The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-08-31
BROADBRIM'S n. Y. LETTER.

Time upon lime have felt called upon
to expose the pious frauds with which this
city abounds, but notwithstanding every
effort they flourish and thrive and grow,
and like Hydra when one head is cut off
dozen spring in its place. One establish
ment that ! helped to break up was styled
1.-THE Home of Heavenly Rest for Desti-
tute Girls" Now there is nothing that
will appeal to the heart of any person, who
has any heart at all, like destitute girl
II she is young and suffering, you meyer
stop to ask If she has stepped out of the
straight and narrow path; the first impulse
OF the really generous and charitable heart
is, give her lift. Everyone knows and
feels this, and some miserable frauds under
the guise of charity trade upon this, the
holiest feeling of our nature. Miss Ruggles
and Miss Osborn were the president, vice
president, secretary, treasurer and the
standing committee on applications for
charity in the Home of the Heavenly Rest
Whatever else their shortcomings, they
fully understood the value of printers ink,
and set of circulars, appeals and reports
were got up that would haye drawn tears
Of charitable joy from brass monkey
Miss Ruggles was tall, angular and thin,
lips she had none, there was thin cash
reaching across her face where the mouth
ought to be, and her long nose had the
was the very reverse of Miss Ruggles, be-
ing short and squat and fat, and while
Miss Ruggles' face had the general appear
ance of Minnesota cyclone, Miss Osborns
face was the picture of smiling content,
like one at peace with herself and all the
world beside. The Rest was as clean as a
new pin. You could with proprety have
eaten your dinner OFF the floor, if Miss
Ruggles and Miss Osborn would let you,
and by means of their circulars and work
ing the pious racket they continued to live
on the fat Of the land, and at the same
time to keep lot of white slaves to wait
upon them, and do their work all in the
name of sweet charity. One day in Janu-
ary about five years ago some business
called me to a large mercantile house, and
while was conyersing with the principal
OF the firm, knock came at the office
door. My friend who was the most gener-
GUS of men gave CHEEKY "come in,' and
very sweet-faced young girl, wretchedly
clad, stood in the door. The lower part of
her dress was all bedraggled with the slush
and snow that lay deep in the street, and
her poor feet were soaking in an old pair
of worn and ragged shoes The note re-
quested Immediate aid for 1.-THE Home of
the Heavenly Rest in the shape of coal,
provisions and money, as twenty-five poor
girls were starving and perishing there at
that identical moment. This was a case
that admitted of no ifs, ans or but; it |
meant Goals and cash at once. The |
merchant drew an order for ton of coal |
and placed a nice crisp Two dollar bill in |
her hand and bade her God-speed. went
down in my pouch for big silver dollar, |
and pressed 1t in her hand, wishing all the
time that it was golden eagle. l hurried |
out feeling big lump in my throat as big
as an Irish potato, jumped on a car and
made 3 line for the Bank of New York. |
had not been there ten minutes when in
walked the same young damsel. ] stepped |
in the inner Office and watched lesults.
She presented the exact counterpart of the
first letter, and struck him for ton of
coal and FIVE dollars, while the cashier
gave an order for barrel of fou, and the
paying teller gave an order for groceries
and meat. / followed her 10 FIVE different
places, in every one of which she made a
strike, and then followed up to the Home
on Sixteenth street. / entered the house
and was met in the hall by Miss Rugges
who wanted to know my buIiness. 1 told
her that had come TO visit the Home and
see the poor girls, and find ont how they
were treated, and if, as a charity, it was
worthy OF support. Miss Ruggles' eyes
snapped like percussion cap, and she
gave me to understand that il was none of
my business, and that these things were
exclusively under the control of herself
and the trustees asked if / could see the
twenty-five poor girls who were perishing
and starving, and was informed that /
could not. l went straight to the Court
and swore out Wauant-chargng her
with swindling. She was arrested forth
with, the house was searched-there were
only four girls in the establishment, mis-
erable enough it is true-for they were vir-
tually slaves kept scrubbing and cleaning
the Home of the Heavenly Rest, besides
doing outside laundry work which Miss
Ruggles got from charitable people, and
pocketed the proceeds. One Of the rooms
was packed with groceries, preserves and
, liquors almost to the ceiling; there was