The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-22
A Timely Contribution from
an Authoritative Source.
DOWN NEAR THE ROOT OF POVERTY.
Immediate Necessities Must he sup
piled, but There Il More Than That
TO Do-"IIelper Gives Some Vail
uable liints.
PRovIpENoE, Feh. 21, 1s9l.

stances. IL the family is much reduced
care must be used as to the nature OF food
supplied.
In such case, put yourself in their
place. What would assist you to recover
health and strength would in most cases
apply TO others; therefore, il follows:
First supply what is needed for food and
nourishmept; for sick provide physi-
clan, II needed; il mother Is i'll, get
person you are assisting TO help out
through the day in return for what you
are doing for them, or pay for service
rendered. Look TO children, see that they
are kept clean and warmly clad to avoid
sickness. IL father is not at work, find
him work if only for a few days. Nothing
braces up the whole family equal TO this;
no deserving person wants to be an object
of charity IL able to work. Explain the
situation to others who may assist you to
get work for the family; you will find
that very large per cent. of those whom
YOU approach are willing to assist
in this direction, and in little while you
will have some six or eight assisting you
to find employment, relieving you in a
measure and enabling you to extend your
field of usefulness.
A family so cared for is, TO all intents
and purposes, your own. AS such you
have perfect right to know all there is
pertaining to them and to fix certain rules
of government to be followed, that in your
Judgment, will the soonest make them
self-sustaining and keep them so. At least
80 per cent of the poverty existing can be
traced to lack acknowledge OF how to buy
and how TO judiciously use what is
bought. Particularly is this so with ar.
4;oIoo ~ fooJ Ac on ill,,ot rnf ion IN kc
FIeischmans yeast. Inall well-conductcd
kitchens it is generally understood that
half cake will suffice to raise batter
sufficient for five loaves of good size,
yet case in hand has used right
along two whole cakes of yeast to
obtain the same result, possibly on the
principle the more yeast the more bread,
not appreciating the fact that it is the
flour that forms the substance of the loaf
and yeast only an incidental thereof. For
the benefit OF inquiring minds, will say
that the half yeast cake referred to as
used is baking OF nine pounds of
good bread. AS further illustration,
many say they want meat daily without
which they can't get up dinner, and il is
here much of the small earning are vast
ed. The charitably disposed are met on
all sides by problems and difficulties of
this character, and it becomes largely
an educational mission after all, and
much patience is required, and you often
find yourself asking is it worth the effort?
There can be no question that it is worth
all your trouble; all the instructions are
not lost or forgotten; the children coming
up may partake OF it and profit by it.
Many families are today suffering in con-
sequence of an ambition to stand on an
equality with their more fortunate neigh
bors, and thus pianos, sewing machines,
furniture ETC., are bought on installment
at double their actual value; are
partly paid for; hard times come,-no
work, no money. The goods are taken
from them and their misery is complete
and their spirit broken. Thus the char
liable find them and start in to lift them
to their feet, pull them over the hard
spot, and they begin over again, il is
hoped to profit by the experience of the
past. III the advantage could be
impressed upon them of saving of
five to 10per cent. of the income, charity
would become obsolete; but the family
cannot live on what they get as it is be-
cause they waste from 80 to 10 per cent. of
what is put into food largely through
ignorance of not knowing what to buy
tion with the least outlay and properly
cooking the same. The amount of tea
and coffee wasted is astounding. One
pound OF tea per month for family of
three is ample, and yet we have in mind
families that waste 2 lbs. of tea,
and from ~ to lbs--ofL coffee
in the same time. Here, again, they
must be taught the art OF tea and
mn L to
the whole list of requirements for the
household, and too often the small traders
charge outrageous prices, such as 35cts. a
peck for potatoes, 75cts. bag for -four,
36cts. pound for butterine. We have in
mind on Atwells avenue a grocer who
honors order from Mr.. Cummings of 81 90
per week, taking 75cts. of it for bag of
-four.
Cases sent to hospitals are OF more than
common interest. A recent case sent for
lying-in had a rheumatic trouble. The
physicians in charge confronted the pa
tient with the cheering information that
the limb would be stiff for life and il was
OF no use TO try to do anything
for that, considering the condition of the
patient. This information was OF nature
TO put the person in an elegant frame OF
mind. And then undertakers try your
patience, charging go to s25 for burying
child that, at the outside, should not
exceed s14 in such cases as we
have under consideration. We find
leased furniture that will be taken
away unless paid for, and a. II has already
been paid for once or more these things
come hard. Fortunately some of the
dealers have souls within reach. and the
person assisting must labor TO reach set
tlement through them, although at this
time the afore- mentioned souls are much
contracted--possioly by the severity OF
fhe weather.
Points. Try 10 keep the family clean:
try 90 keep them in health; try TO get
them employed; show them what can bc
done with dolnr, (you NAV learn some
thing yourself on this point):
show them that 20 cents per
day will provide three good meals OF
wholesome food for seven persons, n
st least three OF them are children: show
them that si.05 per day will feed and
furnish fuel; show them that az cents
more per head will pny the rent