New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-14
WINTER RELIEF.
used.

A season Of unprecedented distress Ike tha'
which has overwhelmed the poor OF ms low"
offers the largest facilities for lhl'"S'nic'
Urgent as is the necessity for relieving la"''ii'S
reduced 10 want and starvail"h' Inc "pi'-'""''
TO investigate each case before aSSlS''"'c =
rendered imperative by the ilnl"r'uill'' w
mands and duplicty of the und'S'rvlhE. N'
ant illustration of the need of uhc'asihI "".'"
fitness in dealing with applicants Tor h'lP i'"H
been offered in the interesting rrci'alS oi '"'
oncrations Of The Tribune Coal ana ood ul"'
nitiful story WAS told To the pastor Of the
Mariners Temple. and he sent miSN'ii'iH w.
the applcant'S home 20 find out the iacts "i '"'
case The cupboard WAS bare. the c"aillod WIS
o,,ntv there WAS little furniture. ami there
were many signs Of want. The mSNioh'r!
,,,,,ciors wore excited by the manner of the
onplicant and he recommended NOR" 'h"i
ouch investigation of the ease. An "l" ''"'"''
dealer who was sent 10 the tenement asccr-
,oinod that the woman had silk dresses ana
o,hor valuable clothing 10 sell. ard that sh"
.,r,.J in huv 4 new gown. Through other
sources il was learned that the FANNY hH'
given a birthday party within week ana IN
rcndcI considerable none; that th'lr DIES
with tradeSmcn were paid 10y checks on hi"N'
and finally. that the head Of the family hld
sovcrol hundred dollars on deposit which II"
could draw upon These applicants for coal ana
food did not need assistance ana were a''DhP'
Inc, IN i,npose upon the crcduliiv Of the char
liable organizations They would have been
successful if extraordinary pains had not been
taken TO expose their trickcry ami dishonesty
This incident cnforccs the moral that charity
oucht not 10 be- bestowed during this trying
winter without accurate knowledge or crlu'"l
examination Of the circumstances. lhdlN'rIh
inatc aims giving conducted on barge scale
would not only tend TO paup"rizc the W"rNhS
nonulotion of the town. but would concentrate
within its ovcrcrowdcd tenement districts i'h-
sands Of trampS and impost0rS from every quar-
fer Keen intelligent and systematic methods
Of investigation must prcccdc measures "l T'-
lief or charity VIII do more harm IMAM goa.
The Tribune Coal and Food Fund has S'cur"i
immediate recognition ana generous measure
of pubc support because II provides thor-
ough system Of examination before families III
distress are helped. Work which the subScrib-
ors 10 the Fund are unable Ia do themselves
is done for them, and their money Is expended
for the relief of the deserving poor without
dollar being wasted upon mpostorS AMI ilfinpS.
The subscribers also have the aS>uElncr mat
not n dollar is diverted for expenses or salaries
| and that every penny is applied directly 10 III"
| necessities Of the poor. Moreover. through
| favorable arrangements made on a large scale
for securing supplies of coal AMI unco"k"i
food. the purchasing power of every dollar Is
| greatly increased.
Cavlcrs have cynically asserted that former
| pcrodS Of panic, depression and distress nave
been characterized 10y religious rcvivalS. where
| AS no movement OF that nature has accompanied
the present hard times Do not these critics
| overlook the evidences Of practical Christianity
| and bcncvolcncc shown in almost every large
| town in minlstcrng to the relief Of the poor:
| How uuck and generous is the response which
| bos bccn made 10 The Tribuncs appeal 10 the
public. How effectively have the ARRANGEMENTS
| been made in n single fortnight for systematic
| and thorough measures Of relief, what IN
| army Of helpers enlisted from The most prac-
| teal and efficient charitable associations * now
cmplovcd in conducting this work. These are
| mottrrs Of which we have accurate knowledge"
| Inf onart from this scheme of winter relief in
| which Tribune readers are directly Interested.
whnt u magnificent work of mercy and bcncvo-
lence has been undertaken under one form or
another In every American city during this
season of unparalleled distress. Surely these
things are indications Of Il widespread revival
of the kind of religion preached and praciiScd
| nineteen hundred years ago by the inspired
| Galilcan. who worked among the poor. II is
a religious revival wholly in accord with the
genius of primitive Christianity ana win the
| requirements Of practical age.