New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-16
PRACTICAL PHILA NTHROPP,

Now that Mrs. Helen Campbel's articles on
the condition of the workingwomen have
aroused and interested the public and quick
ened the conscience of the churches, 1t is desir-
able that whatever lrful impulses arise should
be directed into useful channels, and not be
wasted in futile experiment. While it Is en-
inenty desirable that those who how suffer
from overwork and underpay should IL possible
be put in the way of doing better for them
selves, it is equally important that they should
be enabled to get the utmost out OF their pres
ent conditions and it is certain that they have
not done so hitherto. There II, indeed, not
little misapprehension as to the real potential
tiles of the earnings of the poor. 1t by no
means follows rs matter of course that q
woman who earns say So a week is in state OF
misery. The truth Is that the sum named, If
wisely expended, will furnish sufficient supply
of all things necessary to the maintenance or
health and reasonable comfort. In large per-
centage of cases, however. lack of economic
knowledge and ignorance of cookery cause the
poor TO waste much of their wages and disable
them from getting anything like full value for
their expenditures.
The most practical help that can perhaps be
offered this class Is such information as Will
enable them TO economic. IL need not be pre-
tended that it is the easiest thing Imaginable to
impart such knowledge. The poor, unfort-
unately for their own best interests, are very
conservative, very proud and suspicious, and
their preindices are apt to take form In the
most unexpected and bewildering ways. Thus,
for instance, only the other day, when the re-
mains of the Lord Mayors banquet were to be
distributed among some of the London poor
they refused, for some mysterious reason, to
touch the turtle soup, utterly despising and re-
jectlng that Aldermanic luxury. The same
spirit has often led them to spurn offers OF pal
atable and wholesome food, because it was
cheap. The dread of being thought poorer than
they are is indeed as present to them as to mOre
well-to-do people, and this feeling frequently
prevents them from adopting economic habits.
To teach them how to lay ont their money so as
to obtain the largest return for it is not easy,
therefore, but it is possible, and it is kind of
work the even partial success of which must
produce excellent and lasting effects. A new
plan announced for Brooklyn, whereby whole
some meals are to be furnished at the low rate
of one cent, is fully in line with this method of
working and while it does not appear to be
intended for the class of workers under consid-
Grafton, il is a practical and suggestive relief
measure.
How to buy food what food to buy; and
how to prepare it when bought; are questions
the solution of which in right way will great
" advance tie comfort, health and general
well beng of the poor. AS ii is too many of
them squander their means upon positively I'M
wholesome food, when if they knew better they
could for the same or even less outlay procure
good and healthy provisions Such instruction
in.marketing and cooking as would enable them
to prepare q very few simple but substantial
dishes would be real service to numbers of
them. Many of course would at first refuse to
take the advice offered them, but some would
be grateful for and follow 1t. and their example
would produce its natural effect in time. If by
these means even percentage OF the working
women We're taught to increase the purchasing
power of their earnings, it is obvious that the
net result to them would be equivalent to an
increase of wages and it must be realized that
this way Oe improving their condition is much
more feasible than that of compelling employ
ers to raise their payments or that of diminish
ing the supply In the labor market. Moreover,
the lessons of economy once learned al 0 apt to
stay by the learner, and they will enhance the
benefit OF every subsequent gain In earnings
whereas without some knowledg e of economy
it is questionable whether any elevation Of the
provement to the condition of the poor.