Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-03-09
@ r o ID House.

NtI ' HopeCNGUf
Our soup house, devised and estab-
lisbed by some of our citizens, kind and
philanthropic, prompted by the ptreSt mo-
tives; has been well sustained by many
others, who desired to benefit the needy
and deserving poor of our oUn comnauaaty;
and now, after some weeks of practical
experience, may we not ask if these expec-
tations lave been realized? Are not the
larqe majority of the applicants for, and
receivers Q. this liberal charity undeserv-
ing? Are not most Of those now sustain
ed, idlers. or those who do d jobs. and
are unwilling to engage in protracted la
Dor except at exorbittnt prices, aud who
| do not accept work when offered them 10y
our farmers? Only on last court-day
some of our farmers were disappointed,
| because both men and women preferred to
| stay in town, some of them entirely depell-
| dent upon their friends or the soup house
rather than work in the country, making
an honorable and honest livelihood, and
the evil is growing.
How are we to remedy it F? This is a
momentous question for the consideration
of our City Fathers, our County Superyl-
sors, and orr taxpayers. Will not the
establishment of a qvorkhousc, with COM
petent officers, and good regulations Oh
| rules be more than a preventive? Put the
idlers and those who may seek work at
work paying them a fair compensation,
deductlng board and lodging, and if they
will not work, put them in the c: ain gangs
or apply the bath or lash. These may
seem harsh measures, but the principal
object is to prevent idleness more than to
cure it. Look about our streets, and see
how many idlers there are, many OF them,
the young, who by timely prevention. may
by cured of idle habits. Attend our May
o,1, M on6 fIara COO tho unmhlr hnth
male and female drawn thither by idle
| curiosity, when some other idlt more bold
or less cunning is being tried for petty lar
oeny Or some other violation OF the law.
Then ask yourselves if there is no remedy
for this deplorable state Of thipgs:
These suggestions are not made to pro-
woke controversy, but to call attention to
evils as they now exist in our midst, 10
cause our people to think of a remedy, our
city fathers to act promptly, and all 10
unite in an effort to turn these idle con-
sumers. now in our midst, either into pro-
ducers for their own and the benefit OF
the public, or to compel them to leave,
thus saving the hard earnings OF our i'll
dustrious and energetic citizens: T.
1--WE publish the above Gil the established
principle of this paper-to give fair hear
ing to all propositions on public matters,
even It they are CRUDE anu Dased ratileI Oh
the lack than on the possession OF infor-
nation. The class of people in the ma
iority of those relieved by the noble charity
of the ladies at the soup house, our cor
respondent is altogether nninformed al out,
The idea Of putting an honest mechanic
s'who may seek WORK" iR the w%ork-hQnse,
When he applies for it, is too absurd to
merit attention. Our correspondent is
evidently looking at things through, the
eye of a needle, and these suggestions are
as cruel as The poi. t Of it. A work-house
would bs an excellent establishment for
the incarceration Of vicious idlers, and we
sho4id like to see one, but rot for poor
people, of any color. seeking work.
EDS. VIM.