The New York herald., 1877-01-15
THE DESTITUTE

HOW THE WORK OF SAVING THE STARVING
THOUSANDS GOES oN-socIETIEs THAT ARE
SUPPLYING THE srAFY OF LIFE-THs HUM
CRY CROWD AT THE vARIcK STREET BRANCH
OF ST. JOHNS GUILD.
The desttuton in the city shows itself In signs
ana more marked day after day. The efforts made "a
relieve she distress Of the poor have for week
been attended with inconsiderable success, but
still have been inadequate meet shs increasing
need Tor them. The generous dealing with the poor
which in former years characterized weil-to-do
citizens has been cramped this winter by the dulnsss
which has prevailed in all departments OF mercantile
business. The families OF those who when money
was plenty gave largely TO the needy and distressed
themselves far obliged 10 reduce expenses
to include the itcms for charitable purposes In the
curtaIlments Hence the charitable institutions have
not this year been bountifulIy supplied with money
as in former years
ASSOCIATION IMPROVING THE CONDITION or rns PooR.
This association has a special field Of its own In
which II has long labored The loading object OF the
managers to step In with relief before poverty has
broken down altogether . respectable family that
may, after an unexpected misfortune has happened,
resume It's old position Clerks and othcrs employed
IN mercantile circles. who have boon thrown ont Of
work by they could not control, are kept up
until situations may be provided Tor them, and those
ACCOUNT
been obliged abandon their stores. receive timely
help There about $40 visitors connected with the
association, and these have charge OF the twenty-five
districts which the city divided. Through these
tho deserving are discovered, and the relief they
especially need asccrtaned and afforded In
ton with the secretary OF the association yesterday
the writer was informed that this wintes
there have been an unusually large number OF ap.
pcaiions by he visitors for help those whom the
association chiefly 10 relieve, while NJ the SAND
the contributions OF patrons have not been at ali
up the gwen when tho effects OF the panic
were not widespread. He said thoy were compelled
daily to refuse assistance to large numbers OF
people to whom Tho funds could be extended, all
they could do Tor them being other charitable
societies where they might receive assistance These
poor people turned away IN great DISTRESS but
the funds Of the association had to DO husbandec for
tho special aim OF the society. Only few days ago,
sad the secretary, the collector reported that ncary
three hundred persons who had been tho habit oi
giving So year 10 the association expressed them
selves unable this year the subscription.
A number OF others also who had been giving 500 Q
year upward had reduced the subscription by
half Under these circumstances there was enough
to do TO demands the society by the
INDECENT especially cared Tor under ITS leading object
RELIEVING BRANCH oy st. JOINS GUILD
the poorer cpsses tina relief But The scenes pro.
sentcd are painful In the cxtrerne. The applicants
stand along The sidewalk waiting for their turn TO
descend 10 the basemcn where the groceries sup
piled to them. As many as $50 might be countsd 10
limo at different hours of tho day yesterday, shvcrng
in the cold and waiting ruclully Tor the rcei to be
given TO them. These people are mostly women, who
OF all ages ana sunKen IN different degrees OF pow
crty The few men 10 be seem To be h0pciessiy
detected and reduced TO tho very lowest degree OF
starvation Every member OF tho throng carries q
basket, which tells the object OF the waiting IN silent
expectation. Some days there are l.5co applicants
supplied with Iood IN this relief basement, and
lorty fifty receive clothing ana bed covering IN
of tho upper rooms OF tho building. Some OF most
destitute sent hcro Tor rcol and Ms tho support
OF tho Gud comes from general sources the care re-
| qurcd IN the management Of IT'S business cannot bo
great Tho visitors IN he several districts OF the
city have dreadful responsibility resting ON Them IN
seeking out aud assisting the starving In tue several
pgrARrxxxr OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION
superintendent kelock has been the dlsUursor Of
5000 tickets Tor coal during the past couple oil weeks
Already 900 Of coal have been out, and
work OF distribnion goes daily rhe applications
pour IN daily long deferred reiic Al This
pament groceries are given, the applicants being
all sent 10 some o the cuarilauie societies most appi.
cable ior Them. The principal dcsgnnons MADE arc
ST. johns Guild the 81 Vincent dc Paus Society aud
tho Association Tor Improving the Condition oi tho
Poor The numbers oil respectable men and women who
daily throng tho reception hall Of tho Department
Is convincing evidence OF tho class of persons suffer-
ing Some weeks ago women Tor the most part sought
rcnef Now mon 20 here IN large crowds 10 ask TO
have the coal sent To their homes. While tho re-
porter was ut superintendent kcock's oiicc yestcr-
day groups numbering hve or six men when IN turn
stood before the desk asking Tor tho tickets were al
respectable ~ appearance aud bore no traces of tue
absolute poverty that has been noticeable among the
destitute homeless wayiarers who used 10 present
themselves 10 MI. kelQck Ior Iood ana iodBinS. Ip
"a week ago a Glasses OF the poor used to
unavaiipgy tnIs department asking Tor roIiet Of
every sorl but the charitable societies have been
IN working order ,he cases easily disposed OF,
Tor Mr.. keock has now the facility OF sending them
TO places Tor relief that are supplied with funds
sufficient, at all events for tho present. But SILL The
crowds present very sal they lotcr around
hail. waiting tncr get what Tor each in
dIvidual all important assistance. A sight OF
misery such /, hidden in the simple request oil each
Individual petitioner would bo appalling.
THE rDLK NES IN THE STREETS.
| IL
idle men 'kiliing time" Tho lonely wayfArcr, he
trudgcs along from block TO block, shows IN his
movement the dcsoate life he leads There is just
! little prospect OF work for these there
the early part Of :he winter, though is tor
them TO get meal. These ldio street wanderers
have In ana families suffering In the
wrcicncd apartments in which thoy live, broodina
over their starvation. II rs in the tcnomcnt novel
the visitors of the different charitable societies
should find their principal MISSION and yet The WORK
OF relief goes but slowly among them, These
wrctched people do not know how 10 about looking
relief through the ordinary channels, and suffer al.
most death before their condition becomes known 70
those who are willing aud able TO help them.
FOR SWEET CHAaITY's SAKE.