The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-19
THE DESTITUTE.

cEEAsING
Al tho beginning Of the winter It was computed ny
careful calculation that there So 900 idle working
men in the city. The plumber Of men out OF employ
ment far exceeds that computation at the present
time How sheso men and their families have batted
against the ''hard times" for three months past the
records that have been constantly furnished by the
HERALD from charitable societies go long way to
show. The daily relief supplied by the organizations
devoted to the helping OF the poor has been going out
to these people; but even with all tho sys'e" u
charity which is work during the winter season,
tho afforded has fallen short Of meeting the
pressure OF the existing desttuton At the beginning
of winter the Of distress loud and universal
all over the city, but, the season advanced, tho So
cctiss got into better working order, secured moro
funds from the city and IRON charitable citizens and
II thcy did not actually keep everybody from being
hungry they supplied food enough to stop tho cry oil
starvation which beginning 10 be aarmingy heard
on evory side.
CRIES srARvArioS
That cry was very sad during the most OF De-
cember and until the early part OF January Hundreds
OF poor workingmens families were driven down-to
the very last stages poverty during these FIRST weeks
OF the winter. 1t during that time that the fur-
niture the poor sold their clothing pawned and
every available article that could be converted into
money disposed or The bleak winter stared these
so 900 men their families In the face, without
single comforting hope IN the midst OF Inc distress
from which they wcrc suffering. The workingmcn
knew that there prospect Of work before them.
nor could they how they wcrc TO subsist during
the coming season. But poverty is stern
teacher and by degrees tho doors Of the char
table societies were found to DO open for them,
and they entered therein. There SO many men
out of work who had never before been completely
reduced in crcum that much OF tho most pain
full part of the destitution was to be found among
these for they had idea OF how to set about apply
ing help at the societies. and as result themselves
and their families long before the visitors from
the relief associations discovered their whereabouts
and their wants BY degrees, however, the humane
who 20 round among the poor seeking Tor descrv
ing subjects for relief gathered in the great majority OF
the idle workngmcn's families 10 their shelter, aud
by tho help given, small though It may have bcen
every week, tho threatened famine among the idle
classes averled,
STAYING OFF
In the doing OF this great work the churches all
lent helping hand 10 those moro Immediately con-
ncctcd with them. The 81. Vincent de Paul societies
abored arduousy In assisting the poor in every parish
in the city, the Society for the Ameoration Of the
Condition oil the Poor did good service ALSO and ST.
Johns Guild had heavy ond to bear that it was
longer ablc TO continue 10 meet the demands made
upon and was compelled to reduce by hall the ro-
lief It was called upon by the poor to give From the
coal charity ID, 900 amcsw ero saved IRON Vanishing
The Washington Market and Fulton Market soup
kitchens gave much needed assistance. Tho Night
shelter, corner OF avenue d and Tenth street; the
ShllOn Shelter, corner OF Prince ana Marion stroeSs
tho Leonard Street Shelter, In the old Fifth precinct
station house, all gave lodg ny TO the poor homeless
wanderers and relieved the streets and the police sta
ton houses OF those who having no fam-
lies OF their own, were easily cast adrilt
when they had ceased 10 DO at work The pros
pect now is somewhat more encouraging With
The spring trade not lar of and with moro settled
tone business circles tho workinemen look forward
to an Independent living for themselves and their lam
| lilies once more. Their more prominent leaders have
dcspaircd OF getting employment Tor the men on the
plan often suggested OF putting them to work pub
In
The winter Is so far advanced without any steps
being taken py the city authorities in this direction
that reliance for work upon public movement OF that
character has been abandoned The workingmen
themselves feel that they must continue 10 wait with
the same patient fortudc that has characterized them
this until business regulates itself and the hap
pier time Of activity In all branches Of trade restores
10 the employer well as 10 the employe buoyant
confidence which will make work brisk again for ALL
''REDUcYD'' FAMILIES.
But while of course, the winters distress has fallen
most heavily upon the work. ngmcn iamIlics there Is
class that has suffered this season in remark
able degree II be easily understood how many
hundreds even thousands OF men there in this
city who, but year ago. had stores OF their own
In business or othor and were able to make q
comfortable living bringing up their families with per-
haps OF an assurance OF their being IN independ-
circumstances than was prudent or they were enti-
tod to assume The writer. who has been for months
past daily visiting the charitable societies Of the CITY,
has heard from each OF tho associations most pain
ful accounts OF the hardship endured by
families OF the class referred to. In cases like
these there is too much pride remaining to
allow members OF the iamlies to make known their
distress publicly, and yet 1t is among these that tho
hunger "woIr' not unsedom makes tho most ravages
II was understood that societies only acknowl
edge delicacy which induces these people to suner
IN silence, but that special task OF each VI the thou
sands Of visitors connected tho charitable iusti
buttons is to seek for families ike these above all
others; that they tighten their burden and bear them
up as well as can be dope, until OF brighter
urospccts may cheer them into activity again. The
sevcrest month IN the year Tor the poor Is March. SO
that the charity OF those who can Afford to give Will
still have 10 bear STRAIN little longer.
GETTING THE NIGHT SHELTER.
That there is some ttlo improvement in the getting
os.rN not halnh Utn m
mechanical uadcs tho number OF men and women Of
this large class who have got employment while being
dodgers the Night Shelter, corner Of avenue and
Tenth street, may BIO taken as an indication For
some weeks past from eight to ton OF them have Sc
cured tuations out OF this lodging house every day
on Monday last thirty Of the dodgers fortunate
enough 10 get employment. II may be said that al
aud nS hat the institution is laying the foundation O.
work that IN the futuro will prove OF ncacuable value
to homeless men and women in the CITY. But the
tho charitable gentlemen VINO arc pear'ns
such a large expenditure OF money, especially wher
cvery dollar that be spared for charity SO badly
needed and Is likely to be Tor some timc 10 como
II IL true that tins building vol adapted for the ust
to which It is now put, but the rent strain Is too much
to be continued long Tho bath rooms. sleeping rooms
and reading all kept scrupulously clean, ant
every facility Is afforded the dodgers 10 try during tht
make themselves look as neat and respectable in ap
peurancc they possibly can. The potter the appear
10 help tue poor wnyiarer to this end
rHg NUMBER HOMELESS INCREASING.
II would seem that the advantages oil this instilu
tion, as they are becoming more widely KNOWN arr
attracting larger numbers TO seek the help II Affords
All the station houses aud nearly all the charitabt
socictics supplied with tickets Tor admission TO th
shelter. so that when respectable poor men or womc
ply any Of places for hclp they can be sent
Inc shelter, where they will DO taken care Of Tn
numbers OF admission far this month were as fol
lows February L. 231 males ana 10 fcmalcs Fcbru
AIRY 2. 253 males and II lemaes February az male