The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-06-13
Immediate Help for the poor.

10 the Editor OF The Herald.
The cry OF the poor in our city IL
not loud and angry, but low, plaintive
and helpless. The utter restitution
and wretchedness in some quarters IL
absolutely appalling, and could these
cases be brought before those whose
Golfers are full, and into whose doors
hastily want never stalks, II would
touch the sympathies OF the hardest
hearts. In view OF this fact, IL Is as
tonishing TO see how few professional
beggars there are on our streets. A
visit to the homes OF these sufferers,
however, will explain the matter.
Very few of them belong to that class
of poor, who never make an effort
towards their own support, but like
teaches, draw their nourishment from
public or private benefac ions, without
concience or shame. On the contrary,
these are for the most part persons
who have seen better days and whose
womanly pride (tor the most of these
sufferers are widows and children,
forbid their appearing on the streets to
ask charity. Their low smothered
wall of distress and want has however,
come to the ears OF the ladies' of the
benevolent societies of the various
churches in our city and they
have gone TO their relief rs far rs their
limited means would permit, and, in
many cases, have given food clothing
and money, from their private funds
till the burden has grown very heavy
These poor people do not ask for
money, but little plain food, and
few necessary articles of clothing, to
tide them over these dull times, until
grain and cotton begin to move, when
employment will be abundant. To
render this aid is work, not Of chris.
tianity alone, but of humanity; labor
of love, appealing alike to saint and
sinner, and the few christian women
of the church benevolent societies who
are engaged in looking after the poor,
find their limited strength and re-
sources are not sufficient for the con-
slant demands upon them.
Bankers, grain buyers, merchants
and business men generally, ought to,
and undoubtedly will, lend helping
hand to these noble women so soon as
the facts are brought to their notice.
One of these angels of mercy said,
In the hearing of the writer: -" Help
must come. | have done what could
with the little means which are ut my
command, but | am worn out and
discouraged. Yet cannot sleep, with
the wan faces Of those disconsolate
mothers, and hungry children haunt
ing my pillow.p And this dear wo-
man is herself one OF Gods poor. Oh,
there must be fearful reckoning for
the great mass ofcburch members who
never contribute anything towards the
support of their own pastors or church
expenses, and are never seen stepping
forward with willing hands to help
bear these burdens. But, as above in
dictated, this is work prompted by
humanity, as well as christianity. We
would therefore, suggest that commit
tees from the various benevolent so
cieties among the churches, Masons,
Odd Fellows, etc., hold union meet
ing to devise ways and means to ala
those sufferers until business revlves
and employment can be had.
1t also. occurs to us that such meet
ing might very appropriately make an
an peal to the city council for aid
Money should not, as a general thing,
he furnished AS it might not DO judi
ciously expended, but place the funds
in the hands of those ladies who al
ready have the matter at heart and
know where the needy can be found.
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