Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-10
BENEVOLENT LADIES.
An Excellent Annual Address
Mrs. e. DucOm mum.

which was most interesting. In it she
said At the end of years work moth
ing is left US but depleted treasury, a
good conscience, experience, and the
privilege of making a report. The re-
the lessons it has taught, and let it be
known that we have done what we
could. During the year help has been
given in about 266 cases, to the amount
of $2,2lS Sc, leaving the small bal
ance on hand of $3.50 80; be-
sides quantities of clothing which
have been received and distributed
For several years this society has hoped
to provide Home for the Friendless,
which should shelter the aged and be SO
broad in its character as to open its doors
to all cases of real worth applying for its
protection. Last spring an application
was made to the city for donation Of
certain lots upon which to erect suita-
BILE building. Encouragement was given
and we were promised that as soon as
we were ready to build the land would
be furnished. Some publicity was given
to our plans at that time, and an explain
alton may be necessary, since no further
steps have been taken in the matter.
The removal of the poor farm to new
and commodious quarters in the country
affords comfortable refuge that may
we'll fill the place contemplated by our
selves. Here wholesome food and med
ical attendance will be provided by the
county to such persons as would have
reasonable claims upon our Home.
When they are able to work there will be
plenty to be done upon the farm. The
necessaries which we should have had to
tax our generous citizens in order to pro-
vide would be paid for with the sum set
aside by the county for that purpose. A
committee can be appointed from our
own society to provide delicacies in the
way of food and clothing to such persons
as may seem to require them. The
Supervisors have dealt most generously
and courteously with us in our many de-
mands upon them in the past, and we
are confident would afford us every
facility for supplementing their work in
the manner suggested.
Again, we wished to make our work
broad, but not too broad. The climate
of Southern California has become no,ed
throughout the United States, until all
pauperdom, at least, has become con-
vinced that it is an ideal winter home.
Town authorities in many places have
shipped paupers to us, as the cheapest
way of getting rid of them. Arriving
without funds, the first anxiety of such
tourists is to seek the Ladies' Benevo-
lent Society and solicit help. For months
the Presidents house has been besieged
by continuous procession OF persons
having no claim whatever on our State
or county. A Home in Los Angeles on
a purely benevolent basis would be con-
sidered proper sanitarium for all of
this class and would attract host of
such people who would become depen-
dent upon somebody. Do We not do
we'll to abandon all thought of establish
ing new Home?
Indiscriminate alms-giving cannot be
too deeply deplored. The object of true
charity should be to discourage the spirit
of pauperism and to help only so far that
the recipient may help himself. In
answering door-calls for help it will fire.
quently be found upon inquiry that the
person has already been to the society
and been refused, or helped for time
and aid withdrawn. By application to
us personally or by telephone, you can
generally find a good reason for such ac-
ton. Many persons consider the giving
of small sum, 10, 25 or so cents, too
trivial for inquiry, and SO give that which
really does injury instead of good, by en-
couraging the lazy and worthless.
Two dollars year makes any person a
of the L. B. s. For that sum
we assume the responsibility of giving
prompt investigation to all cases sent to
US, and in worthy instances to provide
assistance. Should the individual be-
long to special order or nation, the
proper officer will be notified by us. In
case of sickness, medicine and attend
ance is always given. Railroads tickets
are furnished if there are friends able
and willing to assume the case in an
other place.
Thoughtful persons will be somewhat
surprised to learn that during the past
year, while our old established charities
have been putting forth every effort to
get money to carry on their work, and
meeting the constant cry OF "hard times"
several thousand dollars have been sent
from our city to Algeria to establish a
to Canada for orphans, and to
India for child widows, etc., ETC.
That these objects are worthy we ali
admit, and that those who can do their
share for our home missions, home
orphans and home poor are properly
subscribers we also submit, but those
who subscribe to foreign missions to the
neglect of our own are as culpable as the
man who allows his own family to suffer
while he treats his friends to delicacies
The population OF our city has in
creased 80 rapidly that there must be
many newcomers who have not united
themselves with any benevolent organiz-
alton. An earnest appeal is made that
all such would give at least the two dol
lars year that would make them mem
bers of our society. All cases then ap-
plying for aid can be sent to our officers
and due investigation made. This
money can be sent to the Secretary, $40
South Spring street, any Wednesday, or
to Mrs. G. Ducommun, 81 Ducommun
street.
Rivera.
EDITORS HERALD-Everybody in Ri
vera is happy. The country looks lovely
since the rain. Our place is putting on
quite town appearance. The railroad