The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-04
LOOKING OUT ron OPPORTUNITIES.

y
The St Luke Society of Chicago has in
stituted a charity which promises to do a
vast amount of good in that city. 1t has
opened what is called a Penny Lunch
Room" The price of every article on the
bill of fare is one cent. 1t is alleged that
a person can get enough to aHay, in some
degree, the pangs of hunger for one cent,
a satisfying lunch for three cents and
square meal for five cents.
In every city there are unfortunates who
are not altogether responsible for their
poverty. Some of them if helped over ex-
listing difficulties are able to take care of
themselves. II often happens that really
deserving people are stranded in cities
far away from their homes, and are des-
perately in need of immediate assistance
to prevent them from suffering from star
walton.
1t is proposed to establish in this city
charity to look out for unfortunates II
is not the intention to adopt a policy that
will make beggars or encourage beggary.
The real purpose is to assist the INDECENT
unemployed, both resident and non-resi-
dent who are deserving.
At recent meeting of the ministerial
association of this city and the heads of
such religious denominations as are not
! included in that official body. the subject
of establishing an organized charity was
considered Enthusiasm in the proposed
plan and willingness to further its speedy
Accomplishment were freely expressed. A
committee was chosen to formulate plan
for the contamination of the project This
committee will make its report at the close
of the first week of the current month.
In the meantime it is desired to call the
attention of the public once more to the
dire need for some institution or organ
ization which win provide shelter for
those who, for any reason whatever, are
absolutely destitute of a home. At the
present time there is not a single place
to which the charitably inclined may re-
fer an applicant for aid with any certain
ty that a satisfactory return will be had
for the money invested, the White Rib
bon Mission having been closed for the
present.
Nearly every one neSltateS TO give
money to a beggar, and yet every right
feeling person is just as 10th to refuse
aid to possibly worthy applicant. But
granting that the applicant is unworthy,
If he is hungry and in need of food, he is
more liable to fall into the sins of theft
and drunkenness than IL fed and physi-
cany able to resist temptation. With the
carelessly given ten cents, which is in
variably thrust at the street beggar,
drink is made a possibility so alluring
that the temptation to obtain it is well
nigh irresistible.
For discharged patients from the hos
pitals. for destitute women, for young
men in need of a LITTLE timely, practical
helm. there is now no place in all this city
of wealth and culture, except tho county
iail There Is not even a county poor
house: there is not an organized charity
of any sort except the Little Sisters of
the Poor Home and the hospitable doors
of that institution open only to afford per-
manent shelter to the aged
The need for systematic work along
charitable lines in Savannah is obvious
and pressing. and it is earnestly hoped
thattthe o. e stablishmaut OF n suitable in
stitutiof 'of some sort may be established
in the near future.