New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-27

HOU To Help md NOT H1RU
We rejoice to see humane persons anxious 10
relieve want We rejoice especially when W"
see them combining for this purpose. such ei-
forts ought to be organized, not indiscriMiha'p.
Charity is generally injurious and almost al
WAYS wastcful when il is bestowed by one III
dividual upon another. especially when the wv"
orc unknown TO each other. The vast stream
of contributions which viii flow this winter
from the benevolent 10 the needy ought 10 DC
carefully. sAeaciouSly and firmly directed so
that it may do all the good of which IL Is
capable.
In the distribution of relief these things ought
above all to be avoided The making OF lrcc
food available for tramps. or free lodgings OF
free clothes; and the offer of any attraction
whatsoever tending TO draw % NcW-l orN Inc
vast. widely extended mass OF vagabondaGe
and crime outside lis limits Tens OF thousands
of INDECENT brsottcd creatures would eagerly
accent an invitation 10 come here and be taken
care Of
With equal frmncss the following principles
ought 10 be applied in succorng the needy
who have Il fair claim TO assistance
|. No Gift Of any kind ought to I've made with
out previous Investigation Of the recipient ana
money especially ought never 10 be handed to
an unidentified bcgsar on the street
=. Gifts ought 10 be made. 80 far as possible
in the form Of opportunities 10 work rainier
than Of uncarned money or goods. In the nature
Of things there must be numerous exceptions
10 this rule, and just here comes in the need
of organization.
.. IN most cases The best Gift to the entirely
deserving is coal When the house is warm the
Inmates are better able to work and to endure
the lack Of things not Immediately procurahe'
and thc head of the house is not tempted 20
buv with his last nickel or 10 beg The brief and
unnatural comfort and Soacc Of alcohol.
+. The next best gift in many cases is rent
so that families may not be left without roof
over their heads.
). often as important as fuel or shelter Is
food which may h. absolutely necessary 70 I'll
one for Efforts in his OWE behalf. Not food M
a free restaurant. but IT the home Of the re-
ciuicnt T. be there consumed 10y the family To-
gcthcr II should be- given. ~ a rule. unc"ok"d:
in cases whore il seems rccc>~ary or better t.
give it cooked M" quantity @iven At one tim"
should generally nc smaller: but whcr" there
is Il family 10 he ted il should be given only
in such form and way rs 10 make certain III"
use of il hy The whole family toc' Their M home
not so that The head OF The family or any III
dividual member can OF must use il for himself
alone.
g. Much lower in The scale Of importance
than these features # wise >chcm" ci II ici
are tickets for meals and lodgings which should
he furnished only with The utmost diScrlmina-
ton. and which even then are likely to prove
IA means of allurng vagabonds and criminals
from all parts Of the country 10 New YORK.
These seem to us 10 BE- The main principles
in accordance with which The worl 81 RELIEF
now proceeding in haphazard way should be-
systcmatizcd and guided. An immense amount
Of money ana supplies Is sure 10 be provided!
by the benevolent people Of this city and there
is danger that il viii net only be lar@' ~ wasted
but that lis distribution will develop pcrma-
ncnt evils Every citizen Is bound - far rs
he can 10 avert those consequences by seeing
to il that his own gifts are not uuwiSely he
slowed.
OF different sort, though directly Suggested
by these considerations, is the relief that might
be furnished by the creation. under proper reg
ulalions. of great pawnshop similar in or
ganlzation and administration TO the Mont de-
PiGtd in Paris. In This city the pawnhr"krragr
system is little better than an instrument Of
ralaciiy. No greater service could be rendered
to the deserving poor in The present emergency
than by the establishment OF an INSTITUTION loT
leaning money to them upon the miscellaneous
articles which they cOnld spare now and which
they might redeem upon payment Of REASONABLE"
intcrcs hereafter. BY that means they might
relieve themselves from present distress with
ont loss of sclfrcSpcct or practical forfeiture
Of their property. 70 generous men Of wealth
who would like 10 unite In some undertaking
for the benefit Of the unfortunate but do not
! Il
legitimate pawnshOp on Il scale suitable 10 an
experiment and capable Of expansion If the
business warrants the investment.