Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-21
HOW TO HELP THE POOR.
Plans That Have Worked Admirably
in Some of EurOpe's Big Cities.


in Some of EurOpe's Big Cities.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The Star has been manipulating the pub
lie conscience quite vigorously Of late, and
1 fancy it may be in such plastic condition
as to receive some impressions of useful
character in regard to the subject Of its
recent lessons. Such Impressions it would
be we'll to retain for future examination if
ever favorable circumstances occur.
Twenty years ago the laboring class in
Vienna were in a chronic state Of semi
starvation; now they are well fed, indeed,
the best fed laborers in Europe, without
airy increase of cost, and this great i'm
provement was effected by the genius, not
the money, of a single man. "a certain DR..
Kuhn was inspired with the conviction that
the money spent by the Viennese laborers
for half enough food to nouriSh them
would, If properly applied, give them an
ample supply He thereupon organized
society, which undertook to sell cooked
meals and give the purchasers comforta-
BILE place to eat in, with proper tables and
table furniture. Twenty-Five hundred dol
lars provided kitchen and halls. Ladies
of all ranks, including the very highest,
gave their services as advisers and super
intendents, and the proceeds Of the sales
did all the rest-paid coks and bought the
food. The advantage of buying In large
quantities and wherever, at any distance.
supplies could be had cheapest, and the
greater economy in cooking without waste
or loss, practically doubled the supply, be-
sides producing the incidental benefit OF
more wholesome food and of decent access
sories in taking it. The loss by bad cook
cry among the poor has long been known
for very serious item. There are now
people daily. Breakfast, consisting of soup
or tea and bread, costs cents; supper the
same; dinner, consisting of soup, beef or
veniSon, peas, macarcni and raisin pud-
iVoc S,0y, q 70 Won't
to quantity. The average price is perhaps
cents. School children have good dinner
for 8 cents. Then DR.. Kuhn has in effect
made two blades of grass grow where but
AS have said, the cost of the kitchens
was contributed in charity. But an adj
vance of One-tenth of a cent on each meal
could not be felt. and 1t would pay for the
kitchens, with. interest on the outlay, in
two years.
Not less phenomenal has been the sue
cess of DR.. Bernardo. who, about twenty
eight years ago, in London, devoted him
self to the care of street arabs and other
helpless children. His work was on entire
ly different lines from that in Vienna, and
was not self-sustaining. The last report
shows that Dr. Bernardo has received in
all $500, 600, or upward of 100000 yearly,
and of that he has invested $1,0OO0OO in
buildings, which he has conveyed to trus-
tees. He has cared for 63,O0O children;
supported, educated and prepared them to
make a living. 1t would be too long to
even enumerate the details of his work:
the lodging houses, mission halls and sea-
side resorts which he has provided; the
millions of hot breakfasts he has given,
and the 100000 cups of hot coffee given
out in his coffee palaces. These men-Bar-
nardo and kuhn-manifested genius in
their work. They saw what was needed
and how it could be supplied; but their OBJ
jects and methods were radically different
Kuhn teaches the greater lesson: That the
poor need not so much means as leaders, to
cl1f hour fIntr m ha oY,n1i tad fO
advantage, and to do it for them. In late
Forum article architect shows that
buildings, spacious, well lighted and we'll
ventilated. could be built for less than the
cost of those terrible tenement houses, in
to which the light of heaven penetrates to
a useful extent only for three hours IN the
middle of the day. and where pure air
never enters in appreciable quantities. And
in both New York and London it is said
that space in such tenements and in cell
lars rents for more than it costs in palaces.
! In Paris 5000 school children have meals
at midday at the price of 3 cents, and many
charitable societies there look after all the
wants of the little ones. But, perhaps
there is no benevolent society anywhere
that does so much as the Childrens Aid
Society of New York city. 1t maintains
twenty-one day schools and a dozen night
schools, industrial schools, wherein chill
dren, besides the ordinary branches learn
some occupation whereby they can earn a
living. 1t maintains, too, number of
lodging houses where boys out of employ
men can put up; these have Libraries and
reading rooms open to all. When say tat
they have seaside resort, and a mountain
house for children who need such varieties
Of air, and fifteen physicians, who in sum-
mer, look after children who can't get
away, and farm that supplies occupation
for boys who don't like books, have given
but the baldest possible enumeration Of
some of the work of this admirable charity
1t has provided in the twenty years of its
existence places for $1,000 children apd
say $1,000 adults. mostly, perhaps, mothers
There are many other such charities in
this country, but none SO large as the Chill
dren's Aid Society of New York city.
full account Of all, if it could be had, would
be very interesting reading, and instructive
as well. Such accounts as have seen have
impressed with certain convictions:
That the earnings of the laboring class in
this country would maintain them in COM
fort if properly husbanded and applied;
that practically unlimited amount Of
money will be contributed for any char
liable work which the community consider
necessary and in the management of which
thew have confidence: that the DISPOSITION