Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-09
STORM AND MISERY
They Walk Hand-in-Hand in the
City.
SUFFERING OF THE POOR
No Beauty for Them in the White
Flakes of Snow.
WING DIS 7 r E S S

DrOught only inconvenience 10 Hlduy pco-
pie, but there many others to whom 1t
means q vast increase in suffering. Those
who are without food wherewith to nour-
ish themselves or a fire to keep them
warm find little beauty in falling snow.
Ire result Of the change of weather has
been to bring an even larger crowd of the
city's poor to the doors of the Associated
Charities and the Central Union Mission.
at the headquarters of the latter organi-
zation there are sitting rooms and reading
rooms for the accommodation of the home
less. and these were crowded to their
fullest extent today by men who were
driven In out of the cold and wet. In an
other big room seats are provided for those
who are waiting to have their baskets fill
eJ with food, and there was not a vacant
seat this morning. Many of those who ap-
Piled for aid described themselves as in
the greatest want and in urgent need or
clothing and foot covering.
Some of these requests il was possible to
answer, but not all. So many applications
for relief have been coming in within the
past three days that the officials or both
organizations have deemed it necessary
to make thorough investigation in each
case before rendering assistance. The re-
suit has been that there has been some
unavoidable delay in answering calls, but
there Is the satisfaction of knowing that
only worthy cases have been attended to.
The Central Union Mission has but two
visitors upon whom 1t could call to make
the rounds to see what cases were deserv-
ing and what were not. With more than
a hundred homes noted for visits this
morning, many of them in remote sections
cf the city, it Is readily seen that the work
OF relief Is necessarily handicapped. III there
are any people who have a little leisure
en- their hands and would be willing to en-
gage in really charitable work the mission
would be only too glad of their services.
Those whom they have at their call are
overworked and cannot begin to attend 10
all the calls that are made upon them.
Unpleasant Weather.
Last evening as the theaters were let
ting out the people found that the falling
rain had turned to snow and when they
woke this morning the ground was white.
1t did not stay so long, for, although the
flakes have continued falling all day. there
has been something of a thaw, and what
m ght have been good sleighing and coast
ing has degenerated into the very worst
Kind OF slush, so that walking has been
anything but pleasant. and every one who
had any sort of excuse for staying indoors
has done so.
But there are lots of poor people for whom
he me with a cold hearth and an empty
crate has but little attraction, and these
have trudged the streets all day in vain
search for something to do that will bring
them in little money. Some of these have
found sop to their needs in cleaning off
sidewalks. But there was little enough
even OF this work, for the snow melted al
most as fast as it fell. Fortunately the
predictions of the weather bureau for
cold wave have not materialized as such
promises usually do. This one seems to-
have slipped Off somewhere in the distance
ard has dropped of only few OF its tail
feathers over the city of Washington.
Livery stable men, who own sleighS, may
regret this. but people who are interested
In the work of relieving suffering among
the poorer classes look upon a cold wave
signal as a sign of about as hard
luck as can befall them. The wealth
or bureau has but little better to
offer. though for there is every reason to
rather general in it's extent. will continue
for some time The predictions at late
hour this afternoon included the promise
OF threatening weather, easterly winds,
with rain or snow.
Gave of His Little.
Among the poor men who came to the
Central Union Mission this morning was
ore who came to bring help, not to ask 1t.
He said that he was out Of work and had
No money, but that he did have a supply of
pI Iovisions which he thought might tide him
over. He knew there were lots of others
worse off than he was, and he wanted to
Aid these to the best of his ability. He
brought with him half peck or potatoes,
and asked the mission people TO distribute
them where they would do the most good.
This was an unusual incident, and tempt
ed one of the workers to the remark tnat
II every ma / gave in like proportion 10 ms
ability there would be little suffering left
In Washington
A few days ago The Star reporter told a
story about little boy OF six who came
ir to the mission with his mother and
younger sister, carrying in his arm bun
de of clothing, which he proudly deposited
oil Mr. McAIichaers desk. This morning
the same trio came in again while The
6.ar man In the room. This time 1t
was the little girl who stepped up to the
desk and laid down an envelope. with the
remark:
"Dis is rom me-"
When the envelope was opened it was
found to contain 50. with the note: ITO be
applied where 1t will do the most good. and
credited to Frank and his little sister
Marie on her fourth birthday"
Cent? aI Relief Committee.
Another organized effort to cope with the
suffering and want in this city was put on
foot yesterday, when the central relief COM
nlttee. which was recently appointed by
Tie Commissioners. held meeting for the
purpose of inaugurating the work allotted
to IL. The scope OF the committee and its
membership are very much the same a3
they were last year, and the experience de-
rived then will be of the greatest value in
starting up the work again this winter.
The meeting yesterday afternoon was
held in the private office of Justice Cole. at
The city hall. In the absence of Chairman
Warner. Miss Loring presided and Mr..
emery dcleQ as secretary. InOS6 VINO
were present were Justice Cole, John +.
Cook. DR.. l.. w. Ritciie, Isaac l.. Blout,
Simon Wolf. James w. Sonervlle, Miss
II. Il. Loring, Mrs. ]. W. Babson, L. S.
Emery and John Tracey. A letter was
read from Mr.. B. H. Warner, who had
been named as chairman of the committee,
stating that on account of his connection
with numerous other charitable objects, he
should be unable to accept the position.
Els resignation was accepted, and Justice
Cole was chosen In his place. Mr.. Warner
yetains his membership on the committee.
Mr.. Wolf said that for private reasons he
would not be able TO give much time to
the work OF the committee he did last
winter. and so he presented Mr.. /. l.. Blout.
whom the Commissioners had appointed at
Bis suggestion. to fill the vacancy, prom
Aing that he himself would do all he could
IN assist the committee in its labors
MIR. BIout Is the president Of the Hebrew
Charities. and so familiar with the methods
~ organized relief In accepting his new
Appointment he made brief address, in the
0Gurse of which he pledged himself to the
York before him and said he would do it
~ thoroughly possible consistently with
DE full discharge of his duties TO the So
0ety of which he was president.
Judge Cole then announced the following