The New York herald., 1877-02-05
THE DESTITUTE.
SOCIETY FOR THE AMELIoRATroN OF THE CON-
DITIoN OF THE POOR.

the Poor has been for the past few days receiving the
reports Of ts visitors from all parts the CITY There
are in all 397 reports to be tabuiated, and it viii re-
quire few days yet before the work done during the
month can DO properly computed. The Secretary
stated that he had been informed by OF the old
OF the socety's visitors that before the
work o. assisting the poor been systematically
and effectively performed during the present
winter. Tho chief difncuity found by the society
in dealing With the poor 10 ind the worthy SUIT
ferer and discard the regular professional beggar who
goes round from society society seeking impose
each. This Ia not easy task as II might at
first sight appear to be- for It is hard, when sad
Of distress narrated In pteous suppl cation
deaf IL and refuse food who PROCESSES
be famishipg with hunger and who asks Tor hop for
children In equally p,tliul condition Yhc secre-
tary has been unable to form rough estimate OF tho
number OF families relieved during the month, nor
he state tho condition OF tho treasury until tho
next monthly meeting.
REoEivIso or COAL
Tho humber OF people who daily applying at .
Superintendent Kelock's Office, IN the Department OF
Charities and Correction for the half OF coal given
by the city to cnch deserving poor person
Since the carly OF January about l3 appcaons
have been presented TO Mr. Keook. and these about
twothrds of tho applicants have already received tho
coal. These applications sometimes writ
ten form, kind hearted citizen recome tho
applicant AS deserving, while others arc written by
the applicants themselves. These latter petit
tons are not ntrcaucntly very pathetic in
tho statement of the poverty from which tho
writers are suffering But the majority OF the app-
cants appear in person and state thor the Su
pcrinendcnt, who having become convinced that tho
charity IS deserved, takes tho and addresses
During the closing days OF last week the largo recep
ion hall surrounding Mr.. Kellock's olce was daily
crowded nd cht
make known their want These people stand
IN line around tho hall waiting Tor their
turn 10 ascend the platform In front oil
the supcrnlcndcnt's desk IL any ono de-
winter suffering from The ''hard tnes'' he need seek
no better place than here TO find himself Men
VINO have evidently been IN distress Tor time
men who have all the appearance OF being only tom
porarily embarrassed; men who sccm both sick
women who have evidently been struggling with the
long DISTRESS women whosc thin and scanty garments
o'i OF the extreme dcstitution that has overtakcn
them; children Of all ages all stand here waiting
present their petitions Tor the halt ton OF coal.
rhE SHILOH SHELTER.
Tho proprietor OF the Shiloh Shelter corner of
Prince and Marion streets since the beginning OF the
winter has charged the inmates or patrons or what.
ever they may DO called, tve cents Ior meal but
gives lodging free. The building tho purposes
Of the Shelter was formerly old church, and the
bcncbcs the gallery and The pulpit are all TO be
there to-day In TACT, the seats tho ''bunks aud
not only this, but tho floor OF each pow also 10
render similar service, few boards made into tho
shape Of box serving MS the pillow Tor the weary
brother small fec Is still charged the occupancy
OF hunks tho gallery. In the basement are wash
rooms, cooking rooms and tho ''vernin'' room, the
last mined being devoted exclusively poor street
wanderer who may not have mad chance 10 clean
himself for several days.
The proprietor Of this institution, up TO the begin
ming OF the wintcr whom ho threw open the doors OF
tho edihce every well behaving man. tree OF CHARGE
not only had cleared expenses by charging few cents
for nights lodging and breakfast, but made profit
on the investment Tho waytarers begin TO co,ne
in to their dreary home about eight o'clock IN tho
evening. The doors closed tcn, The majority
OF them sleep In the Shelter every night and their
hunks arc reserved Tor them long they continue
10 come regularly. clean towel is laid across every
pew and In tho morning this Is handed to the Super
in,enden as tho odger is leaving tho building. Poor
fellows who have not tue Ave cents to
pay ior thor breakfast arc permitted to work
The scene at night the men are all bcior
stretching their weary limbs on the benches and
Is picture Of "hard times" that must long remain i'd
the memory OF tho seer. II Is the business OF the
supcrinendcnt SO sec that "bun,ncrs'' arc allowed
10 rest IN the Shelter and the stray class
that creep IN are soon discovered and elected so that
n the crowd OF men seeking here a lodging for the
night there are tow present but honest workingmcn
out OF work md reduced TO degrec Of dcs
ttuton. There is accommodation Tor 367 mon, tho
number admitted generally exceeds that, tho excess
being provided for the spacious hall In one way
or another. All these men have been wanderers
during the day. trudging around The city, hopcessly
looking for work.
It plain that they have begged the nvo cents
necessary to secure the breakfast OF mush which
served every morning. There is many q poor fellow
who does not sleep much on the hard Dcnch, and who
no doubt rests his tired body whlc his troubled mind
Indicates how fully every man is occupied with tho
reflections which poverty creates Tnere Is not a
cheerful lace IN all the throng
THE WASHINGTON MARKET SOUP HOUSE.
Tho sccne at tho Washington Market soup kitchen
on Saturday was that might be taken as an
example OF tho average sight presented almost
daily at this place for several wccks post
Tho soup house is at the river end of franc
structure that extends from tho the pier about
half way back the river the the street
being occupied Tor commercial purposes. Tho line OF
hungry men and stretches from the kitcho on
door toward tho river. In tho portion the building
allotted to tho kitchen therc is little nook partitoncd
OF, in which large boiler pot brcws the savory
soup stew which Is served to tho hungry. A long
and broai table occupies tho outer portion OF tho
space As many can conveniently stand around
this table are permitted to enter, and when tho table
is full The officer at tho door shuts the remaining
crowd But It is in the line of the waters that the
interest centres for hero motley crowd of human
beings down to the very lowest degree OF poverty.
LINE.
There arc men OF all classes in the line from the
poor out-at-clbows clerk to tho corner hummer who
sncaks his way into the crowd get meal. There
is not OF men, except the rcd faced bIoated
gin drnkcr who has not the trace OF hunger written
his iacc Some palo and haggard in appearance
evidently weakened much by the ordeal OF starvation
and homclessness through which they have passed.
Some are altogether broken down. Others still arc
fresh and healthy In appearance aud would be ready
for work at n moments notice. Others max ng
their appearance III the line Tor the lrst There
Is subdued air about all these respectable which
would make one think, in looking at them. that
they ashamed They stand IN the inc stunning the
OF those who, through curiosity OF
business come TO look al them. They are all honest
men, who would work for living II they got the
chance, but can't yet any chance In dress there is
qulio variety exhibited III their garments There arc
few whose turned-up coat collars would Indicate
that there but undcrshirt beneath In the
Of stoveppc hats, the shape and dingncss OF these
articles Despcak consideration ior days long gone by
There is not man with an overcoat along tho no
The. smness which tight hitting and cutaway jackets
impart cold weather only adds to the detected.
cnfI Ihc i