The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-11
THE SLUM SISTERS.
Good Work of the Salvation
Army in Tenement Hells.
HOW TO REACH THE DESERVING.
Tho "Organized Charities'' Spend Their
Money for Charity. but the Mis-
sions Go Right to the Poor.

New York, Dec. ESPECIAL Correspond
ence. III had $50 for Christmast char
lty, what would be the best way TO give it
by personal distribution or through the
aid of a mission? A rich man said to me !:
ii would give enough to do some good
down in the slums if I knew half of it
would reach the deserving poor. Charity
ought to be made more accessible, and
then your dollars will pour in
l admit that there is some truth in this,
but claim that there is mission whose
officers receive only 81 week. and whose
girls. dressed in slum uniform, can stop a
street fight and walk alone into the worst
dens of our Northern and Western cities.
1t is through these girls, who have won
the confidence of slumdom, that rich
mems charity may reach the people who
deserve it with the waste OF less than per
cent.
For example, $40 given to an impostor
or an inebriate, who will Immediately
spend it in drink, Or the same amount
spent on new clothing for the children of
parents who will within half an hour have
pawned it, does more harm in the increase
of vice and pauperism than would alto
gether Withholding the amount.
Thousands of dollars are given annually
in this and other of our large centers
which are productive Of results that
amount to little more than a bagatellc so
far as efficient benefits are concerned,
though often productive of irremediable
harm, and this because the good such
money would have effected falls short of
reaching those in real poverty and need
ing help. The donors of such large gifts
would be wonderfully enlightened if they
would take the trouble of following up the
gold and silver they have sent before them,
and finding out how far its influence had
penetrated.
Strange that SO many should be perfectly
satisfied with having given the money
without troubling themselves as to its
direct purpose or usefulness! 1t is as
though some laid aside certain percent
age and said: This l will give away to
appease my conscience. The giving is Just
as praiseworthy to me. the glory Just as
great, so long as give, whether it be care
lessly flung from generous hand or care
fully given from a generous heart" Let
us then be careful to what end we give our
money.
1t is not for me to say that $3.50 would
be best spent in the Salvation Army.
That would appear as though I were I'M
der.ating other institutions, and this is
furthest from my intention, but / may,
without fear of egotism, state that there is
no organization known to me, after travel
ing round the world, that so actually and
Systematically makes rs much of the
funds given to it as does the Salvation
Army. Particularly is this so in connec-
ton with two branches of work which
come most closely into touch with the
greatest need, in which, l believe. all
knowing anything Of our missionary en-
the New York Food and Shelter" and
'Slum" brlgades.
can say this confidently. because dur
ing the past twelve months the officers
in connection with one shelter brigade
alone have found employment for 654
men, have provided beds for Ia, 1896 men,
besides providing meals for nearly "a 900
men and women.
Turning to those engaged in the very
heart of slumdom in this city alone, our
women during the past year have visited
no less than Is, 500 families; they have en-
tered with their Var Crys and conse-
Grated influence 1869 saloons and /, $40
places of disrepute. and have personally
dealt with 80 S45 persons on the streets
and in places of squaior and vice.
These energetic and self-sacrificing
women have sat up and stitched 6, 497 gar
ments and have received into their patient
care and constant and loving watchfulness
1884 babies, that their overburdened faith
ers and mothers might have a chance of
gaining some livelihood.
But figures would only leave my readers