The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-11

Leo tape Is as mucn tl6O around cnarlty as
about the papers of diplomatist or lawyer.
Dickens in early sketches and later por-
traitures, often SCARED the circumlocutions of
established charity, as instance his poor
woman limping from parish to parish to
find her proper locality Of settlement, or
his pathetic incident of that tramp who
increased hunger by vain search
after his appropriate soup kitchen. This
evil is almost as bad in New York as in
London. Whoever doubts this can try conolu-
sions With the Bureau for Outdoor Poor that
is connected with the City Almshouse, or
with the Offices of many private associations
and asylun,s. Undoubtedly division of
hospital objects is proper and saves confu-
sion, but when we face this greatest of all
charides-provision in an emergency of food
then how discouraging to be also confronted
with the bylaws of red tape and diffusive
action quite as ragged in details as the
wretchss who expected to profit by them.
New York has earned the appellation, "City
of Charities" "a better one than that of "Mod-
ern Athens" or "City of Brotherly Love-" or
"Queen City" or "City of Churches" Two
hundred and fifteen pages of the last Corpora
ton Manual are devoted to the history and
statistics of our diverse metropolitan charities
No complaint is ever heard about the niggard-
illness of citizens in these matters. Neverthe-
less, hundreds Of thousands Of dollars among
our contributions, and from the Golfers of the
millionaire down to the widows mite, are
fairly lost because the systems through which
the generosity of New Workers filters lack the
ingredient of concentration. and concentra-
ton in timeliness as we'll as of work. Indeed,
we are sure that two-ffths Of private aims find
their way into the pockets of stpendiaries and
agents
Such concentration is especially needful tow
ards the hungry, naked and homeless. unto
whom emergencies appallingly come If these
are compelled to solicit tickets, to bring ref
erenoes or expose their family histories then the
Morgue may receive them long before the sta
ton house fire can warm or the hospitality of
a soup kitchen cheer. Wherefore, as soon as
hunger deadens pride or street exposure i'm
pels the cry for shelter, should there exist
within every half mile kettles of nourishing
soup and blanketed hunks. In foreign coun-
tries street starvation and highway homeless
ness are not uncommon; but in this land of
plenty the instances have been so rare that
recent ones have thrilled our community with
horror. And if we concentrate charity in this
matter of bread and bed, Goals and clothes we
shall not only do service to Lazarus. but to
Dives, because unalleviated distress or de-
layed results of aims must inevitably people
avenues and swarm porticos with battalions
Of beggars.
Eleven hundred persons were yesterday fed
with soup and bread at the Howard Relief"
where they receive an ample ration of white
bread of fair quality and bowl of soup,
made with beef, onions, turnips and rice.
This is practical assistance, and q general
extension of this systematic application of
this plan at twenty different points in the
city-is what is wanted.