The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-03-06
POVERTY, BITTER POVERTY.

sufferings Of "the other Hair' In Great
Britain During the Cold weat''~r.
II is literally true that the very poor
Of London and other English cities have
been compelled to make a deliberate
choice between food and fuel, and it has
been bitter dilemma for many thou
sands Of destitute English, Irish and
Scotch families in tho last few weeks.
Reports of tho suffering in northern
cities are even worse, for tho cold thero
has been much more severe. Thus in
Glasgow alone 40, 900 men arc idle and
destitute. Tho police are almost unable
TO cope with tho great throngs of fam
ishing women and children who clam
or for food at tho soup kitchens and
other places where partial supply is
obtainable. The starving multitudes in
Liverpool are even greater, and pitiful
scenes occur daily at tho places where
most inadequate attempts are made to
distribute small supplies Of food. The
socialists have opened soup kitchen
there, and n correspondent sends an &c
count of typical scene yesterday after
noon. About Q o'clock tho largo open
space was crowded with mon, women
and children, whose sufforings from
hunger were intensified by the piercing
cold wind which swept across the local
bay of Biscay as If coming from the re-
gion of icebergs. Women clad in unwo-
manly rags shivered and covered before
the blast, their feet numb, their faces
liyid with cold and want, while they
strove to find protection from tho wind
by gathering their thin ragged garments
closer. A large number Of spectators as
semblcd on tho outskirts of tho square,
tho crowd including magistrates. ship
owners and other prominent citizens.
The sights wero narrowing. Tho soram-
BILE for bread by the famishing crowd
was pitiful.
Tho socialists soup kitchen began
operations ut the usual hour and doled
soup and bread continuously for over an
hour Tho food was wolhshly deyCurod
by tho hunger stricken people, who
could not be fed fast enough. Several
vans loaded with bread oamo up while
tho soup distribution was proceeding.
There was such O rush for the bread
that tho socialists found it impossible to
carry out their benevolent intentions in
an orderly manner. In sheer despair they
pitched tho bread into tho ranks of tho
starving mass. Then ensuod terrible
scramble Women and children were
knocked about, the strong bearing down
the weak, some going off with three or
four loaves, others left without any
thing. The second cart came while the
scramble round the first was going ou.
Tho crowd surged round tho new arrival
so that anything like fair distribution
was out Of the question. Those in the
van were pitchforking bread on the
heads of the people when the police
camo up and took charge. The crowd
was formed into line, and more effect
i've system was inaugurated. Through
out the afternoon the esplanado was the
scene of bewildering excitement. A
poor widow, with q child in her arms,
after considerable waiting, got to the
soup kitchen. Overcome by hunger, she
sank down On the pavement, holding
fast to the soup bowl, fearful lest a
drop should be spilled. Ultimately she
revived somewhat and began to feed
the child, which ate the soup ravenously.
London Cor. New York Sun.