Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-08
CHARITY.
The Ladies' Christian Association a
Good work that ought 90 De sup
ported.

Our city is so located that we have
more than our share Of poor people to
take care of at all seasons OF the year.
1t is a sort OF halfway house between
the north and south at which the broken
down traveller stops to recruit. For this
reason a large proportion o! the inmates
Of the city hospital, comfy p-OrhOUse
and jail, are generally from aOr0af.
And, besides these institutions, our
streets are too often made the
scenes OF destituti1u and want.
There are other causes jJat row to pro-
duCe much suffering. For some years
past we have had shOr. crops and low
prices for our staple produce. We are
altogether without our proper proportion
of manufactures. City improvements
are at a standstill. The very Oest Of orr
poor people are without employment.
The hard times which lessons the Income
OF the capitalist often cuts off entirely
the living of the poor man or woman.
Hence there is genera, complaint Of
suffering with the poor in the city at
this time. Our people accept the sltua'
ton. They have given, and do give,
generously to those in distress. II the
account could De made up accurate
ly it would astOnish the reader
to see the large amount Of charity dis
pensed in Memphis in a year. This is
as it should be. 1t is cause Of pride to
all good citizens, Yet we would be
pleased to see it otherwise in the matter
OF the need for giving. 1t won be bet
ter, much better, if We had all kinds Of
manufactures in full operation and
abundant remUuerative labor fer all.
But taking things as we find them,
would it not be well to adopt some uni
| form, well. directed, systemiZed plan for
| the distribution Of our charities TO that
| great body Of poor who have no cl. inns
| on any church, sect, benevolent Organi-
cation or nationality? As q rule, the
| corporate authorities in other cities
| take charge Of such matters. In
| the better days OF the Republic
cur city did the same thing. Now
| the treasury is too weak. The calls Of
| those who do steady duty for the public
| keep that institution drained. Yet the
| poor in cur midst must not be permitted
| to suffer. We must and do take care Of
| them. 1t is duty from which Mem
| phis does not shrink, and IS "whatever
| is worth doing at ali is worth doing
| well" it is the part of wisdom that we
| should give efficient direction TO the
| means to be used for the relief of The
| poor. The ladies of our city, always
| ahead IN good deeds, have organized a
| Ladies' Christian association, which
| proposes to do this. This association is
| composed Of ladies of the highest char
acter, and most earnest in benevolent
| lsbOrs. Their purpose and object is to
| "provide means for the assistance OF the
| sick, disabled and destitute, employment
and homes" for those who are able to
work, and generally to dispense proper
| ly and efficiently all means that may be
placed under their control. Ii properly
supported, this association must become
the general almoners for our city, while
they will fill q great want in the way Of
performing correctly and reliably the
functions of q first-class intelligence
Office. 4 modest little circular ADVISES
us that the institution Is il full opera
ton; has the city divided into districts,
with a full corps of visitors in each dis
trict; has an office on Jefferson street,
between Main and Second, where an
agent is always to be found to further the
purposes and attend TO the business Of
the association. Let the gentlemen row
give proper share Of attention
and announcement to these excellent
ladies; and the great need Of our city
may soon be fully supplied. Those who
give so often on the street, sometimes 70
the most unworthy objects, will find
proper place to give direction to their
charities in this Institution. 1t would
be altogether the proper thing for some
Of the benevOlently disposed citizens to
organize club for the express purpose
of aiding and assisting the ladies. We
hope to see this done before the summer
ends,