National Republican., 1883-02-26
POVERTY'S PLEA.
Scenes Of DestitutOn that Would Wnng the
Hearts Of the StOutest
Some Pitable Cases Brought TO the
Notice Of the Associated Charities.
Weak Women and Helpless Children Living in
Hovels Unfit for Hog Pens
Deserving People Absolutely Dying Rather
Than Make Known Their Needs.


of Columbia can only be properly realized and |
appreciated by active inspection. Vague |
stories of distrcss-gcneral statements of sul- !
fering widespread and intcnsc-have been
frequently told, but like all general statements
make but little impression on minds unaccus-
toned TO generalization. The organized in
Vcstigatons, however, of the Associated Char
itirs. although but recently commenced and
hardly in fair working order, particulari2e
these vague statements with detail OF
wrctchedness that Is simply appalling both in
its character and its extent. And although
certain sections of the district predominant
over others in this pitcous roster Of woe, yet
misery and degradation abound all over
the city in proportions painful to contem-
ulate Amidst the needless extravaganza and
display of the wcalthier classes during the
present winter have men and women and
children huddled together in tirelcss, light
less rooms, freezing and starving and dying of
cold aud hunger while the Iumbling of car
Tiagc wheels ON the broad streets without
added keCncr pangs to their agOnics by awak-
ing the thought that within II stones throw
of their misery were wealth and luxury heed
less of the suffering they could so easily re-
move. And this condition still exists, is
growing into Larger proportions, il rapidly
permCating every section of the city, ana calls
aloud with intcnsCr urgency for relief and Tor
remedy.
TO investigate this condition of poverty
and, if possible, to analy2e the causes produc-
ing such widespread distinctions, "A REPuBL-
CAS reporter ON saturday made
TOUR OF INSPECTION
in that part of the city formerly known as
"the Island" comprising within its bounds
the old seventh ward, with the southeastern
part of the old fourth ward. In this section
the dostitution and suffering are reported to
be of great extent and intensity. The re-
portcr found the rumors to have stopped short
of the actual facts. In little shanties unfit
for human residence, in small houses ill-bult,
without any regard to sanitary considerations,
in tenement structures where men and women
gathered in their extremity, glad of u place
wherein to lay their heads ut night, there
was found poverty us hopeless, as in
tense, as appalling, as that which
under inhumau laws and race tyranny, is cX-
citing the sympathy and the aid of the world
in the bOgs of LOngiord or by the rocky
prOmontOries of COnncmNra. Young mothers
with new born infants, whom they were too
feeble to nOurish, were found without fire,
food. or intelligent attention; hopeless in
Valids lying in Shiny cellars ON beds whose
under sides were constantly wet by the water
that covered the cellar floors; consumptivcs
whose hacking cough was mingled with the
cries of little children for brcad-all these
were found by the visitor in conditions whose
reality cannot be sketChed in words
The visitors of the Associated Charities, in
their desire to relieve distress and assist the
victims of poverty to a position OF scll-sus-
tanning, will not permit the publication of the
names of particular cases. This policy is 10
be commended, as great numbers of the poor
this winter were never in such condition be-
fore. Circumstances beyond their power TO
control have brought them, without any fault
of their own, either of imprOVidcnco or in
n guph "a whore death from
starvation or aid from the charitable was the
only alternative. In by far the great majority
Of these cases suffering had been endured to
THE VERY LIMITS OF HUMAN FoRTITUDE
ere they made known their situation. In
very many cases the unfortunatcS did not re-
veal their condition. They would have died
aud made no sign. But sympathetic neigh
bOrs and the intelligent charity of the visitors
detected the state of affairs.
To partiCulari2e some of the cases that come
under the reporters observation, withholding
names and locations, which, however, may be
learned of the Copmittee by those desirOus Of
contributing relief one especially calls for
sympathy II is on ii street southwest. IL
is II lady with n baby only n few days old.
Her husband died suddenly last September.
While passing from one car to another in n
train on the Baltimore and Potomac railway
he was seized with Il spasm and fell to the
ground, ana was dead before assistance could
reach him. He had been an invalid for long
time previous, had exhausted all his means,
and was driven by necessity to go to work be-
fore lie was in Il physical condition safely to
do 50. His widow, IL slight, delicate woman,
with all the marks of refinement belonging
to the lady, was left with six children To take
care of, the oldest not quite IL years, and all
Of them girls except the two youngest, who
are boys \ few days ago she gave birth to
the seventh. She occupies two small rooms
in the back part of the second story of small
house on III street. An inspection of the
rooms betrayed
THE TERRIBLE STRUGGLE SHE HAD MADE
WITH POVERTY.
A bedstead and u chair, u little cbild's cot,
and small stove constituted the furniture,
except couple of geraniums, whose long,
spindling, pale green branches and dropping
leaves seemed to say that the plants too had
been engaged iu the contest to keep the wolf
from the door and had lost heart in the un-
equal struggle The children were all bright
aud neat looking rs far as their extreme poverty
would permit. Their clothes were but the
ghosts of garments. Young as they were,
the marks of the contest they had waged for
bread were painfully visible, On those young
faces which should have been lit up with the
happy, careless smile of childhood, We're
drawn the lines Of care and anxiety and
hunger The mother herself naturally Il
cheerful energetic woman, was well nigh
broken down by the trials of the past. Her
health had given away, and she was unable
to give her baby the natural nourishment it
needed. They were without food and with
out fuel. The babies shivorcd in the
chill atmosphere and their tender limbs
grew puched aud blue in the cold; and
yet there arc hundreds of largo hearted
women in Washington, wealthy, chidless,
but with bosoms thrObbing with maternal
tenderness, who would gladly, had they
known Of the case, have kept from these lit.
tie children the sharp keen pangs of hunger
and cold and anxious fear, For indeed, to
the little ones whom poverty grips so roughly
there is pang even worse than hunger aud
cnld-thc pain of anxious fear-that comes
when mother and father are unable to protect
them. That blessed birthright of children in
Christian lands, the sense of security beneath
the roof tree of home, has deserted them
when the bowling Of the wolf is heard at the
door and the gaunt fingers of want clutch at
thcir tender throats. The Associated Chari-
ties Immediately took charge of the case, re-
heycd the immediate wants, and propose to
do the best they can for these victims of mis-
fortune.
Another and even more pitable case on b
street came under observance.
A YOUNG LADY,
whose appearance and language showed both
refinement and culture, was reported to be in
terrible distress. She was found in the
back building Of a small house in the very
dcutl Of uOyCrty That most nitiable of all