New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-20
4 LESSON WITH A MORAL.
LETTER FROM THURLOW WEED.

LETTER FROM THURLOW WEED.
THE PoCKET-BOOK THEFT IN BROOKLYN on FRI
DAY-DEsnIUTIoS THE CAUSE OF u-GooD
WHICH PEOPLE CAN AND SHOULD DO IL THESE
TIMES.
To he Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR The stealing Of n pocket-book in Brooklyn
from Miss Prange by Theodore Hollis, as related in
this mornings TRIBUNE, teaches a lesson and points
a moral, neither Of which ought to be lost. Hollis
represents a very large class Of unemployed men
whose families arc starving. They have borne and
are bearing their hard lot with commcndabe endur-
ance Occasionally, rs husbands and fathers become
desperate, they adopt one of two fearful. alternatives
suicide or crime. The lady who lost her money
showed commcndaAle spirit in pursuing and az
resting the chief who readily restored the pocket
book and explained tho dcplyrublc condition OF his
family i'm eXrcuuation Of his offence. Upon going
with the prisoner TO Lis apartment where
The truth of lis statement WIS painfully
verified, The young lady cyinced still more
crcditab!o spirit in EestoUiEg half OF the
stolen money upon the family and endrayorina TO
shield the offender from punishment This u the
moral 10 which Tie lesson points. The bcHcyOlcnre
Of the critics OF New-Yorl and Brooklyn is large
enough to relieve all such eases that OF Mr.
Hollis whose family was destitute because its head
was unable to obtain employment. Women and
children suffer !og food and raimcnt because char
liable people dc not know where or how TO find them
Every wrIl-auihe tcatJd cas-" is promptly relieved.
Al the money iha H. needed would be readily sup
piled if tie abodcs Of mcritori0us poverty were
known. This information can Only be oJl1ipcd by
organization. There is lack Of charitable socie-
ties and associations, many Of winch are doing
their work efficiently while others little better
than painted scpulchres.'
There are many wealthy ladies in our city. like
Mrs.. William H. Spencer, Mrs. Jonathan Sturecsaud
Mrs Fletcher Harper, who have already cast much
"hrcad upon the waters and who would gladly
respond 10 other appeals if assured thoir benefac
tons would reach worthy objects. IT, Paris, respect
able people Impoverished by misfortune, win TOO
much -rlf-ICsUrct 10 ObtrUde the knnWlcdge 81
Their dt.iItUtIUu even upon acquaintance, arc
sought out and relieved by agencies devoted oEclu-
sryclv To .hat phase Of suffering II the Parslan
cXauplc De- followed m Nrw-lurk, tho dcselt wig
hungry and naked IN be led and clothed. ln'sa
societies can IA, best formed by the good pa>t'T-,
who ere ready 10 take their share Ia such work
aided by benevolent lIymcn.
And mi, seems an oIportuEo moment for pass
ius remark upon movement which affects the in
dustr!ous poor Of our city The efforts 30 drive in
dfgrrt m,u and womca, most Of whom arc decrepit
and iutru from their stands in tho inches aud cor
r,rs OF of our sidewalks aa3 streets, cvUees spirit
Of oppression and cruelty woritT Of O. much darker
age. Hundreds OF families are now supported com
fartaby rs fathers and mothers who are either in
carebie az reforming or unable 10 obtain other
employment TlcSe vendors Of irnit and news
pap.g- hahg,1a,hgGs. ctc.. Ily th"'r calling dill
arrfly and hOnc.f'N through all weather without
iri,r- Inconvenience or offence 20 any bOy. There
are I'd d, true exceptional eases. Livery good thing
cam D., abused. Alu.Is should be- reformed, and
nui.aurss ahated. This shcnld be done, however,
bv mf.lIigo1t and discriminating authority. Every
mag and UDi.1E egu.Wg 10 to-. quiet WAY an hoi.-
a.. support for themselves and their iami!ir, should
be protected. l. W.
Nee l0rt June q, 1873.