The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-19
Ghe8atelEigerteer
The Poor OF q Great CITY.

Wheeling has been more fortunate
than most cities Of her class throughout
the country in not being compelled to
witness large amount Of suffering
among her poor. Not having over.
reached herself by imitation and specula-
ton during the days preceding the panic
there has been no wholesale collapse Of
values in her midst with its attendant
bankruptcy and impoverishment OF local
industries. While our manufactures
have been and still are depressed, yet
they are solvent, and thus have been able
to keep on their feet and give employ
ment TO Thousands who would otherwise
have been unemployed during this fourth
and perhaps seYerest winter since the
panic. -
As compared with great city like
New York we can have very little idea
Of widespread suffering among the poor
and unemployed class. An article in
the New York World states that the mum.
ber OF abel.bodied men out Of employ
ment in that city has been set down by
some people as high as $4,000. Where
men-heads Of families many Of them
as supposed to represent an aggregate Of
100000 human beings without means Of
support other than that furnished by the
various public md private establish
men,s Ofchsriiy. The Graphic says "the
city is full Of suffering poor" and in.
quiries made al the largest charitable
sOcielies in the city result in placing the
number Of these.poor sufferers at about
the figures given by the World.
sThe method Of treating this subject is
Of no inconsiderabIe public interest.
There are one hundred and eishty.seyen
fully organized societies Of charity in
New York, Independent Of Il number Of
seetatian associations connected with
churches, These societies last year spent
s3,149,l7S 81 for the relief Of 642, ,450 per-
sons, making an average of about s. 90
for each. Many OF these needy persons
we're what are called "reyolvers," revoly-
Ing around among several different socie-
lies, and being thus counted several
times. The aid given 10 them last year
taxed the societies to their utmost, and
they will not be able 10 extend their char.
ity to the increased number this winter
without receiving more support than
was vouchsufed them las, year. Many
Of the applicants presenting themselves
for relief this winter are known
to be professional beggars, Independent
street and house.tO.louse nuisances, who
have heretofore led tho same merry lille
described by Beranger in "1es Gueux."
The unusual hard times augmeniing
their numbers and decreasing the means
Of those upon whom they preyed, have re-
ducel these aris,ocratic beggars to the sad
necessity of mingIinG with unemployed
and unfortunate working people and
soliciting aid from the charitable sOcie-
ties. They must bid long farewell to
the dainty bits Of pudding, pie and cake;
the remnants Of tender, succulant meats,
the artisticalIy prepared vegetables,
made toolllsome by the flavor OF deli
ciOus gravy, and al! the odds and ends OF
costly dishes that Bridget passed out to
them through the kitchen door. Poor
vagubOnds!
One Of the municipal boards in New
York now has a measure before itau-
thoriling the expenditure OF 100000 for
outdoor relief, and this will be passed
providing \ strong pressure is brought
to bear in It's favor. And il looks as II
nothing were lacking to produce such a
pressure. Thousands Of men seek work
aud food in the streets, and hundreds,
discouraged in their drcary search, ap.
pear at the police office and beg to be
sent to Blackwell's Island as vagabonds.
Many Of them are able.bodied men, viii
ling to work. These il would be charity
To aid. In Lisposlng OF this difficult
subject there is abundant room for the
work Of the phiIanthropist, but the most
useinl result that could be reached would
be ir providing some kind Of work by
which all classes Of poor would be able
10 earn an honest living.