The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-28
The Scum Kitchens.


The soup kitchens yesterday gave relief to the
thousands of the suffering poor whose only relief
Is in this charity. The sunshine and fresh soft air
of the day were so healthul and full of the yigor
ana impetus of life that in the rush and hurry Of
business. hopeful now after the long stagnaton,
lew there were, If indeed any, who cast a thought
upon the families stu suffering because the effect
OF better times had not yet come to them. But the
quiet work OF charity nevertheless went on, and
the daily increasing numbers Of applicants for food
were still further increased at all the several kitch-
ems. Scarcely day passes even yet in which
the demands on Mr.. Delmonico's corps of cooks
are not greater than they were the preceding day,
fact which shows that the need for charity, opep
full and generous, was far more general and I'M
equivoca at the first cry OF distress than was then
generally imagined.
There is not now such an outward show of great
poverty as was noticeable when the first alarming
oeril OF starvation drove the poor people almost 70
madness. Then there was a walling call Tor food;
now there Is cheerful acceptance OF the food sup
piled and better and higher feeling in regard to
the soup kitchens. visit to the kitchens month
ago uncovered most painful picture Fathers,
mothers, little children, strong men but hungry
ones, and weak men who were feeble at their best,
crowded the rooms, with an apparent feeling OF
desperation That otherwise would have been
gratingy harsh sound to the ears OF these stricken
people. Poverty was depicted In all their faces.
earned was also plainly told by every motion. But
months reflection has shown them that this is O
very hard world, with heavy clouds sometimes IN
the skies, and that the poor man can no more con-
troll the activity of nations business than the
rich man can prevent himself from being sick, mis-
cradle, afflicted with family troubles, and In gen.
eral way, dyspeptic all over. And so the picture
hes changed.
Now the little children no longer with poor. male
cramped and crying faces, bring their cans to the
helpful Kitchens they come smiling and happy
Tor they have been eating Delmonico's best soup
Tor many weeks past. The women, the working.
mems wives, are no longer ashamed to call twice q
day TO have their cans filed with soup. for they
hat vhnrn fhnusr rhnu
that the season is so exceptional as to warrant
them III doing So all things considered. The sturdy
Kitchen and eats his daily soup, too proud to beg
IN the streets, and glad Of the feeling that he has
ny TINS minlsiration OF charity, chance to wait
ertO unknown to HIM.
Yesterday at the kitchens everything was cheer
contributed 1000 pounds of fish Tor the days nsh
chowder. There was not single instance or fraud
attempted, thanks to the careful, constant watch
ing OF the police The people who applied were the
people who needed aid. Families received their
daily sustenance as matter OF course but not one
o. them without being In sore need OF it. The
charity, as II appeared TO any observer, could not
fail to show the extraordinary distress which still
prevails among the working classes OF the city.
Pictures of P0verty-The Work Done ut
st. Johns Chapel and Means To Do
TIA Dying Pnralytic and Her Child
The Starving OF ALI Nation M ities-IIid-
Ing Her Misery.
yesterday l,oOO persons thr0nged the courtyard
OF St Johns chapel camoring for food. Fifteen
hundred loaves Of bread were given away before
two O'Clock in the afternoon, and, while only s45
was received, sos was expended In cash tor the
immediate relief OF cases which would bear no
postponement. To-day st. Johns Guild Is known
to every poor person on the island of Manhattan
and Its gates the poor of every ward and street
knock, and while 1t has funds they never ask in
vain.
spEEcHLEss, HELPLESS AND FRIENDLEss.
Among many cases reported yesterday Is that
OF Mrs. Burke, OF No. 563 Third avenue top floor.
MIS- Burke, who was visited by DR.. Langdon, is a
widow. she has two children--a little girl of four
teen and boy Of nine years Of age. Formerly she
supported herself and her little family by wash
ing, OUT last week she had a stroke OF apoplexy,
.anu wien ner consciousness returned found she
was completely paraly zed on her right side. She
has since remained unable to move and Is speech
,ess. Sne Is without q friend save her children
mas no means OF subsistence, and owes her land
cnan reat iUe inc past five months There is no
or Children at least Tor q long time to come.
- FRENCH FAMILY STARVING.
Inc following note was yesterday received at
the Guild oilce:-
Rev. ALvAH WIswALL-
very old woman and her daughter French. connot
speak ngiish They are IN the wretched state OF
lestiiuoh .a nave ever seem even their clothing so
asked the bearer of this note poor widow who lives
IN The same miserable cellar damp filthy and cold to
relieve them. Yours respectfully, Mrs 80
Mr.. Martin Walker. who visited the above men.
toned family, Reports :-"Mrs. Tach and daughter
residing in rear basement Mother, aged sixty,
on daughter Tor support Daughter thrown ont Of