The New York herald., 1875-08-21
THE CITY POOR.

DEsTITUTIoN VERY PREvALENr-THE POOR
sTARvE WHILE THE RICH ENJOY THEM
sELvEs-woRK FOR THE CHARITABLE.
II is fact but one not readily understood by many
people, that there is almost much distress among tho
poverystricken people Of this city at the present time
as there during the hard winter Of 1s74-5 Every
charitable body in the metropolis applied to daily by
twice the number of destitute people that it help
Mr. Kellock, the Superintendent of Outdoor Poor
for the Commissioners of Charities confirms tho state
mcnt that desttution is wonderfully prevalent in this
city at the present time II must necessarily be strange
to many persons that anybody should want food in the
summer the Of plentfulness when earth brings
forth sufficient to provide for all people. But little re-
hection will convince every that there is not only
some reason for distress among the poor in any summer
but also method OF explaining the extreme dcsttutioa
which now prevails. In the hot months the rch fee
ing no pain from the weather. being able to hio away
from tho city to cool Watering places being surrounded
by the seasons luxures, and seeing them plentiful on
every side, easily lu themselves into the belief that no
one seriously be in want In such jocund period
Hence they forget, rather mpeled to loose
the strings OF their purses the charitable associations
are hampcrcd by lack Of money, and the poor
suffer But, whence come these poor? They are Of
different class from tho distressed people who seek relief
in the winter They, it may be said, in explanation.
could only bo easily relieved by the rich but they
also a certain way, products of the rich Thoy
the people who in the winter, support themselves
by minsterng to the comfort of the rich They the
laundrcsses, the doIhestics with families the women
ofall-work, who from time to timo
during all but the summer months, employed In tho
mansions Compelled, they are to support families
from their winter earnings they have not, when sum,
mer comes, money enough to live upon until the rich
have enjoyed tho season in the country and have re
turned TO their homes. Yet the poor beings can And
work and must, therefore, put themselves upon the
charity of the world Contrary TO all analogy In tho
season when people usually feel most at and
pleased with themselves the poor got smallest aid This
summer the class of which has been spoken Of
persons-thosc men who, through the general and uh
usual slsckness OF trade have been thrown out Of em-
ployment
II is needfu that those persons who have means
should be aroused TO sense Of the fact that humt
being may starve in summer we-or, perhaps II
would no more proper to say a. il-as in winter The
excursions which are given every few days to tho chill
dren of this city help sustain many people whom ii
has not hitherto been dreamed they benefited. BY
them there is much Of burden taken of the head
OF family, and if there be any money at all in the
Golfers OF poor family 1t Is thus heightened
out for few days longer than it other
wise would be Several societies which
have not hitherto been distributing charitios
have now begun the work of aiding the poor. Among
these is the City Mission whose headquarters at No
which usually active in tho winter will Immediately
begin TO labor and it is hoped that the rich will
quickly appreciate the necessity OF helping on tho
work If something be not done speedily there will be
paupcrs for at the beginning OF next winter
than there were in the middle of any ordinary winter