New-York tribune., 1899-06-21


IN THEIR OWN CITIES.
The class in the study Of phianthropic work met
Al an early hour yesterday morning at the United
Charities Building Twenty-second-st. and Fourth
ave.
jeffrey r. Bracket Of Baltimore the first
speaker on the topic Of the day, Relief Work.
and ne was followed by Mrs. NJ Fullerton, who
supplemented MS remarks with corroboratlve
and interesting statements OF her own.
Mr.. Bracket said material relief is only an in
cident OF charity. and that trained service is the
fundamental principle He said that in rendering
material relief there were two notable tendencies
the induced giving too little 10 too many and
the other inclined 10 give too much 10 few. The
ability Of the so-called poor TO help themselves
and 10 assist others is Mr.. Bracket declared
remarka bic fact.
That an increase or decrease IN the number OF
needy persons be brought about by the man
ner in which they assisted was another state
Inent made TWO influences being largely RESPONSE
BILE One OF these was given as the force Of
custom" and another the psychological effect
or mental attitude" in which the person receiving
charitable aid is placed. Mr.. Bracket admitted
that this state was hard TO define and Illustrated
by telling Of cases in Baltimore and Wash
ington where the benehciaries willingly re-
ceved help when 1t was given them. but were able
70 get on alone when II was withdrawn. He fur
ther said that when relief is given It should be Of
the kind and amount needed. that too much
stress could not be laid on the amount, and that
this should be continued until the purpose is ac-
compnshed Few people are really found. the
speaker declared. in a starving condition. but
derfed cases are far from The way
edy this evil It was asserted. may be found in I'M
proved conditions Of labor and living but not in
giving relief
Mrs. Fullerton began by saying that in her
perience superintendent OF the relief depart
ment OF the Association for Improving the Con-
D.. orI- bo.Ff
ditions similar TO those described by Mr.. Bracket
prevailing in Baltimore but as this city is
larger there are more "incompetents' 10 deal
with these being Of the sort that more
stantly in need OF help.
They need education. training and enlishten-
ment," she said. yet many members OF the Board
Of Managers. well as many contributors TO char
files. need 10 be instructed TO how. when and
whore 20 give"
Mrs Fullerton spoke with feeling on indiscrfm-
mate giving and on the tactessness with which re-
LIEF is sometimes forced the poor who
luctant 10 take it, and would rather work out the
assistance they get. She also said that II would
be better II small charities would unite with the
larger ones and that II is easier to manage and
control cases from the records gathered concerning
them than by coming into personal contact with
them
There is no family found" she said with ab-
solutely income and 4 is amazing TO find peo-
pie living what is called nothing this nothing
consisting Of a credit system that nearly every
poor person can command TO some degree. 50 that
the grocer. baker and milkman supply In this way
what is sufficient keep OF starvation. but not 10
prevent the effects OF underfeeding."
A. these retail dealers and Landlords get such a
large percentage their investments. Mrs. Fuller
ton thinks they do not suffer much II they lose
occasional bills but abe declares that in reality
they seldom lose, FOR the work Of the society
teaches people pay back debts as well as 10
Keep clear OF future ores.
A Of the underfeedng stated to be
found much In the preparation OF food as In
the lack OF 81, nOurisnnent was not assured BY
Inc manner in which simple dishes are cooked
BY the ignorant This evil Mrs. Fullerton said, the
Settlement work and cooking school are doing
structon is also needed to their disbursement
ana when people have learned 10 do something
with what they have got, instead OF waiting until
they possess large means all convenences 10
work with. step In domestic economy has been
gained
poor and Mrs Fullerton declared that there s d
crying need for homes for the aged, where
most moderate fee will admit applicant.
II is" she said. persons whose pride torblds
them to make known their wants who suffer the
most and Of whom the society hears only through
heghbOrs"
In closing Mrs Fullerton pleaded for a certain |
amount Of tolerance with the stancard OF the poor
which cannot be raised all at once she said 100
that high returns were not TO be expected
Among the questions asked at the close or the
address was is underfeeding caused only by
poor cooking The answer was that P0oT ulges-
ton produced by inherent evils. ALCOHOLISM etc'
prevented the absorption Of nutriment
Mrs Fullerton said that the largest Din hne ever
knew OF : having been run by poor iaHiiy was |