Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-12-14
AMONG TIE POOR.
DsstitutIon and Suffering Grsat Ia
the City.
No Work and High Rents Make Empty
StOmaehs and Naked Bodies---The
Causes Which Are at
Work.

lated rich and pious citizen, yesterday.
when he read ofthe closed glass factories on
the other side of the river.
Man help the poor, this winter" is what
he should have said for man must do it
everywhere.
The restitution now prevailing in Wheel.
ing. in many families. is much more extern
siye than some people are willing to believe
and credit, yet the fact fits existence.
nevertheless, remains unimpaired in any
way, either BY denial or otherwise. OF the
many causes contributing to this sad desti-
tuition, the first is, idleness, for want of
something to do. Hundreds Of men and
women can be found, who would gladly
work if they could find anything to do,
even at almost any price-but they can find
nothing TO DO. Their little means are gone,
their house rent is demanded, and not hav-
the money or credit to meet and satisfy it,
\ Justices Office is sought and found; the
unfeehng process is asked for by the unfsel-
ing landlord; the Justice issues it as prayed
for; the constable clothed with this paper Of
eviction proceeds against the poor tenant,
and she or he, as the case may be. is set out
upon the pavement With their little ones,
objects OF charity, (if there be such q
thing as charity any more in this cold and
freezing world of gospel day..
They have no money, no work, no friends,
no foot Of earth on which 10 pillow their
aching heads No clothes to cover their
nudity, no bread to satisfy their hdhger, no
shelter from tho pelsing storms as they beat
upon their attenuated forms.
They may be seen any day in some parts
Of our city, moving from house to house, or
begging from door to door. THIS is no
fancy sketch. but these are living realities Of
everyday life in our city. We need but
visit our Justices Offices every day, and
walk through the city to find the sad, but
true yeri6cation of this description of the
poor OF our city.
The second cause Of suffering among the
poor, is the enormous aud unjust rents de-
manded by landlords Of the poor tenants
for their tenements. Fully double rents
are paid, (all things considered) in this city
now by tenants. After laboring man
pays his rent of$6 to SIS per month out of
bis wages, be has but little left for the
clothing and feeding of his family. frents
were down oue-half as the hard times de.
maud, the oppression Of the people would
not be so severe as it il now. Rents are
as high now as they were when money and
work were both plentiful, and high wages
paid for the work. If property owners de-
sire to aid the poor and the city generally,
they can best do it by reducing their un-
natural and oppressive rents, and show
charity to the poor at this time, by being
lenient to them with their rents These
poor people will have to have shelter and
food, and there viii have to be supplied
them by taxes levied BY the Board Of Com
missioners on the very property, in most
the cases, from which these poor tenants
are elected. Would il not be wise and an
economical consideration for property
owners to think Of this question in this
hght2
Another cause. and one that in many in
s'ances could be and should be avoi led, and
that is the manner in which these poor
tenants are proceeded against 1t is the
duty an officer to show mercy as well as
justice in his official duties.
Many landlords consult justices about
these emotions before they take any steps In
the matter of removal. Some mercenary,
Shylock justices, looking only at their prof
its in the transaction, in the item of costs,
readily and cheerfullY and willingly tells the
landlord ell he wants 10 know about the
n ode of procedure, knowing that the land
-. T. &. h
it is that self interest on the part of the JUS
tice is often times the moving lever in this I'M
kind action Of the landlord toward his de-
Hnquent tenant The officer should remem-
Der that "he that slaughtereth with the
sword shall be slain by the sword" Moth
ing truer than this in human history.
The churches of this city have great
duty to perform in this matter There are
many families in this city, could and would
get along if the rich in our churches would
help the poor Of their own household Of
faith, as the divine commandment runs
Until our churches take hold of this mat
ter as they are commanded to do, we need
not look for much charity from the world
and those who don't recognize their obliga-
tons in the way Of charitable deeds.
How many in this city can pour the oil
of gladness into the hearts Of the poor, and
not miss their little charities. There are
thousands Of them. What will the Hu-
name Association, the Christian Associs-
tons, the churches and all charitable peo-
pie and societies do for our poor this gloomy
winter?
The Lord Loveth cheerful giver
This picture is no exaggeration of the
condition of the poor in our city to-day, but,
we regret to say, is as true as truth itself.
'sThero Is indeed one browning Joy,
pleasure that can never coy,
The bliss Of doing good;
And 70 e q reward Is given,
Most Precious In the sight OF heaven,
The teAr Of gratitude"