The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-03
The Need of Organized Charity.

Not long ago an old man fell dead In the
streets Of New York. II was ascertai med
that he had died OF starvation, and that
he had been begging all day. but had re-
ceived nothing because people would not
believe his story. His clothing, though
worn, was neat. and this appearance of re-
spectability probably had something TO do
with the refusals he encountered Sich
incidents do something to promote pauper-
people will give few cents at least TO the
first beggar they meet who seems to be in
real distress.
The conviction that some effective sys-
TEN OF dealing with the poor must ta
found is forcing itself upon modern So
ciety. Without some organized method.
which shall be generally known to the pub
lie, so that it can be utilized by everyone.
pauperism on the one hand and calIous-
ness on the other will probably increase. 1t
is unquestionably true that in every large
city there are beggars who make a good
living by trickery and fraud. 1t is also
true that many deserving poor people suf
fer from ills which might be alleviated
without hurting the self-respect of the
recipient or impoverlshing the giver. The
trouble is at present that though there
are charity bureaus, they are too often
cumbrous and awkward in their methods.
and in addition to this, most people do not
know where they are or how TO get at
them.
Perhaps the best agents for the distri-
button of aims, as things are now, are
the police. They are apt TO know the needs
and character of the poor people in their
respective districts, and are not likely to
be imposed on or to mistake an honest
person for an imposter They see the
people in their homes, and get their i'm
pressons from the general talk of the
neighborhood rather than from casual
visits as acknowledged distributors of
charity. II there could re a well organ
lied charity bureau, cooperating with the
police force at every point, having sta
lions in all parts of the city, and so adj
vertised in the newspapers. railway sta
tons, and elsewhere that those in need
would know where to go, # might be very
good thing. great many we'll to- do peo-
pie could and would give substantial aid
TO the poor il the thing could be made
easy for them, and they could be assured
that the gifts would go where actual need
existed. 1t is all very well TO say that
persons who are really charitable will not
mind taking little trouble, but the
small amount of time and thought required
to make up bundle of old clothes or a
basket OF groceries, and hunt up the ad-
dress to which 1t is TO be taken, often
prevents busy people from making their
contributions. The gifts which come from
do just as much good as those from one
who gives with deliberate intention. il |
the articles in themselves happen to be |
worth giving. Why, then, should Il not |
be made as easy as possible TO get rid OF
superfuous goods which may benefit some |
body in need?
In some German cities there are moor
boxes" here and there, in conspicuous |
places. into which packages OF clothing. |
books, papers, or other articles may be |
dropped. This box is opened at short in |
tervals and the contents given where they |
are most needed. Some such arrangement,
if 1t became a recognized Institution, |
might be beneficial in this country. But |
it IS above all desirable that the work |
should be systematized, without the sys-
TEN being so rigid that It will not yield in |
case of emergency
There Is one decided advantage in the !
cooperation Of the police department. |
The respectable poor man or woman in |
distress vail ask a policeman for help, |
confident OF his knowledge of human ma