Evening star., 1894-03-12
WORK, NOT CHARITY.
What the "Ten" Have Succeeded in
Doing In jackson Alley.


A charity auction is rather a novel af-
fair, but In this particular case, namely, the
aucticn which will be held at the residence
of Mrs. Charles NJ. Ffoulke on the evening
of March II. the object is still more novel.
1t is to furnish funds to enable some of
those who are in need of help to helm
themselves. Experience which is of value
in assisting the poor as in everything
else has demonstrated to those who have
been for the past five mouths interested
in the residents of jackson alley that this
is the best form of help 1t is a story
of practical work with practical methods.
ard like all true stories it has the fas-
cir alton of tale from & book At lea st
so 1t seemed as II vas related to a Star
man by Mrs. Herbert Owen who is one
or those who are actively identified with
this worthy effort. Five months ago. SO
tne story runs, at the beginning of the
hard winter, two of u.s. started our to
see what they could do to make things
better in jackson alley. There vera about
hve hundred people there and their destitu-
tion has been extreme, both among the
white and the colored residents 1t was
found after thorough and careful investiga-
tlon there were honest respectable families
there VINO had never needed help before
starving in silence and despair
The men had been without work GO long
that their little savings were gone and
they were brought face to face with slow
starvation One family would not ask for
help because or the pride which restrained
them from asking charity. even thonoh
munger was gnaNing at their lives In on o
case the nelghbors heard the children
crying and reported that something was
wrong in that house. When the ease was
investigated 1t was found that there was
neither food nor fuel in the house and the
thrce-year baby had sucked its little fingers
tlli the blood came. Then the tive of us"
nj 1n1 fttA
cor fdence that the other eight would
materialize. However, a meeting was held
anu the unanimous conclusion was reached
that an appeal would be made to the Asso-
clated Charities and to the police. A will
ing cooperation was secured from both
these sources. But a short experience soon
convinced them that what was needed in
that alley was work more Than mere help.
Giving Out Work.
doiatlon Of canton flannel was OBJ
tained from the Associated Charities and
garments especially for children were cut
and given to the women to make and they
were paid when the completed garments
were returned. They began with four
women and last week work was given out
to forty-two. The two of us" girls had
been in the meanwhile rein nforced by the
willing hands and heads of six other girls
OHcers were elected, among whom was
treasurer, whose duty it was to secure
funds to carry on the work. At the Feb
rIary meeting of the board of managers
of the Associated Charities the treasurer
OF the ten outlined the scheme of work
which was as follows:
We wished to buy about $50 yards of
cloth a week. canton flannel, unbleached
cotton and stout ginShlm. This we would
cut out into garments, mostly for children.
We had rented a small room in the alley
Tor our headquarters at a dollar month,
and three times a week committee was
In attendance to give out work and re-
ceive all appeals for help. We paid the
women off once a week, On Friday. After
the garments are completed and returned
we use them to clothe children going to
school, old and sick people. and turn over
a good proportion to the Associated Chari-
ties to use in the same way in other parts
of the city"
The board of managers empowered the
treasurer of the ten to brIy all the cloth
needed and send the bills to theta.
The Wages TO lie Paid.
Material was thus secured, but 1t was
Necessary to get the money to pay the
women. Every week the number of appli-
carts for work has increased and the ay,-,
reals for aims Good and fueD have de-
creased.
one mistake was made in the beginning.
The rates for the work while moderate
were so liberal as to tempt some women
to give up work they had ard take to sew
ing. This has been reCtiiei.
Naturally as the number IF workers has
increased the pay roll has grown heavier
and il has been hard work to manage 10
get enough in the treasury to meet weekly
demands. In view OF these facts there
has been an earnest Can,;tgs made and
kind hearts and hands have responded to
the calls and the cute is tha coming
charity auction at Mrs Charles NJ.
FfOulkes