Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-11-18

OUT DOOR RELIEF FOR THE PooR-sEEKING
OUT THE NEEDY AND SUFFERING IN THEIR
OWN HOMES DfPosToRs wEEDED OUT AND
THE WORTHY POOR HELPED TO HELP THEM
sELyEs-How ALL THIS HELPS THE TEN
PERANCE CAUSE
BosToN, November II, 1881.
No movement that ever was inaugurated
with such opposition has proved itself so en-
tirely worthy of public confidence, and has
such recorded work, as that of the Associa-
ted Charities, which has just entered upon its
third years existence. 1t has met success
fully the vexed question of outdoor relief to
the poor and is fast reaching a solution of the
problems of social and political economy
To relieve suffering is the first instinct of hu-
manity and there has been too little consider
alton of the modes and methods of giving this
relief so that it shall do the greatest possible
good. This is not always attained by opening
ones pocket-book and giving indiscrminately
from its contents; on the contrary the great
est possible harm may be done, since after
all the relief is but temporary and the need
will occur again. The thing to be done is to
find the cause of the distress, eradicate it, if
possible, and place the person suffering where
he can take care of himself and not remain a
burden on society or individuals. This is
precisely the work that the Associated Chari-
ties is doing, and the motto of the society
is mot aims but a friend" and the friendly
visiting among the poor is an important part
of the work. You in the country have very
little idea of the terrible prevalence of power
ty in the great cities, and of the increase of
criminal pauperism which is by far the most
fearful phase Of poverty. 1t is positively
alarming that in this comparatively new ma
ton of ours, there should be sown the seeds
of professional pauperism that will grow to
au overwhelming harvest unless something is
done to root it out and kill it. Charles Dick
ems recognized the danger when he was here
the last time, and spoke to Mr.. and Mrs.
Jas. L. Fields concerning it. He said he was
surprised to see the change in this regard
since his first visit, when beggar was an OBJ
ject rarely seen. 1t is one of the fruits of
immigration, and SO long as we have to
ceive the criminal poor of the old country,
just SO long the evil will continue. So indis-
criminate has the giving been in the past that
many persons have ceased to even think of
helping themselves, and depend for their liv-
ing upon the bounty Of others. l know men
and women who persstently refuse to work
because they have only to go to the city au-
and other things supplied them, and they
can get their rent out of somebody else, and
clothes from some other source.
l am mistaken. They could once, but
since the institution Of the Associated Chari-
ties they cannot. By thorough system of
registration every person or family who is re-
ceiying assistance is known to the agent of
the association and it is also known if they
are receiving aid from more than one channel
The number of frauds that have been un-
earthed is almost incredible. One family
that came under my immediate notice was
receiving assistance from six sources, each
thinking it was alone in the work. Ofcourse
on the discovery of this the aid was with
drawn and the various members of the family
were thus compelled to work and support
themselves, which they were perfectly able
TO do. The system of visiting is done by
families, rather than districts, and is under
taken by ladies and gentlemen in the highest
circles, who thus devote themselves to per-
sonal work among the poor. In this way
| they find out the needs of those they visit
see what they are best fitted to do, and Sc
| cure places for them which they would have
| been quite unable to have secured for them
| selves, ana IN nuuureuS OF cases men ana
| women have been set on their feet and start
ed anew in life who had fallen by the way
side, weary and discouraged. The work is
not always easy; there are habits of idleness,
| intemperance, etc, to overcome, and the
visitor often gets discouraged and disheart-
ened at the seeming lack of success, but by
and by biz of light breaks, one seed that is
sown starts through the hard SOIL and there
| is happiness ana encouragement for both
1 ~ l. a
are getting all the best of il either; when /
see young women going out from their homes
| of luxury on Beacon Hill and the Back Bay,
and the young men who bear names that
| have been honored since Boston's earliest
day, leaving their law offices and their pa
| tents to go into these abodes of poverty and
misery carrying to their inmates a true, gra-
cious friendly desire to help, feel that they
are getting as much as they are giving they
are touching side of life which they never
knew existed before they are learning the
hard lessons of humanity and of that true
Christianity which gives in abundance of its
best TO those who need it the most sorely.
Yes, this portion of the work of the Associa-
ted Charities reaches out in two ways, and
benefits all its workers, as well as all those
for whom it works
There is Just a word TO say about the practi-
cal side. There has been very noticeable de-
crease of street and door begging since the
establishment of this society, and the city ex-
penses for relief are also decreased. All this
is decidedly traceable to the work of the As
sociated Charities. Other cities are follow
ing the example of Boston, and the subject of
outdoor relief is exciting great deal of at
tention. There is one other topic that is so
closely allied to this that l cannot refrain
from touching moment upon it, and that is
temperance. There will be an impetus given
to the movement that it has long needed,
and more practical results will be reached
than have been attained by all the preceding
years of reform work. There is nothing like
coming face to face with an evil to feel the
necessity of its overthrow. and when you set
the young people of the better class where
they see the working of the curse of the low
er classes, you place them at once on the side
of temperance. Not merely in theory but in
absolute practice as well. Can the young
man tell the poor fellow whom he has under
! taken to befriend, to give up the whiskey
that is his curse, if he still retains his hold
upon the wine cup? There has got to be
consistency, else the work amounts to moth
ing could tell you of house after house in
our most fashionable localities where wine
has been banished from its dinner and lunch
tables, and where il is not even served at
parties That means that it is going to be
''bad form" to drink by and by. 1t is hu
initiating of course, but the truth is there are
lots of people in the world who won't be any
thing, even moral, unless it is fashionable.
| SALLH JOY WHITE.