New-York tribune., 1895-02-10
PART iii.
PAGES 10 TO 2e.
LENDING TO THE POOR.
a CRADLE WITH :, WONDERFUL RECORD.

WORK or TIE LOAN RELIEF ASSOCIATION AND
THE ST. BARTHoLOMEws LOAN BUREAU.
Probably no cradle in New-York City has ever
contained quite so many different styles and hues
and brands of babies as the modest little willow
basket owned by the Loan Relief Association OF
No. ls7 West Eghteenth-st. This little cradle,
whose only claim TO gentility is gay pink ribbon
interviewer between its fra ribs, is decidedly cos
mopoltan one. II knows no race, party nor creed
Its mission is among the dwelers of the big tene-
ment-houses OF tie poor and since Mrs NJ H.
Avery. president OF the association launched it
upon its career fifteen years it has visited
hundreds OF gloomy old ''rookeres.' and lullabys
in almost every tongue have been sung 1t. and
q vast and bewldering assortment of babies have
tried to Chamber over its sides in order
TO stand their heads and do other
foolish things Fat Dutch babies. big-eyed "dago"
babies. blond-haired babies. black haired babies
and babies with no hair at all to speak of have
taken their first peeps the world from the little
willow basket with the pink ribbons. and the only
kind OF baby in fact, which some time or otner
has not been rocked TO sleep in 1t is the fortunate
baby which arrived with silver spoon IN It's
mouth
The association lost the cradle once III uisaP
pearea suddenly and mysterously without leaving
the slightest clew behind. Tracers were SEM o"'
and finally. after hunting for days. IL was usooV'eu
swaying reckessly from the dizzy heishts oi rust!
and brought down two little coaolack youngsters
who had arrived in the world at the same time and
loked as much alike as two small cannon paiis
were discovered TRANQUILITY wrigglng about inside
The cradle has grown old in the service: the gay
mink ribbon is pink only in spots now, and the asso-
ciation which has place for every penny II can rake
and scrape. is eagerly waiting for some generous
minded citizen literally inclined dealer In willow
cradles TO present companion piece. in order that
the old veteran may go temporarily into drydock for
needed repairs Besides. there seems TO be an unusu-
ally large immigration of babies just now the asso-
ciaton says and two cradles could be kept constant
ly hled
The>cradle is only small item in the list Of ar
tcles which go among the poor patrons OF the asso-
oiaton, and 1t represents only one branch OF the
charitable work carried on by this benevolent soci-
ety. 1t loans almost every conceivable article which
could be of service in the sck-room, and although
many of the borrowers subject 10 all the temp
tations which poverty and misery thrust upon them.
article has ever been stolen, and the asso-
citation has yet to find an unwor by patron
4 coal club by becoming member OF which q
tcnement-house dweller may purchase coal by the
ton. instead of by the pail is another branch OF the
benevolent work carried on by the association This
winter eighty tons coal have been sold at great
" reduced price, and many families which, but for
the coal club would have suffered severely have
been kept warm and comfortable.
The acute suffering during the last eighteen months
has made necessary a great amount of extra Work,
and the association has been extremely active and
vigorous In the lending department three times as
much money has been advanced as IN any previous
YEAR Over s., 200 has been borrowed. and the same
honesty and promptness have been displayed in
meeting the obligation characterized the borrow
ers of the sick-room articles. Not penny has so
far been lost.
The little rooms on the second floor of the building
at No l67 West Eighteenth-st. have the air OF
prosperous woman's exchange. Every morning they
are crowded with stout old matrons, eager and
anxious to receive the work which is given them.
Little bundles of cambria and calico are turned
into aprons and towels with marvellous rapidity'
and over $50 has been paid out for sewing alone
The officers Of the association Miss NJ H. Avery
presdent: Mrs John Patton. first vicepresident MIS-
Robert Sharpe, second vice-president; Mrs w. W.
Harper, secretary. and Mrs II. G. Philips treas
urer are indefatigable In their efforts to bring ABOUT
the best possible results with the limited resources
of the society. a few figures will show how admir-
ably they have succeeded. Mrs. Husband, the mis-
sionary nurse has made in the last year l575 calls
upon sick families: employment has been iouhd lot
ls5 persons, of whom forty have obtained permanent
places $50 delicaces have been sent 10 the sck-room
and AS simple remedies have been furnished Inc
treasury fund is almost exhausted, ana the assoca-
lion is sorely in need Of money T. sor,e.
ST Barthoomew's Loan Bureau is soHe-
what similar institution which was organ,
i1fd fss a1oat aSaritaSle Sne society however
stricted to money. 1t was started by Iunds
personally gyep ,bee by ne Hgy p in this or
snv other Country decided that bureau could be
established where loans coric be mace 10 ne esIy H an M
curity which could be taken and that thefe WouI9
also be fair chance of repayment II was proposeu
to conduct the bureau purely on business principles
and in each case there was to ,o De hPe ,os vas
back of the chatel mortgage on whlcn the roam Mds
secured and besides this business element, carr % h
10 be taken that the recpler Is OF loans were 10 oe
respectable and deserving people - $780,, o.
1t was a hazardous undertaking. bur Dr Greer was h
result Of the first years work has show tha, Ia eon
dence and trust in the deserving poor was not ms
of Week
fhe first loans but II became apparent tndt .hls
amount would not equal the demand ah9 iSph ~
300 raised by the congregation OF 81; pa
A Nick might was appointed manager, ana IN tne
course OF the first eight months total sum OF ~
"a had be- been recsiued Loaned b. BACK in nsta,ments
All loans are made for one year. anu are pdS"oio
in small monthly instalments ,,,.o.,, o.o,ot no
easily explained People who have found themselves
suddeny reduced from comfortable independence "
beggary have been saved by the bureau ii"lt ~ M NJ
c,ufches OF the extortionate money 'snarks III has
saved the property Of families when would othei-
wise have been sold for storage ana mas gvei. ' h
fnon whom misfortune has fallen the power 10 He'p
Tp bs,rean is now lending about 5000 month
-rsolrces the returns for the year show an eH-
fremeIy satisfactory result Patrons have PAID or, on
nrornptness and only few borrowers. VINO nave
met unexpected reverses nave asked LOT an exosn @
sion Of time The bureau s Sdn al the
ent time show that the local Industrial conaltlon
extremely dull. and employment most dlfncut 10
II is dificult for those in comfortable. circum-
stances to appreciate the depths OF SUFFERING 10
which people In humble condition can fall through
isck Of credit They possess nothing which the
banks can take security and their only savatlon
IS the money lenders 1t Is TO supplant TINS class OF
established