New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08
4 CASE OE STARTATION.

| Much has been printed about young woman
| who died few days ago from exposure and
want of food, and doubtless the pltifu case has
attracted general attention. 1t is said on pro-
fesSional authority that in strict sense she did
not die Of starvation, but inasmuch as she
would now be living If she had had even a small
! regular supply Of suitable food the discrmina-
ton need not be pressed. Her father and
| mother were dead. and she and her brother
| who had been comfortably cared for in their
childhood, were left alone. Some time ago 'ie
was crowded ont Of the place in which he had
earned rather precarious support, and since
! then he has found little work to do, though
I it is said that he has persistently sought en-
ployment Recently they were turned ont Of
their lodgings for nonpayment OF rent and after
that for several days they wandered around the
city, sleeping little not at all and picking
scraps of food out of cutters and garbage-bar-
rels. When at last through the compassion of
Il relative. who had just learned of their wretch
ed condition, medical attendance was procured
for the girl it was too late.
In various comments upon this sorrowful
story it has been represented a shocking ex'
ample OF the incapacity OF civil and charitable
institutions for discovering where their re-
sources need to be applied. There have been
cases in which such censure was deserved. but
more evidence than has been presented is re-
quired 10 prove that this is one of them. 1t ap-
pears rather To he a melancholy illustration Of
personal deficiencies inficting their own bitter
penalty. The brother may perhaps have failed
to get work through no fault of his own for
the supply Of mems employment has not near
ly equaed the demand. But is it conceivable
that intelligent effort could not have found
place for the girl? We do not think so. On this
point the story is not full and clear. She was
too proud, it is said, to beg, and the circum-
stances confirm that statement. Is it possible
that she was also not too proud but too vain to
ask for work Of n kind which she could have
done and which is almost always 10 be had:
There must he thousands of families in New
York and Brooklyn who would have been glad
to offer shelter and food and small wages To
a good and industrious girl in payment for such
services as she was capable OF rendering. She
had been in a public school for several years,
and was not grossly ignorant. She suffered
from no affiiciOn which made her repulsve. but,
on the contrary, is spoken of as rather comely
and winning. Much is said about her brothers
endeavOrs TO find employment, but if she made
a similar effort the fact is strangely concealed.
We are told that she was not only yrtuOus but
devout and yet she never apparently appealed
for advice to any priest religious agency.
While she had strength enough left to earn
| living if she had obtained the chance, she seems
to have neglected every hopeful means Of help
Ing herself
We put the case in this way not from any
want of compassion for young woman who
chose To suffer the last extremity Of want rather
| than degrade herself but because an irrational
| and unjust Indictment has been brought against
| the multifarious instrumentalites which exist
| to succor the destitute and encourage the de-
| spondent. Their machinery does sometimes ap-
| pear to he i'll adapted 10 its purpose, and be-
| yond doubt there is a great amount Of time
| and strength and money invested in benevolent
| enterprises which make an inadequate return.
| But It is neither useful nor right TO dlstort Il
| tragedy like this and from 1t manufacture a
| verdict OF guilty against organizations indi-
| vduals.