Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-12-14
(To BE coNrINUEp.)
THE POOR of CHICAGO,

The poor OF Chicago. What title; yet
it is . fact that there is to-day, dependent
upon charity in Chicago over 3,450 per-
sons. Much apprehension is felt by all
classes that the coming winter will cause
great suffering among the poor These
forebodings are based upon n full knowi-
edge OF the prevalence of hard times, aug
mented in Chicago by the failure of the
savings banks. A look into the near fu-
ture, of severe winter, is, to certain ex-
tent, appalling, for the indications are that
the cases of desIitution will be many, while
cases demanding temporary relief will
greatly increase as the season advances.
The opinion prevails that the ensuing
winter will be hard one on the poor, and
to give the reader the exact situation of
the poor in this city have made inquiry
of those we'll acquainted with the wants
of the needy, about their present and pro-
spective conditions. At no place could [
make any inquiry with the hope of OBJ
tanning mole accurate information than at
the relief societies, employment bureaus,
and the official heads of the city depart.
ments. While these authorities disagree
in some minor details, they are unanimous
in apprehending suffcring-only differing
as to its extent. From the employing su-
perintendents learned that the number
OF applicants Is far in excess of the demand;
that large numbers of men and women are
without employment, and that they b. :
longed to the industrial classes. The re-
ports are, that the number OF applicants
this season is equal to that of previous
years, but the demand for labor, skilled
and unskiled, is less than at any former
period. From this, the opinion is formed
that rs the season advances when shops
shut down, this class OF applicants will be
increased by accessions from the provide mt
class, whose savings are exhausted.
| The good weather 40 far, has been favor
able to the poor; but the sick and the
feeble will feel the pinch Of winter and be
added 10 the already vast army OF appli-
carts for relief. Comforting assurance
can not be gathered from present indica-
tions, and only prognUstications of suffer
ing can be made. Experience argues that
that which is now only distress will be-
| "A
these iorebodings are INDUCED in by those
we'll verscd. They may be taken as warn.
ings which should not pass unheeded by
the charitable and christian people Of
Chicago. And yet, all this suffering il
justicel Who says 1t is justice Why
cdpitl says no. That these men, who by
their labor have produced capital, should
starve to death is a damnable iisgrace TO
society. The question is, how caH we
alleviate this wrong this suffering. There
is but one way, and thatis for the working
men TO unite their power and with one
mighty blow sweep this damnable curse
off the face Of Gods fOot-stOol. But
will not argue this cahse, as my friend,
the editor of this paper, thinks go To ex-
tremes, But, in heavens name, is il not
time We go to extremes
Some foolish people think we can all be
| rich. So we can; but how? The New
York Commercial Aduertiser Tins exIilains
how: I',
| Nothing Is more easy than to get rich.
| 1t is only to trust nobody-to b, friend
nOne-to get all you can, and save all Won
| get-to stint yourself and everyb body be-
longing to you--tO he the friend of no man
and have no man for your friend - 10 helSp
interest upon interest-to be mean, misera-
BILE for some twenty or thirty years-and
riches will come as sure as disease and dis
appointment. And when pretty nearly
enough veal ath is collected, by disregard
OF all the charities Ot the human heart,
and at the expense Of every enjoy
death comes to finish the work-the body
is buried in a hole, the heirs dance over il,
and the spirit goes-Where?
CHICAGO, Dec. II, II. F.P.M.