New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-05
ASPECTS OF PAUPERISM.
EXTRAORDINARY REVELATIONS.

COVERED.
Tile State Charities Aid Association held
meetings on Saturday evening when several interesting
aud startling reports were made by committees Miss
Louisa Lee Schuyler the President of the Association
presi ded and there were present among Others Prof
Chas. A. joy OF Columbia College. Chas. H. Marshall.
VIM L. Dodge. jr.. Dr. Elisha Harris, Dr. Crosby Miss
Ellen Collins Miss Ella T.. RUSSELL Mrs. Joseph HoDson
Mrs Philip L. Van Rensselaer, and Miss Susan NJ van
Amringe. Miss Schuyler read letter from Mrs Choate'
declining with thanks a membership on the Bellevue
Committee. pleading excuse tho fact that the
newly established Diet Kitchen occupied all OF her tlme'
adding that successful had the Kitchen proved that
1t was contemplated to open second one in very snort
time.
The President in referring to the interest already
takcn by the Association in the question OF hospital con-
sruction. stated that acting under the instrucnohs
given her former meeting. she had written to MI
Mohl private secretary to the Empress Augusta OF
Germany. asking him to purchase and forward to the
Association certain books OF refer ence on hospitals
prompt reply had been received from Herr Won Moh,
which he stated that he had read the letter to the
Empress and that che had manifested great interest III
the aors the Association. BY her orders the books
asked for will furnished at Her Majesys expense,
and 70 them will be added copy OF the description OF
the Augusta Hospital, aud copy of Photographic work
taken from the sanitary objects at the Vienna EXPOSE
ton the latter TO be given to the Cooper Institute for
exhibition the library. The writer also stated that
Empress expressed gratitude for the benevoence OF
Amorioaps di.pisyod Lotto end addoa
that abe had conferred gold medal upon Dr. Thomas
w. Evans for his share in the ambulance WORK
report from the Westchester Committee was then
read 1t reviewed the difficulties encountered in gain
ing access Poorhouse before the new law enabled
the visitors to secure official appointment and reeog
ntion Since last Winter visits had been attempted,
because the visitors had boon denied admission by the
officials ground that they had been instructed not
TO admit any ladies' connected with any organized board
or society But the State Board OF Charities had re-
Gently appointed the Association Committee ohciai Wis
itors, ana they had accordingly proceeded 10 act
AZ such. On Dec. % the Committee Visited inc
Poorhouse, and were admitted without much de
law They found that since their last visit sew
era improvements had been carried out some OF
them having been suggested by the Committee. The
inmates were apparently properly cared for and the
building in neat and clean condition. Inc SICK
appeared TO be carefully nursed and tho chapel ana
schooroom were well adapted to those purposes over
40 children were found in the house, all neatly ana com
ortaby clothed. and they were wellbehaved and intel
gent The visitors however considered it an error to
hermit so much intelligence and innocence TO remain
surrounded by paupers and their influences and exam
ple These surroundings not calculated to elevate
or improvo the children In the Lunatlc Asylum con-
siderable neglect manifested. as 70 persons OF DOth
sexes we're left to the solo charge OF one wonaD he-
forms were nee led here aud 1t hoped they would
| soon be begun.
The Richmond County Committee reported that the
work OF visitation to the staten Island Poorhouse had
been kept up with much benefit to the pauper though
no change the general cement had been elected
The % children In the house kindly treated anu ap
peared to be well and happy; but tho Committee eA
pressed the opinion that these children would he better
Off they could be entirely separated from the adults
with whom they in contact out of school hours
special department was recommended where the
children might grow up ignorant Of the miseries anu
vices OF pluperism. More attention had recently been
paid to the sick but the hospital arrangements were far
from perfect There is work provided for the able
| bodied paupers because there Is no workhouse. Inc
systematic visitation Of applicants for outdoor reei
mas resulted the exposure OF impostors One woman
who had an earnest recommendation from her clergy
| man. aud was very pertinacious in her demands
| for assistance, found TO nave husband VINO
was a mechanic in regular employment Another
woman living comfortably in her own house was aston
ished to find herself the list OF outdoor poor her
name having been handed By some one without her
| knowledge.
| REPORTS from Rochester. Ncwburgh, and Suffolk
County were also received stating that active worA was
being performed and many ncedful reforms Instituted
The question best method for suppressng pauper
ism this city then made tho subject OF dscuss)n
| but no definite conclusion was arrived al.
Mr. Dodge related a singular instance OF official mis-
conduct in New-JeTsey The taxpayers OF the county
had built handsome poOrhousa Tor the accommodation
Of the paupers but the Superintendent had deliberately
appropriated the entire bdildng a residence for ms
family with cxpensiyely furnished parloTs, library,
piano. &C. The unfortunate paIpoiS were hudd!ed TO-
petber in wooden sned the back part OF The yard,
being forbidden to enter the very poorhouse built for
| their
The Committee on Children presented brief report on
the institutions Eandas Island which consist OF the
Nursery partment (six budinssl for boys aud girls
| from TO IA years the Nursery Hospitals the Idiot
| al -barn her NJ
the little children live, each womnn having the care Of
two children. each building the Committee found
matron, sometimes two paid nurses, aud always from
four TO seven who had been sent from the pris
ons and have uncontrolled intercourse with the children
The children may remain three months without Charge
after that the parents charged from 50 TO 81 per
month Most the children there now paid for in
this way so that the island has become cheap boarding
| Mace There is a school the island for the older
children. The girls are taught sewing ana Few boys
struction is gwen and the proposition TO Introduce
trades by the aDswer that parents simply pay
| he Obliged TO work in any such way.
military drill is the chef of the BOYS instruction
| tai Children for whom no board Is paid may be sent
ont families over this the officials have no control
An applicant obtains order from the Office, IN Eev
euths and the superintendent has 10 furnish the child
called for without any INQUIRY Formerly an agent was
\ for some years been abandoned The crying eva on
iaha psr rne in every way to the Children
If prison women must be employed it should be only
In nts where they could in contact
with children, their language and behavior have
"A most depravng effect upon the children. who might
In The opinion the visitors better perish In the streets
than be greater depravity at the expense
| OF the public.
The Bellevue Hospital Visiting Committee reported the
management OF that institution rs good aud the nursing
of he patients excellent. La Training School for
Nurses l6 pupils being instructed in the duties OF
their profession and they for the patients In i've
wards the entire satisfaction OF the medical stan
| The House for Nurses accommodate four more pu
pills One OF the greatest abuses was considered by the
vistors he the free egress OF women OF abandoned