Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-25
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES %, 1894.
A Christmas Turkey for Every Family


Most OF us have already given some
Thought 10 Christmas. We have been
,canpjns advertisements OF Christmas
roods. considering what presents we
mould buy for this or that dear one. and
Manning how 10 spend our holidays In
The oonpanionship Of relatives and FRIENDS
We want 20 have q Jolly. good time, OF
sourse; VIC wish 90 be happy ourselves
md desire that those about us may IKE
wise bless the coming OF that day and re-
Io,ce in the good cheer II brings; but how
can we enjoy ourselves when wo Know
Mat poverty stalks In so many homes
md hunger sits at boards where plenty
was wont to reign?
This IL going 10 be a great question with
us az Christmas approaches. II is gong
10 Rsaw its way to our conscience. Our
Ihrstnas dinner will be unsavory eaten
with the knowledge that near to us are
families not only without Christmas luxu-
rice but without bread or meat: families
not only without the blazing fuie log'
but whose only fuel is the cinders gather
I'd from the ash-heaps In the alleys and by
ways Of the city.
No kindly heart can remain untouched
ut the sight Of poor child. wholly I'M
provided with Christmas presents, linger-
ing longlngly about a group Of well-dress-
ell. welI-fed. presentation children. 1t is a
Umitlng sight.
But such sights are 10 be seen every
year. There is even worse in prospect
This year The odds are that that poor
child Will not only have no presents
but will be pinched by hunger and will
Be shlvoring from cold
For year or two there has been
great business depression throughout the
land. throughout the business world, in
Need. Richmond and Manchester have
not been exempt from the consequences
Of this depression. We are Of the opinion
hat we have suffered less than
most communities. but still we
Nave suffered much. There are
amongst US clerks. statesmen. mechanics
Iaborers, and others who have been I'M
employed for months. They have been
getting poorer and poorer Their clothes
IRE now almost in rags; their larders are
empty: their credit gone, and they are
IN arrears for rent. Sad prospect! What
sort of Christmas can these people and
the children Of these people expect? And
ure we TO sit idly by and eat and fatten
while such suffering continues? on. no;
that viii never DO
Let US give more thought to our poor,
and begin so 10 do at once. Let them
be in our minds every day. and particu-
larly on Thanksgiving and Christ
,nas-Day. The difficulty of our situation
Is increased tenfold from the fact that
most of our poor are people unused to
receiving aims, and ii Is no easy matter
20 ascertain and relieve their distress.
Let US give instant and constant help
10 the poor; help through the charitable
ORGANIZATIONS that now exist and in such
other ways as may be best And why
should We not determine that every
worthy Richmond and Manchester fam
tIy should have turkey for Christmas?
a big undertaking. is it? Yes, but not
too big II we are in earnest and II we
organize IN a sensible way and call upon
all who can do so 20 give literally OF his
means We do not know precisely how
this object can be best accomplished
we should like to have suggestions on this
polnt-but we believe that II Is practical
be. Also. that It would be vastly to
Richmond's credit and would endear us
very much to IL loyal class OF our popu-
iation.