The Washington times., 1901-12-22
,CHARITY AND
: CHRISTMAS.
Impoverished and Stricken
Now Remembered.
TALES OF Want AND SUFFERING.
Experience of Mr.. G. F. Weller,
General Secretary of the As
sociated Charities How Misfor-
tune Followed One Strug-
giles of a Widow and Children.

There has been considerably less actual
suffering on the pari of the poorer classes
this year than for several years past. The
nolice Nave fewer cases Of destitution
drought 10 their attention, due partly to
the fact that labor conditions have been
Considerably Improved during the year.
and partly 10 he fact that the Board OF
Charities has assumed entire control Of
The work Of extending relief to the needy
Tnd al applications for aid are referred
II it.
Nevertheless. there is still room for a
Tast amount Of work in providing succor
for families and individuals who are in
an absolutely destitute condition.
Tic Associated Charities is well in
formed on conditions as they actually eN-
Isl in Washington through the dczers OF
cases requiring immediate aid brought 10
the attention OF its agents daily.
Hr. weIIcr's Experiences.
/. Mr Charles F. Weller, general secrc-
tary OF the Associated Charities, graph
iTally described yesterday the conditions
existing IN some Of the homes of this city,
Nr. Weller has lived and worked in the.
Sums of JIis and various other large
cities, and he is thoroughly conversant
with the subject. He has visited homes
IL The southeastern section OF Washing
ten during the present cold sna7 where
there were no panes OF glass in the vim
dows and The apertures had been par
TALLY covered with paper and rags.
In many homes there are no fires, nor
even a stove in which one could he built.
food and clothing are wofully lacking
In great many instances, and in some
cases little children are compelled TO re-
main indoors for lack OF shoes or stock
ings.
Widow With Nine Children.
One family was discovered recently
where a widow with nine small children
was striving to eke out miserable exist
eace. With no food and scarcely any
clothing Most Of the children were bare
footed, and The entire family was housed
IN one small room devoid of the slightest
sign OF fire or a bed. The only way
they kept from freezing was by budding
together In a corner of the room where
the draft from the dilapidated window
did not blow directly on them.
Followed d. Misfortune.
MIR. Weller has also recently had
brought to his attention the case of
-ountryman with wife and four children
sho were in pitiful condition. The
--mily came TO this city last June with
about 81 900 in its possession With this
money the Ban bought a small grocery.
IL was the dull season, however, and in
side Of a couple OF months he had ey
pended the whole OF his little stock of
rlaDnx and faflad in trrtupcc
For some time the family contfived 10
exist in a fairly comfortable manner
Then q series Of misfortunes reduced |
them TO a stage OF misery.
A couple of days ago the man sought 4
the aid Of the Associated Charities His 1
only articles of clothing were a dilapi- |
dated hat. a shirt, a thin suit Of clothes. /
and q pair of shoes with scarcely any |
soles to them. he had no underclothing /
or orercoat, and was nearly frozen with |
the cold.
Died after Reaching Asylum.
Another p1tiful inclGent was brought to
light recently in the case Of an old negro
VINO had been blind and partly paralyzed
for several years. He was utterly help
less. having no use Of his arms and legs.
He was nursed and cared for by his aged
Wiz VIII Was nIA7 7tiA s&l'lffeN WIN iht1- ]
natism.
a short tine ago the wife died, leay-
Ing the old man with no one to care for
hfm. He had however. about SO in his
possession. Some relatives in Anaccstia
agreed TO give him a home. When they
had gotten possession OF his money they
almost entirely neglected him, frequently
not feeding him for a couple of days at a
me-
when at last his case was discovered
be was removed to the Washington Asy
l,iin. where his death soon occurred.
AIie,iaiing ihe Distress.
These are only . few OF the vast number
y similar cases. For these poor people
here is ne Christmas and no Santa Claus
Existence from day TO day is to them
earful struggle.
The Associated Charities, the Salvation
army. the Central Union Mission. the
4omaBsrd Bound Mission. and All the
-aIi9us churches ana schools are doing
heir utmost. however TO alleviate the
listrcss OF The poor The Busine5s High /
sAaool alone contributed nearly $50 in
money and several wagon loads OF pre-
'isi0ns. The Associated Charities has
~ nis IN every section Of the city. and
~ In their power is being dcue TO bring /,
T-nc aerlhlance OF Christmas into the I.
,eetl.as bcsnes of the citys poor
/