The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-28
- ESTITUTION and deception &c
hand in hand in the daily pa

hand in hand in the daily pa
rade of humanity which ap-
pears before Mrs. Berger, manager OF
the Associated Charities Long and
thorough study of human nature has
given Mrs. Berger an insight into the
character of the people who daily APP
peal to her for assistance and al
| though she oYerflows with sympathy
for the poor, distressed, sick and hope
less of Honolulu. yet her sympathies
are tempered with Judgment which
| rarely errs in its ministrations From
morning until night the Ills of dis
| treSsed humanity are poured into her
willing ears. These tales are sifted and
assorted, the true separated from the
| false, and the work of relief goes on
INCREASINGLY. Deception is continually
practiced. but generally comes to
naught, for Mrs. Berger has now be-
| come expert in discerning such cases.
and they are given short shrift
| or professional beggars there are
few in Honolulu, and these have been
| for the most part Porto Ricans who
soon after they came to the Islands
and went on the plantations, began to
drife into the city. Their numbers in
creased until at length there We're $50
| of them housed in the poorest quar-
| tiers. Immediately they began to beg
Mrs. Berger's close observance of
| these people taught her that beggary
| was inherent in them. and that al
! though they might be assisted by the
Associated Charities. they would prefer
| to obtain their daily bread by aims
seeking in the streets and from house
| to house Mrs. Berger found these
people were able bodied in most cases,
| although here and there would be
found a few sick ones. After review
ing their cases. she came 70 ron
clIsion that they were not fit objects
| for charity. One and all We're told
| that work, and plenty of it for all,
awaited them at the plantations. She
had nothing for them, as it was only
| III deserving cases that assistance was
given Circulars in the spanish Ian
guage signed by DIR. Alvarez, the
Spanish Consul, We're distributed
which told them they would not be
| looked after by charitable organiza-
tons. Mrs Berger told them they
| would fall into the hands of the po-
| lice if they did rot obtain work, and
the would be given terms on the reef.
The reef meant harder work than any
where else, and finally they began to
go back to the plantations. Thus. the
Associated Charities did its duty to the
community by nipping an incipient
pauper- colony in the bud.
About the last of the Porto Ricans
who have attracted any attention here.
was the family which was looked af-
ter by the police department few
nights ago, given temporary quarters
near the police station supplied with
food and bedding, and whose plaintive
stories of restitution appeared in the
Advertiser. 1t was true the old man
was sick, but he forgot to tell the kind
hearted police that he had been plac-
ed in a hospital by Mrs. Berger, his
family fed, clothed and sheltered, and
ha he had no hos
pital in order 10 beg again. 1t was
this same family which, headed by
the father, after he had mysteriously
disappeared from the free bed, sur
prised Ian Alvarez one bright morning
recentlys by appearing bag and bag
ga ge On his front lawn, asking to be
given shelter. food and many other
requirements of life. This story of the
Porto Ricans is characteristic of all of
the colony.
A pitiful case is that of white
woman whose husband, man of mill
itary title, got into difficulties and is
now III prison. When her case was
called to Mrs. Berger's attention she
was utterly destitute, behind in her
rent. SEX and unable to help herself
in any way. The Associated Charities +
is now caring for her.
Among those who ask for temporary ,
assistance are a number of eX-solders |
who have served in the Philippines, |
who came to Honolulu after being dis |
charged. expecting to find work. They !
generally arrived without spare funds, !
and not getting work at once, were !,
placed in an embarrassing position.
Mrs Berger has helped them by Civ
ing them meals and assisted them in
finding employment.
= Recently a very sad case was
brought TO the managers attention. /
This was of woman living in one OF
the most wretched localities in kakaa-
llo. She was absolutely destitute when
Mrs Berger went to visit her. Her (
husband left her about seven months /
ago. and his whereabouts are not now !
known, as he has never written. HIS /
wife has a baby about three weeks /!
old The woman lived in one small /
room, in surroundings of squaior, and |
had no bed, no stove, no food, no /
dishes and not even a change of cloth |
ing She was almost at the point of |
a brief career of starvation Better |
quarters We're found for her. medi- |
cines food and clothing provided, and |
life looks brighter to her today than |
for many months past.
Another bad case is that of father /
and a family of three children, who /
were deserted by the wife and mother |
The father is infirm in body and mind, |
and unable TO seek a living for him. /
self and his family. Through the AS /
sociated Charities the children We're !,
sent to the kona. Orpnanase Oh ID
wall where they are now living. They !
write often and tell of their bright. |
happy life in the mountains and or /
the food which they eat three times a |
day. something quite novel in their /
lives heretofore. Another father, who |
was unable through infirmities TO pro- |
vide for his children. was being taken /
care of by his mother and sister. me |
task was too great for them, and the !
children were also sent 10 the kona /
OrDhanage. Cheerful letters from |
them tell of their delightful existence |
in a land OF plenty.
An American who is married to a /
native woman. has recently been help- /
ed He was industrious and saved |
money. which he put in I
TO fisheries on another Island. but one |
thing and another caused his savings I
TO dwindle away. He became sick ana !
returned TO Honolulu an object of sym