Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-07
ROUND AMOUR NEW YoRk.

ROUND ABOUT NEW YORK.
RippIes on the Current of Life In the
Metropolis.
John NJ. Burke, a bachelor merchant OF
New York, has transferred $4,000, 900 Of
bis real and personal estate to a corpora
ton for the help OF worthy men and women
who may be in need through sickness.
His idea Is not that Of cold charity, but
rather a means OF help for worthy persons
temporarily in financial straits. The deed
Of gift provides: THE directors of the
foundation shall establish a thorough. care
full and kindly system for choosing as
beneaciaries men and women who beyond
all reasonable doubt are within the pur-
poses described in the trust deed, but the
founder, appreciating the frequent suffer-
ing caused by tardy action in giving relief,
urges that the methods to be used, so far
as they are consistent with propriety. shall
be as expeditions as possible. = . In
carrying into effect the objects specified
the instrumeutality Of other charitable and
philanthropic organizations may be availed
Of by the trustees, and arrangements may
be made with the city Of New York for the
care of malignant cases either by the
erection Of suitable buildings or by assum-
ing the cost Of treatment in such cases
Mr.. Burke wants to see the Institution
soundly established and we'll under way
on It's mission Of philanthropy while he still
lives. His charity is especially designed
for persons discharged from hospitals as
cured, but still too weak at once TO re-
sumo their usual avocations. DR.. George
T. Stewart OF Bellevue hospital says that
fully 5 per cent of all persons discharged
from public hospitals are worthy and yet
in need Of help. The city makes no pro-
vision for these convalescents. Mr.. Burke's
charity will, therefore, meet the wants OF
this large class Of people now unprovided
for. Mr.. Burke celebrated his Goth birth
day last week. Although a millionaire, he
lives with the simplicity Of a man Of mod
crate income.
In the '7Os Of the last century what a
dull monotony of ugly "brownstone fronts"
was seen in block after block OF Fifth ave-
nue. and the cross streets between Wash
ington square and Central parki What a
Transformation has been wrought since
then and how extensive are the changes
now In progress! The variety in the de-
signs of the buildings constructed in Man
haitian within twenty-five years impresses
every New Yorker and every visitor to the
city. The old order changes, giving place
to new.
The Low city administration is now turn
ing its attention to the matter of street light
ing and has discovered that a monopoly
practically holds control OF the lighting of
New York. The commissioner of water sup
ply, gas and electricity makes the an
nouncement. THE city Of New York." he
says, pays to the gas and electric light
companies for lighting It's streets, high
ways, parks, other public places and pub
lie buildings more than $3.50 0 900 per an
mum.
Unfortunately, under existing business
conditions the city is subject to monopoly
rates in awarding these contracts, for there
Is no genuine competition for bids" He
names the companies that can possibly sup
ply the demand and adds that they "are
without rivals in their particular field and
the city is forced to pay whatever price
these corporations decide to cargo it,"
About a month ago a ragged little girl,
about 9 years old, was caught by a po-
liceman in the act OF stealing flowers from
Central park, right across the way from a
plOCh VI hOdoCo VI CANSOhAhbAg AASh RNO
pie. The little girl was just helping her
self to the flowers in one of the park flower
beds, nor did she appear to make any
effort to evade the eye of the cop. When
the officer grabbed the young one she began
to cry piteously, clinging tightly to her
stolen flowers all the time. She didn't
know that she was doing anything wrong,
she said. She told the policeman that she
was taking the flowers for a little sick
girl friend, and she begged hard to be al
lowed to take the blossoms to the sick
child before being conveyed to the police
station. Her waillngs were so piercing
that they attracted the attention of several
wealthy and sympathetic women who had
observed the incident from the windows
OF their homes across the way from the
park. The women appeared on the scene
in time to listen to the child's story. Their
intercessions with the policeman were so
effectual that he released the child. Then
the women asked the child to take them to
the bedside Of the sick child. The young
one with the flowers unhesitatingly did so,
her alleged sick girl friend being found
In bed in an East Side tenement. The
wealthy women promptly took up a collec-
ton among themselves, with the result that
the child who had been caught stealing the
park flowers was made pretty nearly 800
better off, the money being handed over to
her mother, who claimed to be a hard
working washerwoman. The little girl al
legged to be i'll was also literally taken
care Of.
Three days later the same little flower
thief played her game again at a point far
Their up. and she got away will 1t this
time. too, with equal financial success, so
the police say. Another bunch Of wealthy
and sympathetic women appeared and got
her ont of the policeman's clutches, and
opened their purses generously when the
little girl led them to the bedside Of her
"sick" girl friend. Then the child with the
knowing scheme got to crowding her
hower-steallng dates a bit too close, al
though she contrived to work her dodge
with vast success until last week, when a
roundsman who had seen her do 1t once
before nabbed her and took her to the sta
ton. The police say that the child's
mother prohted to the extent OF nearly $500
through the crafty young ones sympathy
melting scheme.