The age-herald., 1901-12-15
Poor of Birmingham, What They Need and Where
 They Are Located
WORK OF NOBLE WOMEN
United Charities Receive Calls for Food, for Medicine, for Clothing and for Fuel Need
 More to Give.
BY HOMER c. GEORGE.

1 While the church bells are ringing, while the tones of the pipe organs are slowly beginning to breathe the soul work of the masters. giving calmness and peace to life while busy Birmingham has ceased for a few hours Its nervious pursuit of money, while Sunday is being celebrated the world over there are fam lilies snffering out in the cold bare world. Some Sare suffering from lack of food, some freezing for the want of fuel, some suffering for many other necessary ad- juncts to life and health, but suffering suffering from some cause which could be removed in many cases by the appli- cation of charity on the part of those fortunate enough to possess more than their share. And much of this suffer- ing is in Birmingham.
 To the average working man of Bir- mingham and surrounding district the statement that some families are needing help, that some are suffering, seems half untrue. The conditions of life here, the ever-abundant chances for securing work and the general prosperity of the people gives rise to the opinion that there is no reason why charity should be exercised except when a blind man is passed on the street. or poor, hungry mouth pleads at the back door for morsel of food
 Yet Charity Is With Us.
 But in this busy, bustling, hard-worl ing. prosperous city there are those who deserve charity. In Birmingham, sur rounded by all it's industries and inhab- itated by all it's industrious persons, there are those who. for some reason have no coal no bread, no meat, no anything to make life other than struggle against despair. Only yesterday several women, illy-clad, with pinched faces and thin, bony hands, called at the office of the United Charities and asked to be given food and coal. Men also called at the of flee and asked to be furnished relief. Be it said in their behalf they asked for work of any character Each of the num- Der who came into the office of the asso- citation at Twenty-second street and Third avenue, told story which if re- peated to any business man would have been an eye-opener heart opener, and perhaps a purse opener as well. And all were deserving. The claims of each had been investigated and found true.
 Story Not Unlike the Rest.
 One poor soul about 40 years of age, with the bent figure. wrinkled face and | worn hands of a woman of so, walked l slowly into the office to ask help. She wore a thin calico dress, old shoes, and 1 covered her head with a thin shawl. l But beneath it all beat a heart and coursed blood Her story was not unlike that of many other poor persons who call at this and other places for relief. She was a widow. She had eight chil- dren-fve girls and three boys. The old | est girl was 13. the oldest boy was 6.
 The other children were scattered along between 13 years and nine months. The elder girl was employed in a factory. The elder boy sold newspapers. The l former was i'll from exposure while the l latter was suffering from a sprained ankle. In the house of two rooms where l they lived there was no food, no coal. no anything, but suffering. She wanted | a physician. She wanted relief.
 Her story is only one of many. They are told every day. And usually some relief is given. Rarely is enough given, however, for the funds of the society are limited the donations not abundant, and the interest by the public not as l great as 1t might be. Always something l is done, though. But always are the demands in excess of what the relief supplies should be.
 To the busy man with no time to be