St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-02-23
Western Correspondence.

CHICAGO CHARITIES.-THE POOR AND
THE PRETENDERS.
A word to-day concerning the con-
ditiOn of the city's needy children and
the efforts of the charitable for their
relief. 1t finds that the spectre of cruel
Want, these very hard times, has a
throne in many place besides the
slums of the city. The mansion on the
broad avenue as well as the rookery in
Hell's Half-Acre, pays tribute to its
IMPLYING sway. The Relief and Aid
Society knows numerous families whose
pinched features tell the story of the
suffering that their pride refuses to con-
TESS. Men of almost every profession
are upon the books who never made
known their hunger until starvation
stared them III the face. Single men,
thrown suddenly out of employment in
the most respectable stations, have
begged for food enough to keep body
and soul together for IA time at least, or
for place to sleep in over night. The
unfortunate destitute have sought as
well the police stations and the Office
of the county agent. They have even
struggled up the bench of the police
justice, and begged for Gods sake to
be sent to the House of Correction for
criminals, -anywh only to be let
live for while.
ALL POSSIBLE RELIEF
is being rendered by those who are
awake to the exigencies of the situation.
The Relief and Aid Society is furnish
ing lodging to perhaps six hundred per
night, the city has provided several
additional lodging houses, and the
county agent cares for perhaps three
hundred and fifty families per day.
Chicago is doing what is possible to
relieve the sutferings of the distressed,
and but few unworthy cases victimize
those organizations, as the greatest care
is exercised in investigating.
In one case Director Truesdell of the
Relief and Aid Society gave resident
of the southern part of the city $25, the
visitor having found the applicant for
relief in the basement of brick build
ing, with no food, fuel, or clothing.
His heart was touched, and he accord
ingly reported favorably. 1t was learned
subsequently, however, that the man
owned the entire building, and had his
furniture hidden. But Mr.. Truesdell
forced the impOstor to disgorge.
The county agents system in detect
ing fraud is this: The application
clerk receives the prayers of the appli-
cant, with the name and number of the
the visitor investigates, and,
after much painstaking, reports favor
ably and the worthy poor receive their
ratiOns. Women in a delicate condi-
ton, of whom the very great majority
are NOrwegians, are sent to the county
hospital, or supplied with fuel, clothing,
and food, if they have an abiding place.
The great majority of the cases are
worthy-representing almost every oc-
cupatiOn, race, and condition. Among
those who have adopted
THE COOPERATIVE PLAN,
in two tenements were found six fami-
lilies numbering twenty persons in two
rooms. Each family has bed to itself,
but they all use the same stove, cook
ing utensils, etc. the rooms are about
l2x14. At another place there are
about twelve families in one house,
paying on an average about three dol
lars per month rent each. In one build
ing there are about twenty-five families
of almost every nationality,
One family wanted assistance, but
they were very fastidious as to the
manner of receiving it. They live in a
finely furnished house on the West Side.
When the visitor pulled the door-bell,
the hostess very affably told him he
must go around to the back door. She
did not care to see her carpet soiled by
the brOgans of even a messenger of
charity.
A woman whose husband was in the
insane asylum, lived in their own house,
valued at $4,000, and owned other
She let part of her house
for nine dollars per month. Her house
was nicely furnished, hung with pic
lures, etc, but, expecting the visitor,
she removed the goods to hen house
and covered them up with rubbish.
She did not desire the hen house
searched. She had also fine writing
desk worth about 500.