The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29
SPLENDID WORK.
Something OF the Help For the
Needy Given by a Generous
Public Through the
Police MatrOn.
To the Editor of the State Journal.

To the Editor Of the State Journal.
I wish through your columns to say
THANK you" to the hundreds of kind
citizens who have in the past year en-
trusted to me the distribution of their
charities. Some have said to me: Il
never saw any acknowledgement of my
dOnatiOn-did you get it?" I wish to ex
plain reasons for not publicly acknowl-
edging all gifts: Some wise ones have
suggested that a regular publication of
a miscellaneous charity report might
result of drawing INDECENT families to
our city from other places; for this
reason have withheld a very interest
ing report after having it nearly COM
pleted. We do not wish to induce the
helpless class to congregate here, for
there are enough to look after who be-
long to US. I will just say, therefore,
that every one of your good gifts, pa
pers, books, clothing and the very ac-
ceptable baskets of broken food from
lodge suppers, has been received; also,
these gifts are held by me as a sacred
trust, to be distributed carefully and
honestly as in the fear of God. They
are given to the needy and suffering,
whether the world would call them
worthy or not. If they are in dis
tress, they must be relieved.
1 try to acknowledge personally, each
gift if I have the address of the donor.
Everything received is recorded in my
books each day. Many leave packages
without names, and many withhold
their names.
I wish kind people to remember we
always have the distressed to provide
for. Many helpless women and fami-
lies whose husbands are in the asy-
lum, or in Jail or sick or dead, and
then the sorroWful multitude of the de-
serted and divorced; also scores of
more than half starved little children
to keep in school. The board of educa-
ton is helping in this matter. To keep
them in school is to keep them out of
Jail, in the future. Then we have also
scores of suffering old people who have
I11G oh n Eppr0
poor farm, but not enough for their sore
needs.
The Pingree gardens initiated by
Judge Guthrie, have been successful
families have made their living off of
these gardens this summer. One girl Of
49, member of the industrial school,
began by selling vegetables from her
own garden, and then peddling out
some for vegetable men in the morn
ings, and has earned over $50. She has
also, done the home work so her mother
could work out all summer.
Only one man lost anything in his
Guthrie garden. He took some new lots
of DR. S. C. Stewart, and reducing the
soil to a state for cultivation, cost him
So more than he received from the gar
den. But" he proudly adds, the sun
and work saved me a $25 doctors bill in
curing my rheumatism.
We are using the utmost efforts to
inspire our poor people to be self sup
porting and economical, and the results |
InlS year nave Deen so Satisfactory. LnaL /
we can draw a breath of relief, and be- |
heve the long striving in this line has |
ended in a victory. Particulars would |
interest you, but are too numerous to /
mention We also ecOnOmize the cloth |
ing to get all the good out of it; for !
instance: Three years ago some one !
sent me a good child's cloak. I gave it /
to a cold little girl The next winter it |
was too small for her, and her mother |
gave it to a little poor neighbor. This /
fall it was too small for that child and 4
still good so it was returned to me to /
be given some one else. The first poor /
mother came in again yesterday for a /
cloak for her other little daughter. The /
little brown cloak was Immediately rec
ognized, and now will do good service |
this winter again. This is only one in /
stance of very many.
The little girls among these poor fam |
lilies never had so pleasant a summer |
The industrial school started for them |
last Thanksgiving has enabled them to
ciothe themselves, and also learn to /
work. and to have many pleasant out
ingS. The Thanksgiving donation from
the churches of about SIS started that /
work, and the money donated for the
poor children's picnic, exceeding the
outlay by about $14, has kept them in
were nicely clothed by it all summer.
Many milliners donated hats and trim
Il ng and many of the girls have learn
ed to trim their own hats.
Mrs. Sheard and other ladies of the
Women's club have this work in
charge. Regular teachers are greatly |
needed.
am making this article too long, so
Will close by again assuring the public |
their gifts are thankfully received and |
appreciated and are doing good.
Yours faithfully,
u rNT II