Evening star., 1895-01-11

many acts of Christian kindness that are
being done on every side and all the time.
Fighting Cold.
The question of supplying fuel Is also
one that gives the greatest trouble just
| now There is'a supply at the headquarters
| of the mission, but the difficulty is in get
| ting it to the people who need it most.
Many come with little baskets and carry
peck or two of coal with them, but this
is no small hardship, as most of these
people live at a distance from the center
of the city. Many, too, are sick and bed
ridden and cannot come at all and the
mission has no wagons to send coal and
wood to them. The dealers have been un-
usually generous this winter and have sup
piled many load of fuel to the poor since
cold weather set in. Efforts are now on
foot to make arrangements with dealers
in the different sections of the city to honor
orders in their vicinity and to deliver coal
and wood in small lots to needy homes,
bushel at a time perhaps. There is very
little profit to the dealers in such business,
but there is every reason to believe that
the efforts will be successful, for very few
turn deaf ear nowadays when the needs
of the situation are fairly set before them.
A Pound Party.
The attractive homo of the Legion of
Loyal Women, 413 10th street, has been
open all day for visitors, the occasion be-
ing pound party given for the relief of
suffering among the very poor of the CITY,
At an early hour this morning people be-
gar to arrive, carrying with them pack
ages of every conceivable description, and
all day long there has been steady stream
of willing givers. The gifts were not by
any means restricted to food, but ran
through the whole list of articles that
would be of use in times like this. Cloth
i--"~ 3. y Ats ord children was received in
considerable quantities, and many a per-
son can now be warmly clad who would
v.,.cr"Ise nave beea Compelled to go with
very little clothing.
In the center of the hall was placed a big
packing box, and this began to fill up rapid
ly with contributions of provisions. Among
the gifts that had been received before
noon were several big bags of flour and as
many of meal. There We're groceries of all
sorts, salt, baking powder. coffee, tea and
a considerable quantity of fruit that will
be more than welcome at homes where
there is Sickness. The work of relief was
undertaken originally by the Legion of
Loyal Women for the purpose of assisting
widows and orphans Of soldiers of the late
war, but this winter it has branched out
into wider field of usefulness and calls
from all classes Of people have received
attention. The members of the society
have personally Investigated many cases
of need, and the result is that they have a
long list of people of whose needs they are
certain. who will be attended to tomorrow
from the receipts of today's pound party.
The hall will be open until late hour this
evening, and contributions will be welcomed
from all sides. whether the donops are in
terested in the general objects of the So
ciety or not. This evening there will be a
musical and literary entertainment. which
Is expected to add materially to the col
lection OF clothing and provisions.
Providing Work.
So far as possible the women of the legion
have been endeavoring to provide some
sort of work for the needy ones who have
come to them for aid. Several sewing ma
chimes have been in use at the hail. and
these have given occupation to a number
of women,' who are kept at work putting
gifts Of clothing in first-class order before
they are given out to poor people. A man
who is a skilled cobbler but who is out of
work, has been given employment putting
shoes in good repair. These people are
clothed and fed and given small wages be-
sides.
AT the municipal lodging house, on 10Th
street, there are accommoua tions for about
seventy-five men, and the house is full
every night, and has been since the 1St of
last November. On particularly cold nights
of late there have been far more applicants
than could be taken care Of Superinten-
dent Dunn abides firmly by the rule that
every man who would eat or sleep in the
house must do his share of work and every
lodger must saw sixteenth of a cord of
wood. or do an equivalent amount of work,
quarter of 1894 more than 1900 men We're
provided with sleeping place. while meals
We're served to the number of 1O,9SS. The
meals are not exactly elegant, but they are
substantial and filling. The average cost
of meal was a fraction more than five
cents-a very small sum, when it is remem-
bered that meal consists of a bowl of
thick soup. which is practically stew, a
half loaf of bread and a cup of coffee.
But with all the provisions that are at
hand for organized relief, there is still the
greatest difficulty in answering anything
like the number OF calls that are made for
aid. From each comes the story of effort
restricted by lack of means, and never
We're contributions more needed or more
welcome than they are today.
Police Fund.
Chief Clerk Sylvester of the police depart
nent said this morning that the applicants
for assistance were numerous, but the con-
tributons were few. He received s. from
W. H. Barnes and some clothing from 1913
S street.
Contributions Received.
The following contributions have been re-
ceived at The Star office:
General Relief Fund.
Heretofore acknowledged. .So6I.64
Contents Howard A. boX..-.......... LIS
Mrs. h. L. Kinney. ey...................... 300
Unknown Observation-Disclosures. 900