Evening star., 1896-12-23
THE POOR NEED HELP
Appeals That Come to Police Headquarters
Nowadays.
Pitiful Cases of Want and the SOr-
rOwful Cries of Mothers in Behalf
of Their Little Ones.

rs this the place where they give out
something to the poor?' asked sad-faced
woman vino called at police headquarters
this morning. She was told that the police
sometimes assis ted the deserving poor Her
story was that she had ten children to sup
port and she was unable to buy the neces-
saries of life. She was satisfied with an
order for food and fuel, and thought per-
haps some neighbors might give her chill
dren small package Of candy. She was
only of the many mothers who have
called upon Chief Clerk Sylvester during
recent days to ask for assistance. All such
cases have to be passed upon by the super
intendent of charities and investigated by
the police before relief is given.
In order to avoid any unnecessary delays
in the matter of charity Chief Clerk Syl-
vester has the telephone in constant use,
SO that the cases are usually reported 'on
within an hour or two after the applca-
tionS are received.
1t Is the intention of the police to render
assistance as soon as possible, and orders
for 81 or So worth of food or fuel are gen.
orally given.
While the police department soicits moth
ing for the poor, the demands made upon 1t
by unfortunate women and children are
uni sual for this character of weather, and
several dipththeria cases, where the occu-
pants of the premises have been quaran-
superintendent, acknowledges receipt of
donations as follows:
Cash, through Mr.. s25. 90
Cash, NJ. s2'.oo
X. w. Dunn ........-..-.............. $3.50
Last year the police received several hun
dred small packages of candy for distribu-
ton. and Chief Clerk Sylvester will gladly
distribute such contributions this season.
Many children who received the packages
last year were made happy, for they did
not get any other Christmas presents.
Almost every mail brings to Chief Clerk
Sylvester some pitiable cases of distress
Most of the applications are made by
women, the following being a sample Of
them:
II feel today that would not care what
happened. l did hope ere this to be able
to repay you fcE past kindnesses, but it
does seem that since 1 lost my place every
thing goes wrong. I'm SO worried, for
don't know when I'll be put out of my
house. I'm hungry, and ask you If not for
my sake. for Gods sake, help me now
will you kindly assist me this morn
ing?' said another. Il have not anything
to eat for my children. My husband is out
of work. and he is willing to work at any
thing. I'm sorry / have to trouble you, but
/ cannot let my children want. l would
like to have some groceries and fuel"
please do something for me-" writes an
other, las soon as possible. / have neither
food nor fuel. I'm very much in need, and
/ trust in the Lord it will not be this way
very long,"
will you be kind enough to help me
out?' said one letter. This will be my
last request. You have been so kind to me
I'm the past, and God only knows what l
would have done had it not been for YOU
Donations of food, fuel or clothing will be
received at the police stations or at head
quarters and distributed to the needy and
deserving