Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-18
TO ASSIST THE POOR.
Concsrtsd Action Necessary to PrsTsnt
Suffering In Richmond This Winter.
ABOUT ORGANIZED CHARITIES.
supsrintsndsnt Carter. the City Missions
and Citissps, Relief Association VIII do
Mueh-Peopls Generally Muss Help.

and Citi1sps, Relief Association VIII 10
Much-People Generally Must Help.
There was never q truer saying than
that trite one that zone half OF the world
knows not how the other half live" and
certain It IL that very few OF the resi-
dents of the better portions Of Richmond
can be acquainted with the suflerings and
needs Of the poor. whose humble. barren
homes are In back alleys and other Sc
Guided localities. In winter with INSULT
Gent clothing and shanties through which
the rude blasts of the wind play hide and
seek, and without the proper food to keep
animal warmth in their bodies. there is
little wonder that they suffer and die.
Many are the piteous cases that are
to be found in almost every section OF
this city. Right In the shadow Of the
rich mans door. were he to take the
trouble to look for them. might be found
people who are suffering for the neces-
stiles Of life, and, perhaps, some who are
absolutely dying slow death from star
walton.
HELP OF ALL NEEDED.
Much has been done to alleviate the
suffering Of our poor by the charitable
people within our midst. and much more
will be done by them. but with very little
money at their disposal. and but little
assistance from the citizens In general,
they find II hard task to cope with the
gaunt wolf Of poverty. The citizens OF
Richmood are naturally charitable peo-
pie. and at all times show their willing
ha
always with them. but they do not seem
to realize the exigences of the occasion.
and move on In the even tenor OF their
ways while the destitute remain within
their squalid apartments and suffer from
starvation and cold.
This winter bids fair to be a long. cold
one, and the suffering from the pangs
OF hunger which will assail many will be
intensified no little by the cold blasts
from the penetrating winds.
Many factories and mills which usually
give employment to a small army Of
people are only working half time, and
some have ceased work altogether until
trade opens. This entails no little suffer-
ing on the laborers. They are used to
earning a competency. but their modest
wages and large families will not Justify
them In laying aside anything for rainy
day.
From time to time the newspapers cali
attention to cases Of AFFECT poverty, and
no sooner do the public learn OF them
than purses are raised and the wants Of
those in need are temporarily supplied
The cases which are made public are
comparatively few, however, and there
are hundreds OF cases which never come
to light. and are only known to few
charitable women who devote their SER
vices to seeking out the needy and rem
dering them all the assistance in their
power.
THE CITY MISSION WORK.
The City Mission, noble band OF
women, with Mrs. A. Y Stokes as presi-
dent; Mrs. Raleigh Colston, as chairman
OF the Purchasing Committee, and an efh-
Client corps Of visitors. have done and are
doing much toward feeding and clothing
the needy. They have thoroughly dis
tricted the city, and the visitors go from
house to house In their respective dis
tricts and give judiciously what is en-
trusted TO them 10 distribute. To the old
and sick they give rations such as they
can procure and clothing is begged by
them from friends for those who are abb
solutely in need OF garments with which
to keep them warm.
The city gives two loads of coal each
winter and allows n small quantity of
meal weekly to those who haven't the
wherewithal to provide for themselves
This In many cases, and. In fact, In al
most every case. Is totally insufficient,
and were IL not for the help Of the ladies'
who regularly visit among them many OF
the poor would be unable to survive a
winter.
THE TREASURY ABOUT EMPTY.
The Citizens Relief Association. which
was organized last winter with Mr.. T.. A
Catlin as president, raised $500 which
was turned over 10 the City Mission for
distribution among the poor families. or
this amount only $40 now remains in the
treasury These gentlemen intend TO re-
new their exertions In behalf of the indi-
gent people OF Richmond this winter. and
II Is sincerely hoped that they Will meet
with success In their undertaking. a small
amount contributed through this assocla-
ton, or through the City Mission, from
every citizen who is able 80 to do Will so
lar toward helping along the good work
Last winter DR.. w. w. Parker. one OF
the most charitably-inclined gentlemen in
Richmond, 1t will be remembered. can
yassed the city. and securing a quantity
of old clothes, distributed them among
those who were In need. This was very
commendable and timely work. In almost
every well-to-do household there are suite
OF cast-off clothing. and IL properly APP
preached but few Of the families, If any.
would refuse to give them to those in
nedd.
A MOTHERS MEETING
The various churches in the city do a
great work among the poor in their
neighborhood. In one church several
charitable women have organized what
they term "a mothers meeting" and one
night in each week during cold weather
the poor mothers are gathered together
I'm the lecture room around q warm IRE,
and hot coffee or tea and plenty or
wholesome, substantial food is given
them. In addition TO this, each mother is
supplied with needle and thread and the
materials with which to make some
article, either OF bed-clothing or out-of-
door raiment. which they are most In
need of. One very good feature OF the
work Is that II establishes bond OF
sympathy among the women themselves,
and whenever 1t becomes possible, they
render assistance to one another. 1t is
very often the case that one poor person
may give valuable and timely help to an
other.
Superintendent Carter, Of the almshouse.
IS preparing for work in assisting the out
of-door poor during cold weather, and on
Thursday at his office, No. 9l6 east Broad
street, began registering the names of
those VINO are III ueeuy CIRCUMSTANCES,
and since that time the names OF over
five hundred families have been handed
In to him. The name Of every family
so registered is given to the ladies' of
the City Mission, and their visitors call
upon them, and ascertain II they are
worthy Of aid. Upon u certificate Of
merit being given by the ladies. the head
OF the family Is required to apply again
at the office Of Superintendent Carter,
when ticket emitting him or her to six
pounds OF meal each week for one month
for each person in the family Is issued.
COAL, WOOD, AND FOOD.
The ladies' of the City Mission have
entire control Of the issuance Of coal, but
in extremely cold weather this Is supple
mented with wood by the superintendent,
no family being allowed a larger quantity
during the winter than three small loads.
Nothing but meal and wood is issued