Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-13
Pound Party for the Poor.

The charity problem has become acute
with the advent of the blizzard. There is
pressing need of help for the freezing,
starving poor of Washington. It is incon-
cefvabIe that their suTerings should go
unrelieved Money is needed, and food and
fuel Unless the most active efforts are
nut forth by the entire community of the
welI-to-do there will be many deaths from
cold and hunger.
The Star proposes. as one means OIL re-
Heving the distress which is only too GER
tainIy at hand to hold a pound party, SINH
lar to that of four years ago, when there
was an unprecedented outpouring of sup
plies of all descriptions. Tomorrow. there
fore. this paper will be prepared to receive
donations for the poor, and it will under
take that whatever may be so given will
be distributed promptly and effectively
through the most available and reliable
agencies.
Further notice Is really unnecessary One
day is sufficient time 10 prepare for this
event. All that is required is the disposition
to give a Iittle-it need not be limited TO
p5und-and The Star will do the rest. If it
is impossible owing to the stress of
weather, for the giver TO bring the contri-
button to The Star office he can send his
order to his grocer, his baker, his butcher
to deliver the goods to The Star in the
name Of the poor.
The machinery is all provided. All that
is needed is the food, the clothing and the
fuel Bear in mind that every pound is
help. and no person need shrink from con-
tributing the smallest quantity. If ten
thousand wera TO give but a pound each
the aggregate would be a goodly store Of
supplies.
Those VINO cannot get out to obtain help
in kind may send their pennies and their
dcllars The pound is merely the potential
unit of this practical charity.
These supplies are for the very poor of
the District. who can find no employment,
who are sick, weak from lack of food,
shivering under insufficient clothing and in
freless houses. the suffering poor, willing
enough to turn 4 hand to do anything that
might be given them to do, but without the
SLftIs- III OF me tlIdL4Gt ~ klSl AbA HI any
wage-earning task. The storm is unprece-
dented. The SHOWS have stopped most of
the ciJy's traffic, have put an end to many
employments, aud have thus reduced to
minimum the power Of the poor to win a
living. while adding greatly to their needs.
The emergency warrants resort to every
available remedy. a pound party is one.
1t has been tried before. In January, 1895,
The Star issued similar Invitation to the
people Of Washington. and the result was
a mass of materials which was really be-
yord ready handling. 1t is 10 be hoped
that so generous and prompt will be the
answer to the present invitation that the
hauling and distributing facilities of The
Star VIII be tested beyond their capacity.
Many thousand pounds for the sufferers
viii assuredly be brought. symboIizing low
ing charity in all the forms Of humanity's
needs. When the great warm heart of the
people is once touched there ale no limits
to its outgiyinss Of practical sympathy.
Washington has never yet failed to answer
such call. and it viii rot fail now
And 50 remember: Tomorrow The Star
VIII receive dor atfons for the poor, in
money or in goods, in large and small
quantities, without any limitation what
ever. 1t VIII guarantee that the means Of
relief thus accumulated will be distributed
with the best effect among the most worthy
people. Ii will, in short. serve as the me
dunn Of communication in this pressing
emergency between Washing;on's givers
and WashingtOn's sufferers.