The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-11-24
CHARITY AS A FASHION.
How Benevolent Boston Amuses Itself by
Doing Good.

vi dill lilS lduS WHICH OOStOIl CldlIllS
as peculiarly her own, perhaps the
greatest is charity. The town is ia
bulously rich, and there are plenty
Of well-to-do people here who, for
want of business to occupy their
attention turn to good works as
pastime, and an object upon which
to expend their superhuous wealth.
This state of affairs has brought into
being an astonishing number of
benevolent organizations, including
more members than are associated in
philanthropic enterprises in New
York and Philadelphia combined. 1t
is said, in fact, that not week passes
at the Hub which does not record
the birth of a charitable society or
institution of some kind. Even now
the city has bank account of SI6,-
600, 90 for the benefit of the needy,
in whose behalf 81, 900, 900 is dis
tributed annually.
Among the fashionable societies
which enjoy the interest and services
of really swell people on Beacon
street and Commonwealth avenue,
is one for taking care of widows for
merly rich, who are left in compara-
tive indigence- say, with no more
than $40, 1000 or $40, 900 to starve
upon-and another for the purpose
of affording relief to those who are
above seeking help from other chari-
ties. F." Then, there is the Fragment
Society, which gives old clothes to the
poor, and the Girls Friendly So
ciety, whose object it is to provide
every working girl, not Roman
Catholic, with a friend. Another
| gilt-edged affair is the Cooperative
Society of Visitors Among the Poor,
which distributes tracts and good
advice in the slums. These COM
modities are cheaper than flour at
present prices.
| An excellent charity is the Pawn
fund, the income of which is used to
assist poor people in the redemption
of articles chung up" with Messrs.
Solomons or Isaacs. The North End
mission teaches sewing to street
!, children and sells them what they
make for the bare cost of the goods.
1t also maintains nursery and kim
) dergarten, where the children of
working mothers are taken care OF
during the day tor five cents per
diem each, or twenty-five cents a
week. One society befriends sailors,
and sends out an agent in boat to
board vessels and donate Bibles and
t sermons to the ungodly crews. There
, is also a society to relieve the neces-
sites of physicians widows, and an
other which gives every poor child
: one days holiday in the country
each summer. Homes for newsboys
S and bootblacks arelikewise provided.
, The queerest charity is 'shelter-
! ing home for animals" where all
A vagrants in the shape of household
. pets-dogs, cats, canaries, squirrels,
r etc.-are taken care of. Especial at.
tention is paid to the luckless house.
r hold dependents which thoughtless
: people leave behind to starve wher
n they go to the country in the torrio
r season. The Society for the Proven.
ton of Cruelty to Animals employs q
man who does nothing but kill agee
and infrm cats. Upon request, the
society will send this agent to the
+ most remote corner of the state tc
kill some good-for. nothing Tom OF
@ Tabby, and will charge nothing TO-
the service.
al There are hundreds of other char
table associations in this city, of al
n sorts and for every conceivable OBJ
=. iect. The writer has only tried t.
S. mention a few of those which ar
r. particularly interesting. And tn
rs moral of all this is that, if you wan
l. to be pauper prohtably. the bes
place for you to live is in Boston,
e, Boston Correspondence albany Il,
S gus.
rs Druggist-Yes, want clerk. Hav
ic you a diplomat AppIicant-Not e1
actly, sir, but. Druggist-Can 70
lp run a soda fountain1 Applicant-Nt
IN very we'll, sir, but l can learn. Druggi
n NO, l guess you won't dol migl