Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-24
POOR FOLKS IN TOWN,
few Scenes These Days Mt the Re
lief and Aid Society Room.
Chipa on RaraId

a1o SOOO, illC
opens to the stout aud healthy With
the first cold blast and the first snow
he begins to calculate upon the en-
joyments of season in which out
door exercise and home comfort alike
appeal nure to mind and body than
during any other time of the year.
His coal mas been contracted for at re-
duced rates early in the summer nusi-
ness, In view of the approaching holt
days, receives a gratifying impulse,
and his bank account guarantees that
there will be no vacuum In the larder.
The days work is short and the even
ing's pleasures are many. To such a
happy mortal winter has no terrors i:
thinking OF approaching Christmas,
he is even more literally inclined
than be otherwise would be, and he
mentally balances the effect of snug
little carouses with tae amount given
to charitable purposes. Bat under
the busting, noisy and bewildering
phases of thrifty life there are only
too many homes for which the ap-
proach of winter means hunger and
frost. There has been, take it all in all
a hard year for the poor. The last
winter, with its weeks of cold, when
the mercury indicated degrees below
zero day after day, has wiped out the
last resources; spring and summer
have brought but scant labor at snail
wages, and the short prosperous spell
of fall has not been of sufficient mo-
ment to lay In a stock of resistance
for the cold campaign which has Just
set IN. 1t IS surprising how much suf-
fering only days of cold bring to the
surtace-suferlDg of which hardly
one IN a hundred is concious. Every
day the police courts are crowded
with unfOrtunates who are only too
willing to endure the shame and de-
graduation of q season in the Bridewell
rather than the hardships of winter
IN the pineries and on the streets.
Those who have work cling to it un-
der disadvantages rather than to stand
the chances of uncertainty, and those
who have no work and are too manly
for life IN a work house cell begin the
weary rounds day after day. These
are the DAYS when crowds besiege the
offices of ssthe County Agent and the
CnIcogo Relief and Aid Society from
morning until dusk.
Something new in our Iine?" re-
marks Rev. @. G. Trusdell, of the
Chicago Relief and Aid Society, as he
looked up YEARLY from q wilderness
of papers on bis desk. IN response to
the question of The Herald emissary.
"Why, there is something new every
minute. Wait and see."
On one of the benches for the appli-
cants sits young woman III deep
mourning. She is neatly but not ex-
pensively dressed, and as she ap
proaches the desk and throws back
her heavy veil she shows an attractive
face, careworn and pale though it is.
Now, what can we do for you9"
asks Mr.. Trusdell rather bluntly, but
not unkindly.
Mr. rent, -" whispers the WON
an, and then she breaks down sob
Ding.
Let me look over your applica-
ton, says the superintendent, sooth-
ingly, "and we will see." He draws
file of papers from one of the pigeon
holes of his desk, finds the appIica-
ton, and as he reads it his expressive
features assume something like a
grim determination.
'Why, you don't owe any rent, !"
he says.
But it is due on the 10th, and if 7
don't pay it then l will be out on the
street with my three little ones, and
this is the 9th today" says the WON
an timidly.
'Well, we can't attend to prospec-
tive cases, says Mr.. Trusdell decisive
ly. If your landlord should put you
out, call again, and then we will help
you"
The applicant leaves the room, cry
ing bitterly.
Its sad case" remarks Mr.. Trus-
dell, ''but we cannot help it in its
present stage. The woman's husband
died last spring, leaving her with
three small children. I see by the re-
port or our agent that she kept a
number of people as boarders, but
that they left some time ago for the
pineries. Since then she has been
earning about $3.50 week by wash
ing to support herself and little ones. "
An elderly woman, very poorly but
cleanly clad, steps up. Every line in
her emacinated face speaks mutely
but effectively OF suffering. A brisk
little woman, round, fair and active,
accompanied her to relate the tale of
woe, because the applicant is Swede
vino does not speak English. 1t turns
out that the husband of the applicant
has been hard working man. Last
fall he broke both his legs and has
been most of the time since in the
county hospital. He has been unable
to earn a cent for over year, and his
faithful wife has brought him and
her five children through the summer
SIS best she could. Her earnings have
been from rs cents to 81 week. Now
the winter is at the door and there is
no fuel and no food.
eve will look into your case, y
says the superintendent; ''call to-mer-
row, and if your statement is true we
will help you along"
''On, she has good references,
chimes In the brisk little woman
''there is Rev. Mr.. Leach, of the Meth