Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-26

snd the day before To the suffering poor OF this
city by the little children Of the schools,
through the Associated Charities.
Greater still is the work Of amelioration and
relief. nav Of absolute succor from starvation
and death BY freezing that remains to be ac-
eomplished
You, who at your cheerful Preside after din
ner this evening read these lines take unto
yourself comfort aud self-satisfaction II you
contributed dms toward the fund that was
distributed Saturday. For, know you. it was "a
noble work that done BY the aggregation Of
those dimes, OF which your own formed a frac-
tion.
You, who did not Contribute. remember that
privstion and want cold hunger and sickness
still exists about you, probably within a stone
throw OF your own COW home, and that organ
ned charity stands ready 20 furnish a discrlm-
mating medium Of communication between
plenty and poverty.
Central Washington.
Over FIVE hundred families, nearly two
thousand human beings, in this city. were sup
piled yesterday with food, fuel and clothing
from the central Office of the Associated Chari-
ties alone. The supplies were not scattered in
discriminatory abroad among people who posi-
bly, might not need them, among mercenaries
who might ask simply to get something Tor
uctuluE. out were haaSfu HLtio tA5l NOAlb 49,
stomaehs that we're empty and hungry. warm
the wind-sWept homes 81 the poverty stricken
aud elothe pinched and eInaclsted forms that
were shivering
Every recipient Of the charity thus dispensed
previously known TO the dispensers TO be
worthy and needy. Thus nothing wasted
and every penny made To fulill its mission
BY bringing its equivalent Of relief.
The Associated Charities. Hs represented by
Mr.. L. =. Emery. undertook the work Of sup
plying the poor of the northern and western
sections Of the city with portion of tho con-
tributions OF THE EvESTNd STAR Santa Claus
Club. To do this about twenty five people and
twelve teams were kept busy all day Friday aud
Saturday.
certain portion Of the supplies
brought 10 the eentraeofice. on street near
9Th. and carefully sorted in a room devoted to
that purpose. Then packages of different sizes,
for small and large families. we're made up and
prepared for delivery. The packages con-
tanned four. potatoes, beans, coffee. tea and
sugar in proportionate quantities. together
with some candy and nuts. There were other
packages containing shoes and clothing and
orders for fuel
DESERVING CASES OF DEsTIrUTIoE-
Next came the work of distribution. and it
was here tina, the excellent system Of the As
ISOLATED Charities was brought into>plsy. Mr..
Emery had a list Of 500 or 900 persons and
families who were supposed to be needy The
list had been furnished BIZ school children and
Others. The list was carefully revised and COM
pared with the regular lists Of the association,
which we're always on file, per-onal estlSations
were made In many cases and the whole slftsd
down to a collection Of names of people about
whose needs there doubt.
This accomplished. the WORK Of distribution
proceeded rapidly and systemati cally- The
supplies we're loaded into Wagons. the driver
and his assistant furnished with the names and
N.Nft
day the wagons ratified through streets and
dismal alleys on their errands Of mercy A
great many people called at the Office who were
IN immediate and pressing want. and their ap-
peals for help were answered on the spot.
MANY pitiful cases Of destitutiOn were dis
covered by agents of the Asso ciated Charities
IN their rounds. Every was bad enough,
but some OF those reported showed the exist
ense % degrees Of poverty and want narrowing
fxtent and almost beyond belief in a COM
munity lie this
The worst cases we're found among white peo-
pie The record shows that the appeals for
help are from four white families to one colored
family. In the majority OF cases the appli-
csnts are vOm-n-wIdOws. with small helpless
children The cases found not only In the
outlying and poorer districts OF the city. bat IN
quarters where the caslsl observer would think
the dsellers were at least In comfortable cir
cum-;snce-. In one instance the agents found
n refined and delicate looking lady with three
small chlidren living IN a room mat was almost
bare. without IRE or food in the house. The
lady was a widow who had been employed in
the census Office on clerical work. but lost her
place when the force cut down and alb
rOlutely without cent OF a friend She had
eked out . precarious living by sewing. but
sickness from exposure and want had cut of
even this meager income The supplies given
her Saturday will run for day or two. but
what viii she do then?
STILL MORE FUNDS NEEDED.
The Associated Charities is glad to have
smeliors;ed the condition OF many people
on Christmas day but il must be borne in mind
IL is said at the central Office. that piteous ap-
pesl- are coming In every day for food and fire
and that there Is always room for dollar bill
10 perform 4 mission OF mercy.
In such a rigorous spell OF weather as now
prevails there IL necessarily much suffering
from cold among the destitute. Only three
tons OF coal are now on hand and the supply of
food contributed last week Is already exhausted
when q STAR reporter called at the central
ONCE this morning the room filed with
poor women, each with a story Of suffering and
want. They tell the stories of their own hard
ships in stoical manner, but when thew speak of
the little children at home. whose behalf
they come. there is always tremor in the
voice and softening Of the hard lines in their
facsa
West Washington.
All day Saturday Mr.. Mitchell and Mr. Janney
continued the distribution in Georgetown of
the goods which had been donated through the
influence Of The STARS Santa Claus Club, and
when they closed the Curtis building over sixty
families had been provided with material for
good, wholesome Christmas dinner Aud how
delighted they were- Many who had looked
forward to nothing better than a few cold
victuals for their holiday meal we're so over
come with the gifts that they were unable to
say anything but Thank you, kind sir" and
vent away with their package OF groceries and
. heart full OF gratitude. Though the older
folk we're zppreciatiye their feelings were az
nothing compared with those OF the children.
How happy they were over the few TOYS thew
received IL they had received the presents OF
. milionaire's they could not have been
more JOYOUS. They danced and sang and blew
their tin horns to their hearts content The
committee Of investigation found the greatest
want and need among the children
onATIYuL FOR GIFTS or CLOTHING
Besides being poorly fed many were almost
destitute Of any clothing. For this reason
the orders for 100 pairs of shoes and 200 pairs
Of stockings were found TO be the most useful
presents. To the most deserving were given an
order for a pair Of shoes and two pairs of
stockings So great was the demand for these
necessary articles Of clothing tia; the supply