Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-12-28
ASSOCIATED cHARfrYEs.


Mrs. M. A. I. Clark, superintendent
of the Associated Char titles, in her re-
port for November, says the mild
weather and improved Industrial con-
ditions have been favorable to The
poor. The number of applicants for the
month was small as compared with
other years. She points out the diff
culties encountered IN the work and
shows there is much to contend with.
She says: 1.-THE families registered
were eight Few and 10 recurrent ones
of this number four families asked for
coal only and two asked for sewing.
Coal was give to one family, groceries
to four, clothing and shoes TO four,
medicine to one, milk through sick
diet order to one; situation found for
one and odd Jobs found for two. These
| figures may seem to count for little,
but they do not in the least show the
time, thought and work required to
deal Justly with these people, nor of
| the. responsibility resting upon the
society in making The wisest and best
decisions for the careful guarding
against unjust criticism and frequent
misunderstanding of its true aims.
| When an appeal for help for those
in great distress is made personally or
by letter to a liberal contributor 1t is
no easy matter to convince this person
that the society is neither cruel nor
indifferent and that it is more hurtful
than helpful to begin 10 take up this
family's burdens by sending doles for
today's needs. while tomorrow's will
be equally as great Nor is it easy to
convince the contributor that lavish
supplies will be expected repeatedly
under similar circumstances An illus
tration that such is fact is the fol-
lowing: A wife writes, asking fcI helE,
telling of sickness and distress. She
entreats that she may not he dis
appointed in her request for assistance
and says anything will be acceptable.
Upon investigation it is found that the
The rental is low, The home is com
paratively comfortable, hut in bad
sanitary condition, which is un
doubtedly the cause Of the sickness
An accident has happened to child.
which may result in permanent
affection through lack Of care and
judgment. The greatest need here is
visa, practical and faithful visitor
| yet such person is most difficult to
SUPPLY. Advice as to proper medicinal
care, better housing and iudicious ex-
| penditure of the income and other sug-
gestions that make a family resource
full in itself are needed. With this
assistance and the little helps that
such interest would bestow the family
could be self-sustaining, whereas under
existing conditions it is likely tn
degenerate into pauperism if every
appeal for help over difficulties is
RESPONDED to.
Then again, comes the inquiry ii
we have ever heard of very poor
| family in which there are six or seven
children, bar e-footed, half-clad, half
starved, and in a dreadful condition,
living in a certain neighborhood. The
informant does not remember the name,
knows nothing about the husband. but
thinks it pitiful that such suffering
exists. They have been helped num-
Der of times, hut before doing more it
was thoughtghest to ask if the Asso,
ciated Charities knew anything about
them. After waiting some time for the
name and u definite address. the case
was Investigated and found 10 be we'll
known as undeserving. The parents are
both worthless and intemperate 10th
pawn everything of value they can
obtain and buy liquor with the money.
Several of tho older children have gone
astray and the younger ones have for
several years been kept on the streets,
begging. The depravity and squalor
in which they live are indescribabe
The husband could earn Sl2 to SIS a
week. One business man sought to
reform him. He was given employ
ment and comforts supplied to the
family. But the man would not take
care of himself and his benefactor was
compelled to give up the attempt to
reform him. Upon recent investigation
Of this case the wife said the family
was doing well. For nearly a year
several of the children had been work
ing and earning from Sl5 to S21 a
week. For few weeks the husband
had boon sick, but was soon going
back to work and the weekly income
| speaking the drunken husband sprang
out from some hiding place and q
quarrel ensued. He feared the ex,
posture of the amount OF income would
cut off sources of relief. Yet these
! people continue to deceive and impose
upon the people.
In every case where a disposition
| for self-helE is shown effort is made
| to assist in finding work OF some kind,
even though it be odd jobs only. But
it il not easy to find employment for
the Indifferent, and inefficient or those
incapaoitatad by age or physical dis
ability. To give advice to people as
to the best disposition of willing, but
physically helpless members of their
families; to deal wisely with uncared-
for aged persons, unable to earn their
living and unwilling to go into institu.
tions; and TO give assistance where
distress is caused by sickness or other
calamity, oil lack of thrift and judg-
ment are some of the perplexing ques-
tions arising daily in our work. ia.
"In addition to the local work many
letters come from various sources and
organizations asking for cooperation
in the solving of grave questions and
for definite information. All demand
recognition and require considerable
investigation, which is q tax Of time
and thought. "
During the month the superinten-
dent made n visits and sent out 81
letters.
| Adyancp m Prices ut Furniture