Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-09-26
POOR WELL CARED FOR
Salvation Army and Swedish Munich.
palities Are Partners in Charity

STOCKHOLM, Aug. 8.-WilIiam f
Curtis in the Chicago Record Herald
The municipalities of Stockholm
and other cities of Sweden have en-
tered into contract with the Salvation
Army to look after the poor and dis
tressed and to take care of the tramps
and other floating population. Their,
are similar arrangements between the
Salvation Army and the city govern
ments of Melbourne and Sydney. Aus
tralia. but Sweden is the only coun
the army is officially recognized and
has been utilized as part of the
municipal machinery for charitable
and benevolent work
In the city of Stockholm are eigh
teen institutions maintained by the
Salvation Army under the direction
of Colonel Edwin Oliphant. an En-.
glshman, who has made great repu.
tation as an organizer and executive
| Under his direction the arrangements
referred to have been accomplished
and the city officials have been re-
lieved from all the trouble and re-
| VI Wolh dluOHR lIlt pour
by intrusting it to him and his as
sistants of "Fraalsnings-Areen as
they call it in Sweden.
Coionel Oliphant has had the per-
sonal as well as the official sympathy,
encouragement and cooperation OF
the king and queen, and also that OF
, the Prince and Princess Oscar. who
have not only contributed literally
but have taken an active part in the
| rescue work. The. wife of Prince
| Oscar. the second son of the king. is
director of an association for rescue
work among women. and the prince
often visits the Salvation Army sta
tions and speaks at its meetings.
The king is regular contributor
to its funds, and has several times re-
ceived Colonel Oliphant at the palace
and given him personal assurances
of protection against the interference
of the established church. which is
not friendly to the Salvation Army
The bishops and other members of the
ecclesiastic department, of the govern
ment do not like its methods, and,
furthermore. would prefer to look af-
ter the charities themselves and han
die the money that is subscribed bv
benevolent people and appropriated by
the municipal government for the re-
lief of the poor. The king has sew
eral times overruled them when they
have attempted to interfere, and the
municipal officials have taken their
cue from him rather than from the
bishops and clergy. The queen is
deeply interested in the missions
among fallen women. and her daugh-
ter-inlaw frequently reports to her
concerning the details of their work
The city government issues meal
tickets to persons who apply to the
police and other officials for food, or
who may be reported as in distress.
Last year and the year before there
was comparatively little suffering. the
average number of tickets issued per
month being only 36S93. The aver.
age for the previous year was 47,ll0
per month. whereas few years ago
it ran above 10000. These tickets are
presented at what is known as the
steam Kitchen" managed by the Sal
vation Army, in exchange for a good
meal of soup. boiled beef, bread. pota-
toes and other food, which may lie
eaten on the premises or taken away.
There are four shelters for the
homeless. two for men and two for
women. with accommodations for $50
persons altogether. where applicants
are furnished with bed blankets,
sheets, towels, soap and opportuni-
ties to take a bath with mug of milk
and a ration of bread for supper and
the same thing for breakfast. Men,
women and children are accommo-
dated. and the expense of mainten-
ance is paid by the city government
at the cost of $500 kroner year.
This usually covers all expenses. but
during several years of hard times
there was a deficit which had to be
made up by private subscription.
There is also "A day shelter, with a
bath, washrooms and dispensary and
disinlecting establishment, where the
unemployed may find comfortable
quarters during the day with facilities
for repairing their shoes and cloth
ing Secondhand garments are fur
nished to those who need them.
There is library and reading-room
and physician always in attendance
to prescribe for any that may be i'll.
For this the government pays $500
kroner year.
The care of discharged prisoners
is also intrusted to the Salvation
Army. When II convict comes out
Of the penitentiary or Il jail or a po
lice station he is furnished with a
ticket bearing the address OF the
house for discharged prisoners and is
directed to proceed there nj once. He
Is kindly received. and is given fu)d
and shelter for a reasonable time un-
til he has had an opportunity to find
employment or a job has been found
| for him. If he shows no inclination
to take care himself he is given work,
and il he refuses he is warned that ne
must look for another home. The gov
ernment pays the expense of main
tanning this institution.