The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-07
| NOBLE CHARITY.
Work of the Ladies' Relief So
ciety for December.
ARE THE POOR UNeRATEFUL 2
The Advisory Committee Explains Why
They May Be-Relief for
Forty Persons.

At yesterdays meeting of the Ladies' Relief
Society the monthly report OF the advisory
committee was presented by Mrs. Jenner, as
follows:
'swere It practicable. we would be glad 70
have historian Tor our society, who snould
keep record of all occurrences incident 70 this
relief work, whether sad, glad or disagreeab.e-
The history would not prove moDotonOus, al
though we are accustomed TO say from time 10
time as new applications are received, ne same
old story. The interest eenters in the details of
the various cases OF want and suffering-they
are widely different one from another At times
II Is difficult to prevent our judgments being
biased in the investigation OF new case By
the outcome Of some preceding case. However,
we have usually found it easy to agree when IN
doubt by thinking 1t best to err on the SIDE OF
We have frequently heard this remark OF Late:
Poor people are an uDgrateful class
Are they really more ungrateful than the
rich? When we consider how very little we do
after all TO tighten the burdens OF each indi-
vidual case, and how much OF luxury We ENJOY,
we cannot often find il in our hearts TO complain
oil their ingrattude, even though We may think
we sacrifice much OF comfort and OF pleasure 70
do kindly deed. II is possible for the cold
winds OF adversely TO blast the most beautiful
flowers OF the human heart: they cannot grow
where there is no light. no warmth, and reineHa-
Der that many, especially women, are subjected
10 harsh and cruel treatment, besides the pov-
erty, and have not. in long years, Known the
blessedness OF being loved. We think il should
be our duty to find excuses for the poor when
ever 1t is possible. God viii weigh rs in the
balance By aud by and not until that time will
we De able to determine by what fine thread Of
tate we were held in the sunlight, while, BY
corresponding thread our sisters swung down
ward into the gloom. The holiday season, from
Thanksgiving 10 New Years, was a constant
charity the part OF the good people Of our city
and vicinity; we wish them all many happy re-
turns OF the season, while thanking them sin
cerely for all their gifts
notwithstanding the busy time the work OF
relief has gone steadily forward We are glad
TO report that the city now takes care OF the sick
within its boundaries, and we are thus not only
spared much expense, but are relieved OF great
deal OF work. During the month of December
we bad seventeen cases, OF which nine were
new; they represent ten men. sixteen women
end forty children, not including the home.
we are keeping one very young child in the
Day Nursery-its mother died the last OF No
yember. There are thirty nine children in the
home. They had very happy time at Christ
mas: their shouts and claoping of hands when
they first saw the tree, were deafening; we wish
more OF our ladies' had been present 10 see and
hear them. Mrs. Boone and Mrs. Clock took
charge of the Christmas arrangements-the pres
ents were all donated as has been before re-
ported Miss smith decorated the tree;
not wonder at the children delight at seeing it
six new beds have been added TO the Home dur
ments are very comfortable. The matron and
her niece, Miss smith, have been very busy
since Thanksgiving day putting things to rights
everything in fine order from the closet UP stairs
where the supply of clothes is
kept 10 the weIl-flled storeroom in
the basement. For the first time dur
ing the year the advisory committee failed TO
meet on the Tuesday preceding Christmas, but
the work was planned ahead and by using the
telephone was carried on almost as usual
Respectfully submitted,
"CoRNELE Z. JESSER,
sBELLE b. HAISRs,
'sLUcY X. LYON,
s'DoRA RANKE.
sHARRIET II. baxter"