The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-25
THE POOR MEN AND WOMEN
Stood in Line About the Headquarters
Ill Day.
SOME CASES OF INHuMaNITY
Inmates of the Mercy Home
Happy Last Night-One Pre-
pared for the Convicts.

There Is no one institution in the city Of
Birmingham which does so much eharita-
BILE work among the poor as does the So
ciety of the United Charities. This nom
sectarlan, non-denominational institution
has been doing Its good work in and around
this city for a number of years, and not.
withstanding the fact that it has at times
been sadly crippled for want of finances, 1t
has done and IS doing noble work. and
stands today purely unsclflsh organiza-
ton, whose chief and only aim Is to render
assistance to unfortunate humanity.
From their office in the Thompson build
ing corner Third avenue and Twenty-sec-
ond street. the work OF distributing Christ
mas cheer to the poor of Birmingham was
carried on all yesterday morning by the So
ciety. No one that was in the least deserv-
ing, was turned away empty handed, and
all were supplied as literally as possible
Food of all kinds which the charitable peo-
pie of the city had contributed, consisting
of -four bread and other necessities of life
| ON the one hand, and cakes and other deli
cacies on the other; g fits which doubtless
served to recall most forcibly those more
fortunate days in the past when life was
| brighter and the happy Christmas time was
| other loved ones
| large quantity of clothing was given
| away; most serviceable gifts, indeed con-
| sidering the cold weather which is to come
| within the next few months. Nor were the
| little ones forgotten, and many childish
| heart was made glad by receiving some
| battered toy, which to the poor little tots
| appeared even more beautiful than it had
| been originally in the eyes of the more for
tunate child for whom it had been purchas-
| ed.
| 1t was an interesting sight yesterday to
| watch the people as they came in to get the
| "Chr stmas' which the good people of Bir-
| mingham had prepared for them. Some APP
| preached the Office where the kind ladies'
| were in charge with timd step. evidently
| feeling keenly the thought that they We're
| for the first time objects of charity. Others
| approached more readily, charity being no
| new thing with them. Whatever their man.
| ner Of approach, nearly every one OF them
| appeared very grateful for what had peen
| given, and were profuSe In Their thanks.
The United Charities have gotten their
work down to such a fine system that 1t is
| very seldom they are imposed on by any
one who does not really need help
In a number of cases yesterday, where
| there were sick persons In the city VINO
needed assistance, the good ladies inter-
ested in the work carried food and clothing
to them in the rooms where they lay Sex.
Necessarily there Is great deal of sickness
among the poor In such weather as there
has been most of December. ana the United
Charities have been doing splendid work in
distributing fuel. medicines and other nee
essities of life to these unfortunates.
Inhumanity of Man
1t IS sad to relate but nevertheless only
too true that large number of the UNI
fortunates who are assisted by the United
Charities are women and children VINO
have been deserted by their inhuman hus-
tee, DlN1h1 hat mn
people are left destitute from this than from
| any other one cause; at least this has been
the experience of the ladies of the United
Charities. Such monsters as these mas
querading in life men, have been known
in this city to leave wife alone, help
less and sick with newly born baby. Not
a few cases of this kind have the United
Charities cared for until the mother had
sufficiently recovered her health and
strength to care for herself and babe by
the labor of her own hands.
One of the plans only recently put in OPP
Grafton by the society is that of giving the
poor people an opportunity to work for
what they need instead of giving il to them
| as a gift of charity The plan is to provide
clothing and means for sewing to many or
the poor women who come to the societys
Office daily, and there the goods are made
into aprons, underclothlng and other sucn
| pieces of wearing apparel. These clothes
are given to other poor psopie who sell
them in various parts of the city The
money thus earned goes to pay those who
have made and sold the garments for their
work and gives them the satisfaction of
knowing that they have worked for and
made the money. and have not received II
as gift Of charity
Mercy Home Inmates Happy
The ladies who In charge of the
Mercy Home have also been taking pains
| to see that those unfortunates within it's
walls were not neglected but that they had
| a very merry and very happy Christmas.
1.-THE Creche," as the ladies call their
| ganlzation, yesterday prepared a big
Christmas tree for the CHI ldren of the
Home, and gave the little folks a delight
full time. The tree was set in the new
Mercy Home which is just nearing
completion on Eleventh avenue and Twen-
ty-first street north. Toys and Christmas
gifts of various kinds had been provided,
not forgetting the candies and good things
which make Santa Claus time so del 'ght-
full. Christmas will be a right happy one
at the Mercy Home this year.
Cheer for tho Convicts
Those noble Christian men and women OF
Birmingham who have for many months
past been conducting the Sunday school
among the convict miners of Plat City,
are arranging to give their classes in the
prisons a genuine Christmas tree next
Friday night. Miss Matte Spear, who is
one of the most enthusiastic workers in
this great cause. is in charge of the ar
rangements for the tree, and she is work.
! ing hard to make 1t a success. Numbers
of cakes and other toothsome delicacies
have been given her, and with these she
hopes to arrange a very attractive Christ
mas tree for those hardened specimens OF
humanity, whose hearts she and her co..
workers are trying to soften by the teaeh-
ngs of Him whose birth is today celes