The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-30
From the Minneapolis Tribune.

From the Minneapolis Tribune.
win the continuation OF cold weather
ana consequent suffering among the poor,
the public naturally recalls the institutions
organized for dispensing charity To the
credit of the public be it said that it is
not content to leave all with the chart
table organizations, for there is much help
extended privately to those who are in
need On the other hand, there is pro-
portion of the public that makes its con-
trlbutlonS through certain channels of
Ganized effort and then steps aside to
watch the leaven working.
Among the most prominent institutions
giving help and assistance to the poor.
ana is reversely supported by the public,
Is the Associated Charities; the monthly
reports from it's business department give
statements of the disposition of money,
clothing and material aid. The public, in
perus1nS these reports and noting the small
expenditures of cash, at the same time
conscious of it's individual subscription,
wherewith it had hoped to wipe out a sense
OF obligation, makes complaint that it is
not receiving its moneys WORTH that
there is little being done by way of relief,
ana that employees are drawing good sal
aries in return for small service.
The casual visitor to the Office of the
Associated Charities, where it is located on
second avenue south at the corner of
sixth street, can scarcely appreciate the
amount of labor accomplished in the space
OF l0 hours constituting day; it is none
the less labor because it consists in an
exchange of words, the receipt of conf
dences, the giving of counsel, rather than
in visible transactions. The occasional OBJ
server can have not an idea OF the vari
ETY. of interests represented in the duties
of single day, nor of the multiplicity of
heartaches which throb out their pain at
the door of the relief bureau, at the en-
trance of the emergency fund. 1t is not an
easy task, that OF serving the manifold
wants of suffering people, and the day of
lShteSt labor has at the close its measure
OF sin and want of misery and Woe
The poor have come to the door and
Knocked, but not in vain. The applicants
have not always received money; it is not
always that they have demanded. In the
majority of instances they have been given
that which far better for them, and
for more suited to their needs, word of
advice, suggestion of right living, a help
over dark place in the way of life, a
guide to an opening out of the woods, a
cudgel to beat away the wolf from the
door. These have come in directions to
avenues of employment, i'm actual openings
TO ways of service, in provision of homes
for the weak and friendless in the giving
OF strength through a spoken word of
cOuragement sometimes, in prOfferS of
timely assistance to tide over a wearisome
hour, and all done in the name of friendly
interest, as brother to brother, woman
to woman. 1t is the word Of honest advice,
as to how to turn a well earned penny.
that will help in the long run, rather than
the actual gift of dollars, of money, soon
spent and no prospect of more unless they
come from the same source. Such is char
ity in the highest and truest sense of the
word, a charity that helps man to his
feet again, and gives woman the
strength to go out to service for herself to
provide in turn for those depedent upon
her.
In order to comprehend as nearly as pos
sible the manifold workings of this helpful
and well directed institution which has
TRUE CHARITY" FOR ITS WATCH
WORD.
is 1t too much to ask for a day in it's
courts, where unknown and unobserved
the we'll meant outsider may note the
progress of the hours and follow the cheer
full performance of eXacting duties? The
following is a transcription of the actual
occurrences of single day in the office of
the Associated Charities. The general man
ager of which is the alert and
ready to answer calls for assistance and to
follow out a line of duty which his judg-
ment shall deem the wisest
1t was day of many duties, and vet not
unusual in the number of it's
calls, the nature of it's services or the
direction of it's benefits. The personal at
tention given to each call in turn, empha-
sized the fact that there was no dis
tinction of social condition or class, and
the principles of the organiza ton were ex-
empllhed in the care in which each
was followed by personal investigation.
and an effort to save the self respect of
those in want, only temporarily maybe,
until each was on his feet again and able
to walk alone. This is the work which the
public is supporting by it's contributions
to the Associated Charities and is per-
sonal work of far more value than fuel or
groceries?
1t was a bitter cold morning, and the
wind was swirling the snow about the
door. making the prospect of a day by the
fireside far more attractive than the pros
ecuton of stern duties without. The wind
beat a savage tattoo upon the window
pane, and chased the mercury deep down
in its tube, while the few wayfarers abroad
at this early hour mufed to their
ears for protection from the cold and
hurried as if legion of evil imps were at
their heels. For those who could sit by
the hearth in comfort there was plenty of
cheer: for those who had no fire to warm
their chilled bodies, and must hasten lily
clad into the waste of swirling snow and
biting wind God pity them
1t was breakfast hour and we'll eparad
viands were being stored away against a
hard days work, when there came a ring
at the door, and a policeman was ushered
in He told miserable tale about a wo-
man living in one Of the poorer parts of
the city, whose husband had deserted her
and left her destitute. Immediate relief
was necessary, and
THE DAYS DUTIES BEGAN
with visit at the dismantled home. She
was young woman Of hardly more than