The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-22
REMEMBERING THE POOR
SOME THINGS THAT ARE TO BE
DONE FOR THANKSGIVING.
At the County InstitutiOn-Charity
SOciety'S Annual Meeting
Next Sunday.

VINO nave more imam they need are expected
to be glad to give, and those who are in
need glad to receive. The charity organiza-
lions are rebuilding their efforts to find and
help the poor The children in the public
schools are saving up their pennies for the
help of their needy companions In the
public and private benevolent institutions
men, women and children are hoping for
the turkey dinner which the past has
taught them to expect. In a few of the
institutions there will be dances, receptions
to the friends, and other little privileges
will be given which will help make the day
something to look backward to and a basis
for future hope.
Probably more actual charity work is
accomplished through the Charity Organi-
cation Society, which represents a large
proportion of the societies of the city, than
any other single body or the addition of
many scattering efforts. Secretary Charles
S. Circuit yesterday said that upon Thanks
giving day of this year the efforts to help
people will be of various kinds. People
wishing to aid the poor will in many cases
receive the names from the organization,
so they will know that what they give goes
where it will do good. Last year about
thirty dinners were given by people of the
city through the society, and there will be
a considerably larger number next Thurs
day. Some poor families will find baskets
of provisions upon their doorsteps in the
morning, with no hint to reveal where they
came from. One kind lady intends to pay
the winters gas bill for destitute family.
Another family will have it's rent paid. The
efforts are made to assist at the most press
ing points. Several Sunday school classes
1t has happened in the past that one class
helped as many as six families, and it is
found that these classes are more eager to
help and more willing to make sacrifices
every year.
Mr.. Grout mentioned several of the cases
which have lately been handled by the So
ciety. One woman who had been deserted
by her husband was left to support several
little children and was gradually reduced
almost to the verge of insanity. She had
neither clothing nor food for her family
Yet she did not wish direct aid. The society
found her a position, loaned her enough
money to pay her debts, and now she is as
happy as circumstances permit Thursday
she Will find a basket at her door and can
only guess that in some way it was sup
piled through the Charity Organization So
ciety. The secretary also spoke of one case
OF child begging which produced a large
natured people Of this city. A little fellow
carrying a note which said that his mother
was dying from consumption went from
house to house and asked permission to
sing for a little money. He always received
1t. The society found the boy, accompanied
him home and found that his parents were
entirely able to support themselves. Mr..
Grout pointed out that the family had come
from another city, where they had been
educated to expect help. He added that if
they had remained here six months he be-
ieved that they would have ceased begging
entirely. He said that one very respectable
woman even thanked the society once for
showing her that by certain changes in her
style of living it would be possible for her
to get along with her own income. She
had come from a place where she had been
taught that society owes her living.
ANNUAL CHARITY MEETING.
The annual meeting under the auspices
of the Charity Society of the people of In
dianapolis who are interested in charity
will be held in Tomlinson Hall Sunday
night The programme will be completed
to-day There will be several addresses by
speakers of this city upon different phases
of the charity movement. Particular at
tention will be directed to the subject Of
Child saving"
A large number of the charitable institu-
lions are hoping for contributions at this
time. Some of them have established GER
TAIL pOAHlS WISIe Inc presents OF generous
people will be received But it is probable
that no class of people in the city will
actually gain more on Thanksgiving day
than the inmates of the institutions Almost
without exception the aSylumS and prisons
are to do their best to make all in their
charge happy. The Poor Farm will provide
thirty or more turkeys, besides cake and pie
in abundance AT the workhouse the peo-
pie will have the rare treat of being allowed
TO talk while they eat pumpkin pie. At the
Insane Hospital there will be a dance for
the inmates between and O'Clock Friends
will visit those who are well enough to be
at the dance. AT the Institute for the Blind
there will be exercises in the school
Wednesday, and Thursday morning there
evening there will be a reception to the
friends of the inmates. Dancing Will be
the principal amusement. The RefoJ m
School for Girls will give an entertainment
Thursday afternoon, The Years Thanks
giving, or the Harvest of the Monta" The
Colored Orphans Home announced yester-
day that there was some uncertainty in
their actions upon Thanksgiving cay be-
cause they had had a fire during the day
and they only knew that they were thank
full that the fire was soon extinguiShed and
no one was burned
The usual collection for the poor will be
taken in all of the churches at the services
will also take their usual annual collection
before the dismissal Tomorrow What is coll
lected will be divided between charitable
societies.
Several clubs are preparing for entertain
ments, the hotels say they will not fail in
producing a Thanksgiving dinner al good as
any in past years, the churches claim that
any cynfc and everybody is expected to be
happy