The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-23
HELPING POOR PEOPLE.
Providence Charitable People and
Societies and Methods of Work.
SOME VERY PITlABLE CASES.
In Some Cases Indiscriminatc and Unwise
Giving Causes More Woe-The Societies
Investigate and Understand All the
Cases They Hear of and DO Much Good.

The destitution attending the severe
cold Of the present winter has not been
equalled in this city for many years. The
number Il the needy poor has taxed TO the
utmost the efforts not only OF the public
charities but private organizations have
been constantly occupied in at ending TO
the wants of those who called FOR aid.
Very few OF those comfortably situated
in life are aware OF the poverty, cold and
sickness which such weather as the past
four weeks causes. There are manv
classes Of laborers whom continued cold
deprives OF work. About all building
ceases for one thing. Day carpenters.
masons, stone workers, fathers. plas err
ers lo)ters, beside a vast number o. orii-
nary day laborers are thus deprived OF
their ordinary occupation. And the win
ter offers 10 other kin OF work TO which
they can turn thei attention.
\ very large majority OF these men ARE
sober and industrious. They have fami-
lies dependent on them and would gladly
get something to do III they could. But
in warmer weather their wages scarcely
admit Of their putting by anything for
an emergency and when such severe
cold weather stops all building
they aud their families must soon
face the pangs OF hunger and
cold. Ia November, too, nearly all city
work stops. No new sewers are con
structed and no roads repaired except in
case OF URGENT necessity. The loss of
{ il work deprives about 300 men Cf any
means OF SUSTAINING al cir families. when
they are workiLg (from March until No
VEN ber) they re ;eive 81 per week. Ger
tainly this leaves very little opportunity
during eight mOntns 10 save money
enough TO maintain a family during the
other four months, and they the most Sc
we're ones Of all.
About 500 Dependent Families.
It cert tiny does not ex < ;aiate the
I nth to state that there are five hundred
families in this city who to-day are de-
pendent upon charity TO keep hem fion
starvation. They are spread from Fox
Point 70 North End. from South proyi-
d nee 20 Olueyville and in many inst nee.
cases OF extreme dest tuition exist within
a few step- or the comfortable home. ~
those wuo do not know OF their neigh
bors' sum ring.
While recalling these appalling figure,
A. is pea ant to note the work dOne bv
some Of the charitable workers. TOO
much cannot bs said IN praise Of the
work Of OverScer Gu . mings. lie seems
never TO tire aud by deyoting his pe,.
sonal attention to tue numerous cal. for
aid he not only assists hundreds ~ those
who are needy, but saves tina .ity thous.
ands Of dollars in detecting the impt
who was = wha Is given them or tN-
change it Tor drink. i used To be not AN
unCou mon occurrence for one or two or
CARNATIONS u assist the same family.
who on investigation proved TO be either
selling their food or coal Or trading il for
beer. Within two Ucks "a needy man
applied for aid. lie YVES gwen ava orler
which inStesu Of being limited 10 the
r pul-r donations included some dclica.
cies for his invalid wife. When the