The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-11-26
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to Ire disbursed in aims aud during which
impostors and incorrigibly lazy reap their
richest harvest. The movement, which scts
in from the country every fall, of improyi-
dent and shiftless laborers and tramps, who
expect to be supported in idleness, it not in
vice, until the return Of warm weather. has
already begun. Servants are becoming
difficult TO get and to keep, because the
hope OF church aid " and free soup is pref
cradle to getting up early on cold mornings
and preserving an unbroken sobriety. our
station houses, and ultimately our iail, NAV
he expected to I'LL up steadily from this
time forth, so that even the most charitable
will he discouraged when he finds that what
lie gives from compassion makes labor
scarce and increases the burden Of the tax.
payer. 1t is impossible to prevent all these
evils, but the system of the Associated
Charities, ii well supported and thoroughly
applied, will greatly alleviate them. This
Is no experimental conjecture; it is a posi-.
tive fact, proved by the experience of many
other cities. Washington yields to no other
in the warm-heartedness of her citizens or
in their ability as organizers. We have a
number of gentlemen, who, by their self
imposed duties in this direction during
many years, may safely be reckoned experts.
What is needed is that they should be
earnestly and honestly supported by the
whole community and every individual in it.
Ila oh Ia .l u.
the Associated Charities as il they were
plague. Mention the name to
one of these worthless, who comes
whining on his or her errand. and
look of keen disgust mingled with injured
feeling spreads over the dirty features. They
will generally admit having been to the
office, to avoid being sent there again, but
most probably shuffling evasion follows, or
talsehood about there being no work on
hand, - or the official in charge " not will
ing to do anything" for which there is
generally good cause. Here is where the test
of lirmness and moral courage comes in. If
you give out of mere soft-heartedness, or, as
most do, to get rid of nuisance, you are
triple relief, orreliefto the unworthy, against
which the Associated Charities is struggling.
The case is the same, but on larger scale.
when it is some local organization, even
church, (which undertakes to "relieve"
without consulting the Associated Charities.
or being otherwise morally certain concerning
the applicant.
This is not TO say that the general organi-
cation wishes all the funds and goods to pass
through its hands. 1t has no ambition in
that direction, and such is not its primary
function. 1t does say, however, before you
give, fiud out positively what the applicant
really wants, whether work, or encourage
ment to work, or missionary labor, or, last
resort of all, money and clothing given as
undisgnised aims. In the view of the
charitable organizers, there is only one class
that needs the last permanently, and that is
confined to the physically helpless. Others
may need other things badly, many of them
much more troublesome to supply, but not
this.
These arguments, however are already
abundantly set forth in many tracts and
publications easily accessible. We merely
wish to give them local application and
secure, if possible, that they shall have done
attention. In the December number of the
Century Rev. Washington GLADDEN. has
chapter in point in his lively history OF
"The Christian League of Connecticut"
which may be read with advantage. At a
meeting of the pastors composing the
League
But do not see, - said Dr. Strickland what
this doctrine has to do with those little children who
to doors for food. They not able to earn
their own livelihood; Mr.. strOng's principle, !
ought to feed them
- Have you taken pains, - asked Mr.. Strong, to
investigate the life of any of these children ?''
'Why, yes; have questioned them. one OF the
cases, for example, is that OF little girl whose
mother is sick with rheumatism. The poor child was
scantiy clad, and had the most pltiful face ever
saw
- What was her name 80 asked Mr.. Strong.
:" | do not recall IT,
'Wasit Katy Macauley?''
Yes, think that It,"
- Did she tell you where she lvedg''
somewhere on James street, think
Yes; that is likely. She gives great many ad-
dresses, but never the true Her home Is at the
top Of the brick block the corner OF swift and
Thorne streets; her mother Is miserable dIunkari
and she Is wholly supported by what this child brings
IN. Whether the father was killed In the not
is known 10 nobody In this town; they have only
lived here few months; but 1t Is certain that good
Christian people who put food into Katy Macauey's 8
basket are innocenty helping TO support the mother
IN vice and 10 doom the child TO the life Of Deggar
Inatis her calling now; what It will be by and by can
be easily conIectured -
"How many children did Mr.. Peters hnd Oh his
ylsiE 10 Mrs. Duqustte ?'' Mr. strong wished to
know.
81 saw only three; the other two were not In.
"NOn said lIr. Strong, "the other tHo are a boy
OF fifteen and girl Of sixteen, who at work IN
one OF the e-shops They earn about twelve dol
lars a week. Add TO this the amount given To this
family by three churches within the last few weeks,
and the liberal weekly orders given them by the
town oyerseers Of the poor, to whom they have ap-
piled for aid aud You viii that MIS- Duquette
has been substantially comforted for the loss uf her
husband, who has indeed run away
you've got some Work 10 do, - said Dr. strlck-
land, - In enlightenlng the community Most Of US
have loose notions Of what charity Is This talk has
helped me- but the majority of my neighboTs are as
much IN the dark as was an hour ago"
"'fhis is true, - Mr.. Strong added, "nOt only Of
the church people, but also VI all those persons who
bueer at the churches aud who boast 4 religion Of
good works The mau who does not 60 to church.
but who gives the poor his ton OF coal his barrel VI
hour of hand aud questions asked, Is tho hero Of
certain class II win bs diincult make them
that their hero is doing about nye times as much
harm good, and that what these poor people ueod
Is not tons Of coal barrels Of hour, but time and
thought and patient friendship. but II any man,
saint sinner, wants 10 follow Jesus Christ, this IS
the path by which he eau come nearest to him.
Ir is not alone our theatres which need
watching against the result OF sudden
fires, though they are in bad case enough.
The danger there is confined to few hours
each evening. The majority Of the tall
factories springing up all over this country
are death-trapS at which the magination re-.
coils Dry as finder, full of combustible
materials, and devoid Of Gre-escapes, they
expose Thousands upon thousands OF honest,
hard-working operatives, many with de-
pendent families, to the risk OF horrible
death during all the working hours OF the
day. The shocking case in Providence, r.,
Lost ,u.aL ,yag uot upp1pd In provs. tbfg