The morning times., 1896-03-13
COLD snaps SHORT LIFE
Weather Bureau Promises Pleas
ant Weather Tomorrow.
FISHING INTERPRETED WITH
Few Boats Running on the River and
the Banks Frozen In-Poor Feel the
Severe Weather and the Number of
Applicants Increased-Public Con
tribute LIberaIly.

an OCCdSiOHal jingle. OF sleigh bells, the
sudden slipping Of every forty-ninth pedes-
trlan on the seductive ice that shines in
considerations on the sidewalks aud the
puddle OF slush with just coating enough TO
delude, were the characteristics OF yester-
day section or March's stellar storm
attraction.
Tine rain and snow has ceased aud there
Will be nc more Of either in The present Cou-
signment OF weather the Weather Bureau
officials predict The sun came out OCca-
siontlly during the day and did his utmost
t0shlne. but the chilling air and the scurrying
clouds as often drove him back and his spas
modic appearances only added 10 the un-
pleasant features ofthe day.
The cold snap may be expected TO remain
until tonight. By Saturday the lamb of
March will show up again, and its gentle
peadingS are expected TO send the lion
away TO untwist his tail until another
March In the meantime, Washington
will have to button up its storm coat and
don its rubbers and affect as much of a
grin as the circumstances Will permit OF
while it bears it.
POOR FEEL IT MOST.
Every change in the weather affects
number of the individual parts that go to
make up the economy OF a great city The
branch that most quickly and strongly
feels the effect OF Il drop in tue temperature
Is, OF course, the charity bureau. This spell
is by all odds the worst blow the poor
have had this winter and il will be two or
three days after the cold has departed and
the weather moderates before they recover
from the shock.
This is severe lick" said Secretary
Wilson of the Associated Charities. The
worst end OF the winter is the last end.
There are many people who have been
able 10 live through the winter on their
savings, and if spring opens uD early they
can pull Though without assistance. To
be within three days OF work is not having
il, and il may be that food and fuel run
out just at the beginning OF that three
days.
There never was 50 little employment in
Washington as there was last summer and
has been the past winter. For that reason
there never was 50 much genuine poverty.
The demands OF our agents have increased
very rapidly wednesday and yesterday ana
they are busy from early until late look
ing after the needy and those who are aC-
tually suffering.
SICKNESS UNUSUAL LILY PREVALENT.
"One OF the greatest obstacles that we
meet with in the spring OF the year is sick
ness, and if anything there is more OF this
this year than common. There is much
pneumonia. Only yesterday one of our
agents made report OF man with fam
lily who had been compelled for the FIRST
time 10 apply for aid. He had been sick
with pneumonia some weeks ago. He got
out too soon and had a relapse that caused
him to be thrown back into bed again He
had TO go 10 work because he wastoo poor
to give his affiiction a reasonable time to
heal.
The city is at present ably and suf-
ficiently provided for in the way of ply
sicians to the poor, but there is a need OF
nurses for the sick. Nursing in the slums
IS not a desirable occupation. and there
are no charitable organizations here that
| carry it out systematically. The Deacon
eSs Sisters send out an occasional nurse
in that capacity, but there is great need Of
more.
As is now generally known, We have
this time had occasion 10 make a public
call for assistance, and | hope the people
OF Washington will not hc slow i'll replying
to this first request or the winter. We
need money to assist the poor, and need it
badly"
PUBLIC RESPONDING LITERALLY.
John Joy Edison. the treasurer of the
| Charities Organization said that liberal
| responses were coming in to the call for
help.
THE people should answer it literally
| said he. This is the first time they have
| been called upon this winter and / think
we cannot be too loud in our praise OF the
! economic manner in which the A Associated
| Charities has been conducted. Everything
is Systematically arranged and the most
| benefiCent results have been obtained
The river front Is practically closed up.
| though there is neither flood nor ice
| blockade. Northerly winds have been
| blowing with slight cessation for nearly
| two weeks. a thing unprecedented in Wash
| ington shipping industries. Tue river is
now back to its normal condition, but the
| cold weather has blocked all shipping that
usually opens at this season Of the year.
Only the ferry-boats, the Norfolk steam I'M
crs and one or two short river lines are F1n-
| nIng now. The fishing season threatened
| to open with the few spring days Of the
| early week, but the cold viii throw it back
| for another week. The only prospect the
| fisherman can see is EIut in the market
| when the weather mGdcTates.
| There is no probability of an ice gorge
| this spring, for even should the thermometer
| fan FAR below the freezing point the river
| water is now so warm il would require
several days OF steady cold to freeze it.