The New York herald., 1876-12-28
RELIEF OF DISTRESSED AMERICANS.

A SOCIETY ESTABLISHED IN LONDON FOR THAT
oBJEcT-wHAr IT HAS ACCOMPLISHED AND
WHAT IT PROPOSES TO DO IN THE FUTURE
SAD CASES OF Observation-Disclosures BORN
CITIZENS SELLING THEIR NATURALIZATION
PATERs.
LONDON, Dec. Q, 1876
On the 29tn OF December. 1875, a number OF prom-
ncnt Americans In London, including members Of the
legation bankers and merchants met together tor the
purpose OF dcvising some means Of aiding Americans
in distress. Individually their purses had been
opened again aud again. the Legation had been taxed
its utmost and the time seemed to have arrived Tor
the establishment OF charitable society. At second
meeting. held last February, generous donations
made by Messrs. Rothschila Barring Brothers, Russell
Sturgs. Hugh McCulloch, Brown, Shipey Co.
Bennett CO., J. s Morgan, General Schenck Colonel
Chesborough, j. 7. Bigeiow, W. I. Wright Colonel Ho-
man. Gcneral Badeau +. b. Blake, Osgood Field. b +.
stevens T. W. Pierce, H. Starr. William W. Cryder,
J. segmann, r. K. Hazard, S. r. Van Deuscr, Captain
W. Mann, W. 5. Rowland, X. Hunting, C. 4. Garner.
W. T. Stockwell, T. W. Hodge, Silas 4. Dodge and
othcrs-las but net least, of whom was Mrs. Hicks,
OF New York. Twenty-eight hundred dollars were
collected, many contributors pledging themselves to
annual subscriptions amounting 10 81, $50. Finding
recently that there but $500 In the treasury he
rest OF the money having been expended III sending
ninety five persons back to America and in aiIorGing
temporary rehcf to half as many more) American
women to work with Their usual energy and
drafted Carl Rosa into their army. Through this
gentlemans kindness, and with the valuable co-opcra
,ion OF Mrs Jennie Van Zandt Miss Josephine
Yorke, Mr.. Packard tall Americans), Mr. Cclii
several other English cousins. performance OF
''Faust' produced, as you already know $1,000
With the exception OF $l75, taken from the general
public box Office OF the Lyccum Theatre, every
seat sold by American women, that the charity
was, as IT ought 10 have been, strictly national.
The prices raised, in addition to which Lady
Lampson donated s25, Mrs. Schlesnger $50, Hugh Nc
Cuoch " Co $40, Mr.. kogersOn OF Liverpool, $25. and
Mrs Brammeshal S5 Dcductng s35U for expenses OF
chestra, chorus advertising &c. the young society
to-day has treasury OF ST 200 with which the
winters demands or course this VIII not last Tor
ever, and the sensible friends OF this charity are
seli-supporting. At present is beggar-
respectable, certainly, but still a beggar-whercas
the small capital Of $780, 900 would make u independ-
ent OF further contributions This IS bad time TO
ask help from Americans at home Tor Americans
abroad but IL the former knew how great and how
frequent the suffering among the latter they would
osabusc themselves Of the idea that there
no distressed Americans on this side OF the Atlantic.
SAD CASE
Mr. W. 7. Wright. secretary OF tho society, kind.
hearted Engishman who, having lived forty-hve
years III America, voluntarily gives his time TO a
thankess but important Office, assures me that no
Anne applies Tor relief until the last penny has
been that some oil the Gases heartrenu-
ing. One poor woman came 10 him recently IN
despair. Going from Richmond, Va, as steward
ess Of snip which The captain sald was
bound for England the unfortunate creature
landed IN Sweden, sent ashore without her hing,
which the brutal captain retained, or. IN palmer
words, stole THIS noble specimen OF manhood treated
his crew with equal consideration. Begging her way
10 London the penniless woman learned that the
brother Tor wnom she had made the Journey was dead
Sne found her only providence IN the American So
ciety As rule there are twice US many male appii-
canis as female. Many OF them being well reared
they find that is steeragc or starvation they submit
to late The object OF the society is not TO keep peo
pie alive IN Europe, but TO send them home. The Sec
retary not allow ca TO give than two shIllings
without consultation, SO that we're Mr.. Wright less
discreet than nature and experience have made him
he would bc curpcd by the socety's regulation.
GOVERNMENT INyEsTIGArIoS.
The greatest need Tor help came shortly after the
Scrvian war broke out. Then many naturalizcd c
zcns begged to be sent back to America They prob
ably tied their native countries TO escape being
called 10 arms. "But how did you know tney were
American citzensYn asked Mr. Wright
'For the sole and only that their naturalza
tion papers were all right he replied.
"Are you proof against fraud from this sourcef'
No," sald Mr.. Wright, .and that is the worst OF it.
l always tell a native born American by his accent
ana general appearance these foreigners pcrplcx
me There is place in Whitechapel where American
naturalization papers can be bought Yes this rs a
TACT, and tho sooner the United states government
looks into this matter the better Il is supposed that
naturaized citizens on returning TO Europe with the
intention OF remaining, sell their papers those
tratic in them knowing this TACT other ioreig gners
not naturazed, but desirous OF getting OUT OF this
country buy such papers SUIT their physical char
acterstics and appeal 10 US ior assistance. We
helpless, 50 Tar as appearances are concerned the
men and their papers agree AS rule, all our appl
cants are native Americans"
W. y. WRIGHT THE VOLUNTEER SECRETARY.
Here is matter that requires serious investigation Mt
Washington. MIR. Wright Is too well known New
York and the South not TO be credited. For many
years he was prominent cotton broker and, in
JUNCTION with The late John i. kcnsct originated The
New York Academy OF Design The already gen.
erous American Republic should not be made RESPONSE
BILE for the czens OF other countries nor should
picked