Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-14
From Wealth to Affect Poverty.

A FORMER MEMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA
LEGISLATURE, WITH HIS SICK WIFE AND
FAMIsnED CHILDREN, LIVING IN A MIsERA-
BILE HOyEL.
From the Philadelphia Times
A little court leads off from No. OF North
Sd street. The second house from the entrance
is small, two-story dwelling, inhabited by a
family whose sudden transition from comfort
10 the most abjeet want is as sad as 1t was
rapid. In company with DIR. G. d. Green, a re-
porter visited the family yesterday. The lower
story of the house lies below the level of the
pavement and into it runs streams of water on
rainy days. The walls are moist with water
and their dingy appearance is more like q
prison cell than dwelling. Down stairs two
little bTighteycd housekeepers. aged respec-
scruhbing the floor, while smaller brother,
nearly naked, was sleeping in "a corner. The
eldest girl WAS feeble-minded. and her thin,
blanched face and pinched features indicated
the want of food and mothers care. One
other room was in the house, and a bed. chair
and small boOk-rack, on which were two VOL
umes of South Carolina Legislative Journals,
constituted the only furniture.
THE MOTHER VERY ILL.
On the bed lay the thin, emaciated form of the
mother, almost too weak from disease TO
speak. She looked like a woman of intelligence
and refinement. In this ROOM on the bare floor,
her six small children sleep, with scarcely suf-
ncieut clothing to protect them. The family
has lived for days without food, and have been
Dofderlng on starvation. -" hen the mother WAS
questioned as 20 her condition she glanced pitt
fully toward her children, and, stretching out
ner bony hand. mUrmured:
''Oh would like To die; but what would be-
come OF these poor children"
The father is in feeble health and unable to
do any hard work. He is poverty-stricke en- and
the condition OF his family has almost deranged
his mind. For some time he has been in Il me l.
ancholy state, and has expressed to his physi-
clan mis- desire . to commit suicide. DIR. q. d.
Green, of the Northern dispenSary, vino was
sent to minister to the family, said:
THE PHYSICIANS STATEMENT
'ln my practice have visited great many
poor people, but never saw such wretchedness
and poverty as this family are in. l believe
that the elder girl became feeble-minded
through lack OF proper food and nutrition, and
think her mind would grow stronger If she
were properly cared for. The whole family are
actually suffering from starvation. With proper
care believe the mother would improve and
might possibly get well. 1t is certainly an ex-
cellent opportunity for the exercise of charity
The oldest child isa boy of fourteen, and he
earns just two dollars a week, on which the
family live. The boy goes out in the morning
and works all day on scanty breakfast Of
bread and water"
A German who lives next door spoke in the
highest terms of the fathers sobriety and hon
esty. The German has been supplying them
they were diminishing. when | am eating nv
breakfast" he said 1.-The little codgers will line
themselves along my window and, peeping in,
piteOusly beg for food"
ONCE a LEGISLATOR.
William J. Ward the father of the family. is
a southerAer by birth He lived for many wears
in BERTHE county, South Carolina and served
four years in tine confederate army, being
wounded i'll the service. He was afterwards
elected one of BERTHE county's commissioners
and represented his district for four wears i'm
the state legislature. The volumes OF the legis-
latiye Journals for 1S16-11 which lie on his
bookshelf are his only mementoes of his former
prosperous life, and they frequently quote his
speeches and his votes on important questions
Alter his legislative career Mr.. " ard became
surety for his only brother, and through his de-
fault lost his fortune. His wife becoming ILL.,
he came TO Philadelphia last May in hopes that
she would be benefited by the change OF climate.
He was unable To secure any employment, and
has gradually come To his present destitute con-
dition.