The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-02-19
The Repor. for january.

Mrs. Mary A. L. Clark, superintend.
ent OF the Associated Charities, has
made the following report to the
managers for the month OF january:
The month closes with 200 00applicants
recorded, So OF whom are new ones,
including Q nonresident. OF these
lavter, 9 asked employment; l asked
for passage to distant city to Join
friends o asked for meals, of whom
willingly gave service for same; 9
refused tho labor test. and were
drunken and disrespectful; were un.
deserving; did not require relief; s
gave false addresses; 8 were helped by
private persons, and was referred to
trustee OF the poor.
There have been distributed 142 coal
orders; 52 paying into the self-support-
Ing fund; % grocery orders, and 9 pre-.
scriptionS were given. Visits made by
the uperlntendent, So; letters written
to and on behalf of the poor, 80; num-
Der of visits made by the women visi-
tors, 292; letter written, 90,
A large number OF the above named
applicants arc given employment by
the Female Benevolent and Provident
societies, and are receiving little ad-
dltlonnl aid from the Associated Charl-
ties to tide them over some difficulty.
Self-supportinE fund, S62 90; from
towel supply, sl2.T9. total, s75.7S.
The causes of distress hive not been
accurately given, but too large num-
Dor are improvident, shiftless people,
who in prosperity have no thought of
the future, and when work ceases or
trouble comes depend entirely upon
public or private charity for the neces-
stiles of life. The want of employ
ment, which is frequently followed by
sickness, the result of the absence Of
necessary comforts, has, however been
largely the cause OF need during the
winter. Many haze been obliged to ask
assistance who have hitherto been able
to support themselves.
The nationalities OF those helped
We're: Native white, 81; colored, 75;
irish, "a; German, q; French, q; English,
2; Portuguese, /; not known, 10.
The large number of unemployed
men has thrown the responsibility of
wage-earning chiefly upon the women,
and in consequence the society's re-
sources have been severely taxed, both
In relief giving to prevent absolute
suffering and in inventive power to
supply work of some kind to the bene-
ficiary, that the object OF the society
may not be overlooked.
Inc encouragement OF the thriftleSS
and hopeless to better life and some
means of self-support and self-respect
Is the most desirable part of our work.
II each one interested would try to
find some resource by which every
able.bodied person helped could earn
or partially earn the relief given the
moral improvement could not be esti-
mated, II Is already very apparent
among those who have been tested.
Besides the relief distributed .in fuel
and groceries. physicians have lender
ed their services to several families
without charge; services have been
rendered to the sick by kindly vista
tion and the aid of special funds, and
their sufferings greatly lessened by the
luxury of clean and comfortable beds
and bedding. The chronic invalid has
been made to rejoice by the addition
to his scanty wardrobe of warm wool
len garments; others. by an outside
wrap or shoes partly worn, though
clcan and generally ia good repair all
kindly contributed to the society for
distribution.
During the month death has claimed
four whose last days were made more
comfortable by the delicacies and
nourishlng food furnished from our
sick diet kitchen. Respectfully SUBJ
mitted, MARY A. T. CLARK,
February9. 0. 1891. Superintendent.