The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-18

alone can know, young woman who was
once beautiful and happy sits with her
little children, destitute, among strangers
in a strange city.
On the 9th of June Mrs. Lillian Cooper
was evicted from her humble lodgings at
$40 Minna street for non-payment of
fortnight's rent. She and her children,
aged respectively and years, were
thrust out with literally nothing in the
world but what they had on their bodies
in the shape of clothing. Mrs. Cooper's
trunks were kept by the landlady, Mrs
Dee, as security for the payment OF the
rent-a matter of four or five dollars.
In her extremity Mrs. Cooper secured
temporary lodgings at 1895 Market street,
and sought to regain possession of her
effects. Through the efforts of sympa-
thizing friends, almost as poor as herself,
she obtained search warra MT from Judge
Campbell, in virtue of which her few boxes
were taken from the custody of Mrs. Dee
and given in charge to the property clerk
at the New City Hall. When she en-
deavored to get out some clean under
clothing for her children, she was told that
nothing could be removed from the boxes
until Mrs. Dee's claim for rent was paid.
Then the poor woman started to tramp
the City, seeking for some one who would
give her the miserable four or five dollars
which she needed in order to give her
children change OF underclothing. Her
shoes were old and thin, and at length
gave out altogether, leaving her feet
scantily protected by a pair of tattered
stockings. One benevolent society gave
her 81 30. telling her that was all they
could do for her.
Goaded to frenzy at the contemplation
of her children's misery. the poor woman,
shoeless and disheveied, made her way to
the headquarters of the Society for the
to Secretary Frank Kane.
What are these benevolent societies
doing?" exclaimed Mr.. Kane. when he
had sent the woman to an aid society with
a recommendation for immediate relief
"Here was case which could brook no
delay. Six weeks ago Mrs. Cooper's hus-
band left her, telling her he was tired of
her and had no further use for her. About
a month previously he had brought her
and the children from Seattle, where he is
said to have some property, and when she
found herself deserted she felt that she
was alone indeed. Her necessity was of
the most urgent kind, but she seems to
have received but scanty aid. How she
and her little ones have been existing God
alone knows. Now, trust, she will be
looked after and given chance to work,
which is all she asks.
''There is something radically wrong in
q system of benevolence which is so done
up in red tape as to render it impossible to
afford immediate relief in cases where it is
of vital necessity. / do not criticize any
organization, nor do l wish for a moment
to be quoted as doing so. since all are
working for good objects and in fairly
fficient way.
"But there is a screw loose somewhere.
1t the rules OF a society will not permit it
to feed a starving child without the filling
Of blanks and without referring the case
to board of directors before taking action,
that society is a failure. There ought to
be way of providing instant temporary
relief in urgent cases, after which the di-
rectors might resolute and investigate and
pile up blanks to their hearts content"