The Monitor., 1891-04-03
DAUGHTERS OF TH5 KING.
Practical Work That the Order Is Doing
in the Poor Districts of Ncr York


The gracious service of the great Or
der of Kings Daughters has become SO
important in purpose and diversified in
interest that it has of necessity been Or
ganized, systematized and classified I'M
der various committees, each devoted to
the alleyiation of some particular form
of distress. No branch of its benefcence
is more practical in aim and devoted in
ministration than that which has its
headquarters in the Mariners temple, at
No. Henry street, and is bending its en-
orgies to the relief of all forms of suffer-
ing in tenement houses.
The tenement house committee was
organized last spring with Mrs. James
T. Ruggles as their president, and the
little band of women wearing the silver
cross and purple ribbon went about
among the poor Of the Fourth ward al
leys and cast side tenements simply dis
tributing flowers where flowers were
rarely seen, and thus gaining adnittance
to the homes of the poor. When the
hot days of July came the Kings Daugh-
ters had become friends of the families,
and found more important work to do
than the scattering of blossoms and kind
words among them. Sickness, hunger
and death, with all their attending dis
tresses, were among the people. and the
committee hastily surveyed the field and
evolved their system of relief, working
always in cooperation with the charity
organization to avoid imposters.
Every summer the board of health
sends into the tenement district corps
of fifty doctors to attend the sick poor
gratuitously during the months of July
and August. In previous years the doe
tors have found their work almost use
less, owing to the lack of proper food,
proper nursing and comfortable sur
roundings on the part of patients. Last
year each physician carried with him
bundle of postal cards stamped with a
purple cross and addressed to the head
quarters Of the Kings Daughters mis-
sion. Each case of distress, with its Pc
culiar nseds, was described upon IL card,
and at the close Of the days work was
forwarded to the address given. The
doctor also left written directions at the
house of each patient as to the treatment
and diet. directions which only trained
nurse could comprehend and carry out.
But there was one trained nurse at
first, and afterwarl there were two who
followed after the doctor to care for the
sick and save tie dying. The nurses
were Kings Daughters, too, and because
of the silver cross they wore gave their
services to the society fo~ the small
amount which it actually cost them for
board I'll through the heated term, when
they might have been earning SEQ or $50
a week at much easier work. They
made from sixty to seventy Tisits a week
from house to hnuse. If they found a
patient destitute, as they frequently did,
without even sheets upon the bed, they
hurried back TO the mission and pro-
cured them where the circles of Kings
Daughters had prepared them. If they
needed the nourishing food required by
the sick, that, tee, was found at the mis-
sion provided by the diet Kitchens and
the Kings Daughters.
Medicine or necessities of immediate
need they were authorized 10 procure at
the nearest shop at the expense, always,
of the Kings Daughters. The distress
that confronted the committee was from
the first heartrending, the perplexities
overwhelming. The order to the nurses
was always to supply immediate need;
later the case was investigated, and if
deserving tho kindly help was extended
until it was no longer required.
Like many great projects, this has but
{. small beginning. Three women at
first. afterward seven, united in circle
of Kings Daughters, with this purpose
in view The circle has increased to
seventy members, with Mrs. E. T. Gill
lespic as president. The first 1900 to-
ward the building of the house has been
secured, and work is constantly going on
toward raising the desired amount.
y coal club has been established by
one of the members, who buys coal in
quantities and gives the people orders by
which small amounts may be delivered
at the same price. Two of the members
buy tea in large packages, and kindly
spend the time TO weigh it out themselves
TO sell in small amounts. Rooms have
been rented also and sublet to needy and
deserving people, and kindly help is
given wherever it is possible. both III the
line of personal ministration and prac-
teal charity.--New York Sun.