The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-15
TOPEKA,s POOR.
The Number Has VisibIy Decreased,
But There Are More Than Mrs
Thorpe Can Succor.

4AOrp6 Can 5ucCOE
Police Matron Thorpe is nearly over
whelmed with calls for assistance from
the poor since the cold weather set in.
There is no organized charity this
winter and the burden of caring for the
needy falls entirely upon Mrs Thorpe
although she has received valuable as
sistance from ladies of different organ
izations. The poor and needy have but
one place or person to go to and that
is Mrs. Thorpe. An average of 40 peo-
pie day call at her office in the city
Jail building to receive assistance in the
way of clothing. Poor Commissioner
Hale receives great many calls but he
is to furnish food and coal only in
cases or extreme poverty and clothing
is not TO be had from him.
The number of poor families who suf-
fer from poverty have greatly diminish
ed IN topeka in the last year or two.
Many have moved to farms in the
country and others have left the state.
At present Mrs. Thorpe reports only
from 35 to 40 families who are desti-
tute against double that number year
ago
While there are only s5 or 40 families
in what might be called destitute cir
cumstances there are a great many
more who are deserving of help and
who call on Mrs. Thorpe from time to
time for assistance.
Mrs. Thorpe has received needed as
sistance from the Ladies' Society of the
Wesleyan church, the Ladies' Society
of the United Presbyterian church, the
WOmenS club and the wives of many
of the policemen. Several individual
ladies have interested themselves in the
work Of caring for the poor and have
taken the burden of investigating the
cases from Mrs. Thorpe and have made
helpful and much needed reports to her.
No one receives charity who does not
deserve it but all who do need help can
n no INIT tod on mt
of time and supplies that Mrs. Thorpe
has.
II do not have nearly enough old
clothes and food to give out where It
is really needed" said Mrs. Thorpe.
Since the cold weather I have been
unable to care for all as they should
be. I receive old clothes and bed cloth
ing from a great many, but I could use
twice as much in places where it would
do a great deal of good. I have re-
celVed help and were it not for the as
sfstance I have received I don't know
what should do would be glad to
get anything in the way of clothing and
blankets. / have a sewing society of
little girls from II to IS years old who
come every Saturday afternoon and
make clothes for themselves. All of
these children go to school when they
have enough clothes to wear. If those
who have clothing to give would send
me postal card the patrol wagon will
call for the donation. I receive some
food from persons who live in the coun-
try and I can always find place where
it will do good"
One family of six, the father John
Kiel, aged 20, and five boys all under
Is years Of age, live in one room in
house at the east end of the Sixth
street viaduct. There is not a piece of
furniture in the house except a small
stove and a broken down table. Not
a bed or a chair. Not a mattress or
piece of bed clothing. The six sleep on
a pile of straw and cook in old lard and
tomato cans. The mother has been
dead for ten years. The two oldest boys,
Richard and Charles, are old enough to
work and during the summer worked
for a farmer. Mrs. Thorpe wishes to
find work for them. The boys are in
telligent and bright and strong enough
to work.
Mrs Thorpe will try and get some
furniture for them and some bed cloth
ing.