Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-02-22
Wise Benevoleuce.

It is an encouraging sign Of the times
that many OF the wealthy men and women
of New York are studying the problem
OF aiding the poor without encouraging
II endicancy. The influence of such
noble efforts for the relief OF the unfor
tunate as were made by Mrs. Fletcher
Harper in the establishment of her sea-
side resort for sewing girls last Sum-
mer, must do much to shame sordid
and selfish owners of great wealth from
an unworthy use of the power fortune
places in their hands. Another exam
pie Of praiseworthy effort to contribute
to the improvement of the condition OF
poor people is furnished by novel en-.
terprise of Mr.. Joseph W. Drexel, q
member of the banking. house of Drex.
Ell, Morgan & Co. During his Sum.
mer's sojourn in Europe he made a
study of the workings of various Eng
lish benevolent organizations, and was
much interested in the cheap coffee
houses, with free reading rooms at.
tached, which he found to be in receipt
OF handsome profits through the extern
sive patronage they had won from the
classes for whom they had been estab.
ished. So deep was the impression
made upon him by the evident useful.
ness of such institutions, that he de-
termined to introduce the plan in his
own city, and at IA Bowery the COM
mendable enterprise has already been
inaugurated with abundant success.
The premises which he has rented for
eighteen months are already thronged
with patrons, who are as much delighted
with the quality of the fare provided
as 18th the reasonable price at which it
is offered. In addition to the coffee
rooms, basement barber shop, with q
charge of five cents for shaving and ten
for hair cut, reading room with all
the city papers, library supplied with
enterta ming books and music, certainly
furnish attractions which must prove
irresistible to those who are destitute
of pleasant homes in which to enjoy the
comforts of life, and spend their even.
ings. 1t is Mr.. Drexel's design to fur
nish the entertainment the house is able
to offer at the lowest prices that can be
maintained while the institution is self
supporting, and it will not be strange
if it is found that, like similar enter
prises in England, dividend of from
eight to ten per cent. is annually earned
upon the investment, even at the low
rate at which everything is to be sold.
Miss Corson has doubtless done the
country great service by teaching
people in moderate circumstances how
to live we'll on q meagre income. They
who have homes may learn from her
how to prepare wholesome food at small
expense, but the homeless poor of q
great city need place like that offered
by Mr.. Drexel, in which they can buy
food that is palatable and nutritious at
at trifing expense. New York has long
needed such benevolent work as that
now undertaken by Mr.. Drexel, for the
fare the poor man gets at the cheap res
taurant which poverty compels him to
patroniza is poor indeed. The expert
ment at IA Bcwery will be eagerly
watched by the men and women of a
benevolent disposition throughout the
land, and it is not rash to predict that
similar institutions will soon spring up
by scores in the larger cities in Amer
lea.
WOMAN'S Devotion We learn