TO the prejudice OF all who are poca number in this city
OF million OF souls less tnan One thousand They are
where preseDt on the streets and therefore appear
more numerous 1t Is unjust in the extreme 10 con-
found the enforced poor with this miserable class VI
yagrants.