Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-26
ACoId.Men,her snrre.tIon.

Ought there not to be in Bratteboro, IN a
winter like that which has now closed its
grip upon us, some organization or some sys-
tematic method by which it should be made
sure that no family or individual finds the
winter terror because of lack of fuel, food
or clothing to withstand its siege? 1t has
always been said that Brattleboro has no
"poor people" in the ordinary sense of that
term-that there are no families who SILVER
in novels, with little children who lack com
Portable clothing or substantial food. We
have no doubt this is true, but the times are
Enthusiastically 'hard" for wageearners. Work
is slack, wages small, and $50 or $25 a month
is a slender sum to draw on for rent, fuel and
food for those who have little children to
protect from the pinch of the cold. One
need not go far to find families whose re-
sources are not greater than this pittance-
and what shall save them if even this little
income be cut off through sickness or other
stress Nothing short of little human
helpfuness.
We therefore answer Yes, decidedly, to the
question which we asked in opening, -and
we say, further, that we believe the several
churches should take the matter in hand and
by little systematic effort make sure that
there is no suffering in this village for lack of
life's necessaries during the coming three
months. There need be little machinery to
accomplish this. First, let all the religious
societies agree to work together. Then let
them meet through chosen committees, let the
village be districted, and a visiting commit
tee of two ladies be appointed for each dis
trict, with every church represented 1t
should be the duty of these visitors to know
In general way about the families in each
district, and all cases of destitution be re-
ported to them and personally looked into.
These committees should meet weekly, com
pare notes and make known what is want
cd in each case and see that the want is
supplied. Gould there be a simpler or better
way than this for the community to make
sure that none of its members suffer?
Funds for this service would be readily
forthcoming. Brattleboro is proverbially
generous to the unfortunate, and no well-to-
do man with heart in him would refuse
money to a committee like that we suggest.
This matter comes home to us because of the
severe weather which has seized us in its grip
within the past week. II those of us who
live in well-built houses, with fuel supply
which we draw on without stint, could scarce
ly keep warm last Friday and Saturday, how
about those who have a scant ton of coal il
the bin and don't know where the money il
to come from to buy more 1t is small CON
fort to sit by ones own blazing fire in such
weather If he feels no assurance that there
be not families in town where children shiv-
or, while the hearts of the parents are heavy
with foreboding. There are few men who
would not gladly buy peace of mind on thi
point by gift OF ten dollars to aid an or.
gAnizsd effort which should practically tax,
the whole village or town in its charge.
The time for actioI IL RO0. Why should
not the churches take the first step next Sun
day, while the Christmas spirit is still on
them?
We have no patent on this plan. 1t is on,
which towns smaller as well as larger thai
Braltleboro might probably adopt.