The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-01
PICTURES OF POVERTY.

Distribution IN MANY oUIsEs-Tm HOMELESS,
HUNGRY AND SICK SCENES At ST. JOINS
GUILD.
From an early hour in the forenoon TIL long
after nightfa on Saturday destitute men, women
and children sought ood at the relief rooms OF ST.
Johns Guild, In varck street. The number Of ap-
plicants was greaier than upon any previous day
during the winter, and they presented sorry
spectacle OF haf-clad. halfstarved beings. Some
OF these poor creatures seemed striving, with an
earnestness akin TO desperation, TO keep alive
tho embers OF nearly extinguisheo hope,
ana others asked for bread mechanically,
as though hope and ssnstbility had alike
forsaken them. The number OF those dependent
almost wholly upon the Guild for food Is so great
that few ignorant OF the subjects, ana especially
Of the widespread poverty OF the present winter,
would credit the figures. A carefully prepared
statement will soon be published showing this
mournful fact.
CASES OF HOMELESS FAMILIES
are daily reported. Tue writer made notes OF
three oil these cases deserving special mention.
The 1rsr is that OF Q gentleman who was lately
foreman under one OF the departments OF the city
government, and who received q liberal salary
His wife, however, was an invalid and required
the attendance OF professional nurse. Besides
there were four small children to be cared for
Through political changes this man was thrown
out OF employment to make room for another
The cost Of living, medical attendance, medicines
and nursing soon ate up his savings. Then began
the fearful and constant journeys TO the pawn OF.
tce experimenting each days experience OF fruit
less searching Tor work. Every dtspensape article
OF furniture and Of wearing apparel was IN IT'S
longer an under garment, he came, with
hts coat pinned tightly around his throat,
to the nsr g Guild nra. He told his story asked
IT he handed to the Master the writ OF election
that notified him that, with his sick vile aud chll-
dren, ne was in one day more TO be turned into
fate.
A HUSBAND LOSES HIS HOME AND HIS REASON.
A husband, vile and I'VE children have for some
time past occupied dinRy back room in tene-
ment in Twenty-second street, near the East
River. The husband, who has been 'longshore-
man. had ms leg broken last summer on ship
board, and has been unable TO work since. The
household, and Tor several months was successful.
She paid DOCTORS bills and rent and always
n ~, food and iuei in the house TINS last month
from hunger and her rent went unpaid. Before
they could enter upon second month the land
upon the Sidewalk while the husband was out
trying TO borrow from old friends something to
satisfy the landlord. when he returned and saw
ture incumbering the sidewalk, to the great dis
comfort Of Jealous policeman, he became Tor
the moment or ior all time, crazed, and ran.
laughing ana shouting. away. All efforts that the
distracted wife and mother could make 10 IND.
the woman Went Crying to the Morgue. She Is
now under the care OF 81. Johns Guild.
OUT IN THE STORM.
A husband, vile anu two wee children-one ct
the mothers breast-came to the Guild, IN the
midst OF the wblrllug snow, on SATURDAY. They,
too, had been turned out from the only shelter
they had possessed, and during the entire day
they had wandered tnrough tie streets without
OF food. The nursing was crying bitterly as they
came 10 the Guild, and, though the mother crept
close 70 tue stove and 1ed S 80 mat sns warmth
comiorted. The other child. Its skin red and
swollen, was trying to stun its little hands into It's
rolled down It's cheeks. The mother was the most
seli-possessed OF the party. and ner face had q
has been long imprisoned. The husband was pale
as ghost and trembled In every limb. These also
found In the SsIr.s place place Of refuge SDo
All LANDLORDS are not heartess, as the following
extract from letter VIII snow:-"I beg leave to
creature and hard worker, wnen work
to De sns and has Dssn
when able, So o month for garnet noor. she Is
out OF employment now and is destitute and very
feeble Her age Is sixty-nine or seventy years.
II you would be good enough to neIp her it would
indeed be charity and well deserved" This lei.
ter was signed BY Mr. j. Lew gentleman well
The letters received daily from physicians. often
gentlemen o. prominence na ~ the profession are
these VIII show what the doctors meet on their
rounds.
BETTER THAN MEDICINE.
NEW YoRx DrsrxMARY
Eo. %h :: si osns ssi . S.:Hs
c r wS viii 10
Dr.. VAN WAGNER
Sometimes the physician sends out BRIEF letter,
In which, however, he manages to couch iervcnt
appeal. Soch one is the Iollowlng:-
Mrs Margaret . M; ydow WA woman and her child
M sase sadly MhsP Fl
Oftentimes, too, tho physician has long and
called upon to recommend. Such case Is the
ioll0wing:-
The bearer Mrs B.; !. honest and ,nans,riou. Her
sr have FT. Win
one IN which the writer says the case he sends Is
the worst he has seen IN many years:-
beg tocall your attention for help to a poor family
tain empoyment only half ms ior some me-
Ss 1sr our me w ss ss s
n Il the o r ayS e ever In
ss nna rs them to cha
Many times bits Of family history are brought
Johns Guild. and II is one or the noblest features
OF the work performed that no secrets ever be-
at No. SO Var1ck street. Sometimes fragments Of
domestic history are also embodied IN physicIans'
letters ana here Is something that may interest
the reader:-
ABANDONED TO her FATE.
This Is TO certify that Mrs. X. has been abandoned by
her husband Mr.. X. who lett her in most pitiabe
dition Having exhausted all means TO support herself
by honest labor: and drawing near her confinement
call az on every charitable and Christian aid
her Mrs X. Of respectable connections aud furtncr
particulars Will be given ut DR.. Paine's ONCE
So the round OF cases and letters succeed each
other at the Guild. Sadder and sa0der they grow,
till one grows sick at heart In contemplating all
this hunger ana heartache, tnis poverty and mis-
cry that snrrounds US. But sadder fact ~ yet 20
be announced--a fact that Will send chill into
many homes where there is little warmth now
lett and will add 10 the pailor OF cheeks already
blanched by hunger ST. Johns Guild Is To-Day
reduced so that but twenty-five barrels OF meal
remain IN its st0reroom. and enough hungry peo-
pie 10 consume four times the amount VIII apply
before nightiall.
OUR DIRTY STREETS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
havo nottced ssTa MAJ erfst, NOTE in vour n mar