The evening times., 1895-11-16
POVERTY BEGINS 1OP|NcH7
Police Headquarters Visited by
Msny in Need Of Food and Fire.
SAD CASE Oh. A YOUNG GIRL
She Came Here to Get Government
Position, Failed and Was Starving.
One Woman Taken Out of the
Clutches of II Usurer-NO Funds on
Hand to Relieve Applicants.

The cold damp weather of the past few
days is beginning to make the poor of the
| District apply for help from the police md
| other sources. Already innumerable calls
| for assistance have been received by Chief
| Clerk Sylvester, of the police department.
| The destitute are also making applica'
| ton at the station house in the precinct
in which they live, and the lieutenants OF
| the precincts asked this morning how much
| could be allowed them toward helping the
needy.
Mr.. Sylvester says that there Is no money
| with which 10 help the people. but that
| in extraordinary cases food aud fuel will
| be given them.
One of the saddest cases that have yet
come tn the notice OF Mr.. Sylvester was that
of young lady about seventeen years old.
She had absolutely no means, and had had
| no food for some time.
She came here short time ago with the
expectation "f getting a Government posi-
ton, but when sic arrived found IT inn
possible Ia do so.
SHE NEEDED HELP.
She came from Boston, and is Il well cdu-
Gated and refined young woman. She has
been living In a room on one of the princi-
pal business streets of the city. She was
helped out.
she will obtain employment in a few days
in q printing house. This, he thinks, was
one M the most deserving cases that have
come tu his notice this winter.
Another case was that Of a widow who
was living IN The northeast. She has two
children and was without food or 1uel and
was threatened with eJectment. She was
given all that could be spared her. AMI IL is
not thought that she will be ejerted for
some time, as Mr.. Sylvester has written the
landlord.
Another widow living on New Jersey
avenue made application " Mr.. Sylvester
for aid. She was an intelligent looking
woman, and stated that il was the first
time she had ever applied for assistance.
She was at one time employed in the gov
ernment printery, but was discharged and
has since been unable to get back. She
was given fuel and provisions.
IN A UsURER'S CLUTCHES.
Another case of destitution resulting
from a discharge from the Government
Printing Office was that OF a widow who
had mortgaged her furniture To IA usurer
and who was about 10 take it away from
her. She had 10 food or fuel.
She WAS given both, and the usurer was
written TO ana told that ne could not take
the furniture. Mr.. Sylvester says the police
department Will protect the Woman and
her furniture.
a family living in the Southeast was sent
TO the police department by the Central
Union Mission people. The mother has been
sick with rheumatism for about three
months, and yesterday she and her three
children had nothing 10 eat and very little
fire. She was given food and coal.
Another case was that of "a woman who
had been deserted 10y her husband, had 10
fire or food, and was expecting to be CON
fined in a few days. She was given as
siStance.
OTHERS WHO AREIN WANT
An old woman who was dismissed from
the Government Printing Office when the
wholesale discharge was made last sum
mer, was another applicant for help. She
is very old, aud has mad neither food nor
fire for several days. She has had to rely
upon the generosity of her neighbors, as
she was unable to get out OF bed on account
or rheumatism. She WAS assisted.
A man who is well educated applied for
help this morning. He says that he has
one child, and that the room in which they
live is so damp that Il fire has to be kept
Soing all The time. He has rheumatic
troubles, and wanted fuel. Hegotit.
As all the cases coming TO Mr.. Sylvester
are Investigated 10y the police there is no
chance Tor fraud. He gets innumer3 ble
letters every day from imposters. The
latest wanted the loan of enough money to
start store. 1t is needless TO say that
IL was not given him.