The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-01-06
New Years Day.
FEEDING. THE rooRL rAusroNs ErBERAI
CONTRIBUTION TO HER UNFORTUNATE crTI-


FEEDING THE PooRLsrAuNros's LrBERAI.
CONTRIBUTION TO HER UNFORTUNATE cITI-
zENs.
The suggestion made in the VIRGINIAN last
week, was acted upon without delay, and early
Thursday morning. JMr. E. NJ. Gushing and
others were busily engaged securing contrlou-
ton for the poor of our city The response
they met with was liberal one, just such as
our citizens always make when the cry for
help from their less fortunate fellows goes out
to them. On Thursday collections of some $3.50
were made, and the day following the amount
was run up to between four and five hundred
dollars. On Saturday, New Years day, Gin
thy Kurtz was placed in charge of the supply
department, and many home was made glad
by his visit. More fashionable callers there
were upon that day, and it is possible that some
might have been better looking, but we ven
ture to say that none were received with so
glad awelcome.as the kind hearted little man
who went from house to house dep0siting his
gifts, and making the receiver doubly grateful
by the delicate manner in which he made the
bestowaI Some sixty odd baskets, each con-
tanning ofa barrel of -four, meat, sugar and
coffee, vegetables and the like were started
from Byers & Cochran's store with Cinthy
Kurtz as the almoner. He knew where the
poor lived. In fact he knows where everybody
lives and just what his or her condition Is: He
knew how to approach them, and how to pre-
sent the gift. not as charity, but as the vol
untary contribution of friends. These presents
were given to persons who, whilst poor and
acknowledging their poverty, are by no means
objects of charity, for they work when there is
work to be done and hold to their independ-
ence. They are those whom misfortunes have
pressed heavily upon, but who bear their, trials
without open complaint. and are too proud to
be thought care to the city. AS he set his,
basket at the door, Mr. Kurtz explained that
its contents was simple present which the
donors, knowing how severe the winter had
been and how many there were who were I'M
able to work, asked to be received as the gift
of friends. There are many whose pride
would have rejected the tender had it been
made with. less of delicacy and tact but as it
was, all, white and black, accepted ii with
grateful hearts, not only because they stood in
dire need, but because, coming as it did it
would have been ungencrous to have declined
Over sixty families were thus relieved. Some
of them were the families OF respectable me-
clanfcs who under ordinary circumstances,
would have furnished. their Gown store, but
whom the unusual severity of the winter has
prevented from LAYING in their accustomed
supplies. When Cinthy Kurtz went home
that night, he was far happier man than any
Of those he had relieved, for il it is more
blessed to give than to receive his cup must
have been overlooking. Besides the baskets.
many were furnished with coal and other fuel,
so that Saturday night cheerful fires were
blazing on more than one hearth that other
wise, would have been comfortless. In addi-
ton to this public movement there were any
number of private acts of thoughtfulness and
charity. Persons were visited at their homes,
and provisions left, and to more than one door
coal and supplies found their way from whence
the receiver knew not.
Mr.. Gushing was assisted by committee
consisting of j. W. Todd, T. G. Morton, G. A.
Richardson, Howard Wayt and Reeves Gait
A supply depot was established in the Burnes
building where all kinds of contributions were
received, and from whence large number of
persons were relieved. The need Of effort is
still urgent. The continued severity of the
weather demands continued activity activity.
Let the good work be kept up as long as there
is such absolute occasion for it. s5a
If the pitless season has caused suffering,
there is some compensation in the knowledge
that it has developed that sympathy which
makes the world akin.
Up to yesterday evening, after the above
was in type, Mr.. Gushing informed us that 1853
families had been provided with supplies, 81
with fuel, and about $3.50 had been collected.
The demand, however, is still urgent, and the
utmost liberality is called for,