The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-24
NOTHING LIKE WORK.
How the Newman Rescue
Home Deals With Its
Inmates.
SOUND PRACTICAL CHARITY
Labor in Exchange for Lodgings
and Meals--A Bum Ex-
Termination.
SOUND PRACTICAL CHARITY

In the whole English language there is no
word which has SO dreadful a sound in the
ears OF the professional 'bum'' or tramp as
that little word work" 1t is poison to him..
The bare recollection of such a thing fills his
soul with loathing and disgust.
'sWhat dye thinke' Indignantly exclaimed
one member of the ragged vagabond frater-
nifty to another whom he had just Joined
after calling at the Newman Rescue Home,
on Grand street, and asked 'for a bite to
eat" "What dye think that chump said to
me? Said if I would take a ticket and work
| l could have a square meal. Work! Why,
cuss me, the perfeshion is going towel,
the dogs, only that's not what he said.
This ragged Robin had become acquaint-
ed with what is known as the ticket system
of charity, which an eminent humanitarian
says lis one of the best and most practical
| things ever introduced, and has done more
to rid my city of the professional tramp and
bum than any other thing"
Poormaster Hewitt, DR.. L.. J. Gordon,
| Chairman of the Relief Committee; every
| pastor in town who has had experience IN
dispensing charity, knows that giving money
to get rid Of unfortunate beggars at the
door, is the way to increase that nuisance,
the tramp and professional bum. While
really deserving people suffer for want of
assistance and are ready and very willing to
work, nine cases out of ten they get nothing,
| and the undeserving, lazy being who doesn't
want work but money, fares the better. As
distress and suffering is so rife now; as there
are more people out of work in this city than
has been known for years; as our charitable
institutions are taxed to the utmost to meet
the extra demands upon them for help, it is
only proper that charity should flow in these
| IL ~ tuIn,.a ~ ic most r1aAHnI. fhQt thnsn
only should be aided who are able and desir-
Gus of assisting themselves.
DON'T BUNS.
The Newman Rescue Home is starting a
crusade against giving people money VINO
| call upon householders for help, and is now
instituting what has been referred to as the
ticket system which has worked So well in
other cities, diminishing the number of dead
beats, trafnps and lazy ONES, and at the same
time e~ffec5ing q lasting good, both physical
and moral, upon thousands who would have
drifted into the ranks of the great army of
tranps who have no work and don't want
any.
THE CKE SYSTEM.
Now how does this ticket system operate!
There are two two kinds. One is furnished
to the inmate of the Home; the other is sup
piled to the public at a small cost and they
can distribute these tickets to deserving PEG
pie. The ticket given to the inmate has
numbers printed on it. The holder goes to
tine yard of the Home, performs so many
hours work at saving wood, making brooms
or other branches of industry, and in return
the yard superintendent punches holes on
that ticket, indicating the number of meals
or amount Of lodging the bearer is entitled to.
By doing an ordinary days work the
| ticket holder, instead of being fed on stale
bread and tainted meat, gathered up al
over the city ami liable TO disorganiz9 his
whole physical system through its impuri-
| 49, = ,,~,1sa ,-i%I1 ,Ool v-lnfacr.,,h nnI
| substantial meals and a clean, comfortable
bed, and in this way is educated in self re-
spect, whereby he MAJ not consider MIN
self a public beneficiary and object of
charity.
HOURS AND PRICE IF LABOR.
"Suppose a man coInes to the Home and
asks for relief. He gets a bed and does not
want his breakfast; he saws and splits half a
foot of wood, which can easily be done i'll an
hour. The price of the bed beng fifteen
cents. if paid for in cash, he is earning then
fifteen cents per hour. The anne applies to
a meal. Should he get three meals and a
bed he is expected to do two feet of wood,
which he can accomplish in four to five
hours. If hesgoes to work at seven O'Clock
in the morning and gets through at twelve.
/ he has the rest of the day to work in the
yard, or seek employment outside" Mr.. Rob
erts of the Boston Mission puts it, and this is
the case here in Jersey City at the Newman
Home.
TICKET FOR THE PUBLIC.
Mr.. Lawrence is going to furnish tickets
for the public, and these will bear on their
face:-"The bearer of this ticket performing
one hours work and complying with the
rules of the institution is entitled to one
lodging or meal in the Home"
So that when a man applies to a house
holder or a store, or at an Office, for a few
cents to get a meal or nights lodging, any
one having these tickets can give the APP
| plicant one, and he will receive what it
promises. Had money been given the
chances are that it would have gone for
drink.
HABITS IN THE HOME.
While an inmate or temporary s~ojourner
in the Home every person must take a bath
and be clean in his persons habits and
| speech. Smoking and the use of tobacco in
any form is tabooed, and finally all are ex-
pected to attend the divine services in the
Institution, which meetings are held daily.
In this way the Home proposes to do. has
done and will do a great good in Jersey
City. Manager Lawrence has received a
training in this Industrial Mission Work in
Boston, where the system managed by Mr..
7, D. Roberts, the author of ways and
Means" was conducting Union Revival ser
vices in the city, has reached a high state of
efficiency, and he, Mr.. Lawrence, will, if be
receives, as he ought, the cooperation of the
public, accomplish similar results in Jersey
City, which will no longer be considered as q
sort Of Mecca for the professional tramp and
bum.