The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-25
PICTURES OF POVERTY.

Leaves from the Notebooks OF the Volun-
teer Visitors Of st. Johns GuilGl-The
Dying and the Destitute-Babes With
out Covering-Thc Guild, Without
Clothes to Give Them, Makes an An.
peal to Those Who Have Garments to
Spare-The Brave Little Lady Visitor,
Mrs. Wcstelle, Comes to the Rescue
1,l3s Persons Furnished With FOsd Mt
Their Homes.
Monday being holiday, every man, woman
and child In New York wished TO celebrate the
OCCASION and they did. At st. Johns chapel the
scene was . rare one From early morning till
dusk the people poured in from all quarters OF the
city, carrying baskets and buckets, and evidently
determined to have at least one good meal In
honor OF the "Father OF His Country" During no
day since the Guild once OF distribution was
opened did such mass gather. Principally wo-
men and children, there were few Of them more
than half clad How earnestly they pleaded for an
old coat, al old dress old pair OF shoes! Be.
fore eleven O'Clock in the morning 400 garments
had been passed over to new owners and the
doors of the clothing bureau were closed for want
OF supplies. Nearly $500 worth Of groceries had
been distributed up to six O'Clock p. NJ, and the
receipts for the day were reported at $28. The
number relieved was 1,138.
The prospects are that the poor applicants will
not be able to get clothing for some time to come
although number or ladies will begin work TO-
day on sewing machines last night placed in the
clothing department. They will furnish their own
material and make garments for the sick prlnci-
pally and for infants, many OF the latter having
been found by the volunteers, during the last few
days, entirely naked and without any kind OF
covering. In addition to this action OF the ladies'
Mrs Westelle, the brave volunteer visitor who has
brought to light 80 many pitiful cases, has ten.
dered her services for the purpose of soliciting the
wealthy among her friends and the public to
SUSTAIN THE GUILD
by contributions OF groceries, clothing, &c.
The following are q few Of the cases reported
yesterday, and selected almost at random from
mass Of similar ones:-
Mrs. Westelie found at No. l16 Mott street the
family Of the murdered man Gillespie living in
extreme restitution. The widow in a very deli
cate situation is the mother Of five little children
the eldest OF whom is but six years of age.
gentleman, in writing OF this case to the editor OF
the HERALD said words cannot express the
situation or picture the poverty OF that
bare room, where the corpse OF the husband
and father was brought fresh from
the surgeons knife" The deceased had been
unable to obtain WORK for two months before his
DEATH and was buried by the charitable. Mrs.
Westelle found them entirely without food, and
with only the ashes OF fire (nade from the refuse
Vi ASH OdrTelS DuTHluB Ill the gTaue. me widowed
mother was SICK and the five children were par
TALLY nude. One quilt sufficed to cover them all at
night, as bedclothes and everything OF the value of
a dime had been pawned for bread. Mrs. Westelle
also visited two families who were about to be
turned out for being In arrears with their rent.
She at once repaired TO their respective landlords
and was presented with the following novel docu-
ments:-
FEBRUARY %, 1874
will allow Mr. IS rent to remain unpaid till such
time as he may Obtain work -four months at $40 per
MARGARET G. DUKE,
No Bon West Fiftyourth street.
No. 100 WEST FORTY NINTH STREET, Feb g. 1874
will not trouble Mr.. - for rent while his children
are sick; till he gets work. Or will give him the
basement free till he gets work. JOHN ULREICH
1t is believed that great many landlords Will
follow the noble example set them by these two.
Dying FROM EXPOSURE.
Mr.. Thomas Denny, professional nurse, who has
volunteered his services as visitor, reports:-
Mrs. Ryan, No. 81 Baxter street. was visited on
Saturday and to-day monday. she has an inter-
mittent fever. Her extremties were cold when
last saw her. and she seemed to be dying. She can
not last long, and her decline has been fastened
by exposure, though the physicians called in stated
that she vas liable to die at any moment from dis.