The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-22
THE COUNTY7S POOR.
SeIectman Geddes Reports Many
Cases of Absolute DestitutiOn

SeIectman Geddes Reports Many
Cases of Absolute Destitution.
This week." remarked Selectman
Geddes yesterday, has been one of the
worst l have experienced among the
poor. More cases of absolute deStitu-
ton and almost starvation have come
under my observation in the past week
than during any previous month, and
if the present state of poverty and
want continues the charitable societies
will of necessity have to devise some
means of raising funds to aid to a
greater extent than they are now doing
in caring for those dependent upon
charity for their meagre existence, for
the tax is becoming heavier on the
county than its financial condition will
allow"
DO you find any striking cases of
absolute destitution?" Queried the re-
porter.
Yes almost daily. only a few hours
ago a rather tall, bright, Intelligent
lady stepped briskly into my Office, and
| though the temperature was hoVer1ng
near zero, her apparel was hardly suf-
fcient for a summers day"
"Is Mr.. Geddes in?' she timidly
asked"
Upon informing her that l was the
individual she was seeking she made
the startling declaration that herself
ana three IllIe tIlIlul NViC "AeiiOoe
any food and had not even sufficient
fuel with which to build fire. My
children. the oldest of which is four
years, and the youngest nine months.
are now at home without any fire to
keep warm to say nothing of having
ANYTHING to eat. My husband has been
gone for three weeks and is now hunt
ing work in the country
Accompanying her to her 1ttie
home l found a sad condition of at
fairs. The furniture consisted OF a
table. two chairs, a bed and small
stove. The oldest child, girl, was
sobbing and looking as If she had peen
CRYING for some time. The second
child a. boy probably three years old.
tboreh he looked nearly frozen, yet for |
the time being seemed quite happy IN
irving to make a doll from some !
old rags. The baby was asleep IN an !
old rickety crib. In the expression OF
it's face could be seen the want OF SUI
ficient food. While the mother was
exerting herself to secure the neces-
stiles of life for the older children, the
baby. whose food depended upon the
mothers nourishment, plainly showed
signs of continued want.
1.-The only thing in the line OF food |
corld find was a very small, dry, hard
niece of bread and a soup bone. The
ialhtesr. however. had been used three
times to make broth from, and was
then waiting for a fire to be used the
fourth time.
".Ol1r Christmas this year will be a
cherries one sobbed the mother IF
7 cam only get something to keep my
children warm and free from want l
will not let them know when the day
comes upon which the friend of the
meek and lowly was born, and they
will not feel disappointed if Santa
Claus does not call upon them +"
Have YOU had any other cases as
destitute as the one you have just
related?' was asked.
Eyes: four this week.
And. of course. you bring relief to
all?"
"Oh. yes 1t only takes a short time
TO investigate their real condition and
relieve the suffering. Often when 1
ind very sad case I get temporary
help from the neighbors until I can I
send a permanent supply from up I
own
Are you going to remember the
most worthy Door With anything extra
or Christmas?"
I would like very much to do So"
eplied the selectman. ',This depends
sartly. however. on the public. We
lave arranged to receive at our office 4
lere. and will distribute anything
hat WGll help TO make some poor
'erson's Christmas dinner more pal I:
table" =
Just then the selectman turned to /;
ait upon a lady of bent and withered ):
orm, whose head was crowned with II
he silver of many winters, and who 4
ad come to seek admission to the q
,unty infirmary. Before finally part n
e with the scribe, however, Mr. Ged- 81
IS said: Tell your readers to re- IS
ember the poor. / believe that when "