New-York tribune., 1899-02-15
An APPEAL FOE THE DESTITUTE.

An APPEAL FOR THE DESTITUTE.
In referring yesterday TO the great storm or
the day before and the prolonged period OF
severe weather which eliminated in that fierce
combat of elemental forces. We said that we'll
to-do citizens of New-YOrk who may have eX-
neriencod some minor discOmfortS at home ana
in the streets ought 10 be reminded thereby or
their obligation to relieve the real mserieS
which others have been compelled 10 endure.
There was every reason to believe that an eX-
traordinary amount of suffering had been
caused by cold and tempest. and authentic re-
norts now leave no possible doubt Of the fact
II is the privilege and the duty of the more
fortunate members of society TO unite in re-
lievinr this distress without delay and we
have been asked moi only TO publish the neces
sity and urge a generous response. hut to re-
ccive and forvlrd 10 a suitable distributing
agency contributions in cash for the benefit OF
the needy. This we gladly offer to do. II is
not often that we think it wise to take in this
way a direct part in charitable tons hut
the present emergency seems TO make that
course advisable We therefore appeal to such
of orr readers az may feel that they are not
making full use Of some other medium 10 use
The Tribune for this purpose. Gifts Of money
sent at once 10 the Association for Improving
the Condition of the Poor. which has superior
facilities for discovering ana relieving cases OF
want and has made special arrangements 10
meet the messing needs of the present moment
one point we wish 10 emphaslzr particularly
Now.Yorl, woke IN Yesterday morning 10 find
the storm over and the skies clear. and the bright
sun and more moderate temperature were SO
.1,, l,at-
been led 10 forget that for the very poor the
worst was not over Their suferinCs do not
end with the return Of fine weather. ana often
do not reach tho maximum until considerable
time afterward small surplus Of food or
money NAV have been completely exhausted by
the extraordinary demand. or physical vitality
may have been seriously impaired. or sickness
may have resulted from privation. so that work.
even if obtainable at once. cannot b' under
taken II is altogether probable that In many
cases the suffering IS greater now than 1t was
two days ago. and even seems moro hopeless.
For this reason citizens who are in comforta-
BILE circumstances. and who perhaps have
more than ordinarily keen sense of wclbeing
because Of experiences now happily past, can
not afford 10 assume that the destitute necessa-
rly or probably share TO some degree in their
satisfaction Their sympathies, Oh the contrary.
ought 10 be intensified and their solicitudc made
all the koener hy the consciousness of their own
fortunate condition. 1t is unQuesiionably time
for prompt and generous giving. We do not
possess the facilities for distributing food and
fuel and clothing. but persons who choos. to
send us money may rest assured that II will be
Immediately converted into those prime neces-
sarieS Of life through the instrumentality Of the
Association for Improving the Condition Of the
Poor and so applied directly 10 the relief Of
want In It's most imperative forms.