The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-23
A Plea for % WOrlsEOusP.

RICHMOND, FEBRUARY III, iSeZ.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
am glad 10 find that among other OIL
jects contemplated by the purchase OF the
Dean" farm by the city, the cstlblish-
ment Of a wOrkhOuse" - included.
Two years ago the tact was brought to
the notice OF the Board Of Managers OF the
Male Orphan Asylum that there were many
youths in this city who were destitute, but
not proper subjects for the training OF
that Society because OF Iong-acquired
habits OF dishonesty and crime. \ CONF
mittQe Of some Of the test business
men Of the city was formed, with orders
to mcmorialize the City Council upon the
subject Of n workh0uSc.' where such
boys could be properly controlled and made
useful citizens, instead OF e0frdpting So
ciety. A strong report was made by this
committee and unanimously adopted, and
presented 10 the Council, wheleupon II
Joint special committee OF the two bodies
was appointed 10 consider and report upon
the question. This committee had, be-
heye, but one meeting with quorum, and
never made rep0r, to the Council.
Some time last year policc-justice Rich
ard,on wrote a strong article for the Stand
UTff. SHOW III llOlil aai - VI iAT Nffh hAi'''
ledge as an officer the great necessity OF
workhousc in this city. For many years
the writer has been from time 20 time urg-
ing this subject on the city.
When the petition referred TO was before
the Council sought Information from
superintendent Bigger ~ 10 the number
OF persons in the almshouSe who had good
use Of both hands. The answer was that
there were 2j0-twO-thhds in the
institution. Now il Is well under
stood that most persons who have
GOOD uso OF both hands can do
work which viii pay for their sup
port. Not that they can go INTO business,
but If sheltered and properly aided they
can in many eases more than pay for their
support. 70 give such people work IS 10
make them healthy and happy. Tosit IDLY
down from year TO year IN poverty and de-
pcndencc and wait for deaths release l.
positive misery; and it is 4 disgrace to our
civilization that such 4 state Oh things should
be tolerated. Does not every man know
that To be idle is TO be wrotchedr How
>luggishly do the hours drag along to the
idle-how rapidly 10 the busy man The
ider's tongue, however, is not ~ lazy a.
his hands. He is chronic grumbler and
fault-linder. am sure Captain Bigger viii
endorse this statement.
Abundance OF light work can be got for
the old and feeble al the almshouSe, and
for the larger children, too. nat will I'M
prove them in mind and body. while they
tighten the burden OF the city IN their sup
port. | have the strong report made bv
Messrs. Gordon, McCance, and GWalhiney
to the Male Orphan Asylum, and will be
Glad to furnish il 10 the committee OF the
Council. II was made after q careful eX-
animation OF annual reports Of various
workhouses in the North and West.
In conclusion, let Ire say that TO show
how much work can be- done even 10y in
Structed blind and deaf and dumb persons.
| examined some time agO the report oi
the asylum ut StauntOn, and ii will sur
prise many people when | tell them
that in one year i03 OF these apparently
helpless beings earned by work the sum OF
81. 400. Now, how much money ought t'co
hindred and tDty men and women without
the absolute los. OF any sense earn! hope
this subject will not rest upon my advocacy
alone but that Others oi your readers w.ll
come at once to my help. Yours,
\. Il. {.