The Washington times., 1902-02-09
SUFFERING AMONG:
HEPOOR OF THE CITY
Cold Weather Throws Many
Out of Work.
APPLICATIONS FOR CHARITY
Secretary Weller, of Associated
Charities. Appeals to Citizens for
Assistance and Occupation for the
Ncedy-Some Worthy Cases.

III
ington and the surrounding country has
made double work for the Associated
Charities for the past week or ten days.
The recent cold snap has thrown out
OF employment many day workmen and
laborers. Especially has it crippled those
who find their daily livelihood in out
door work, such as painters, carpenters,
and laborers.
The inclemept weather has stopped
very nearly all building operations. 1t
has also stopped all work upon the
street improvements, where employment
is found for thousands of the poorer
class of the inhabitants of Washington.
This latter class are unable to save
anything for a rainy day. And when
they are thrown out OF employment, as Is
the case at present, they must call upon
more fortunate ones Tor relief. The first
persons to whom these people turn are
the Associated Charities.
Laboring Class Apply.
Among those who called at the rooms
of the Associated Charities yesterday were
carpenters, painters. laborers, and color
rheumatism Some of them have on de-
cent clothes, while others were practical
ly in rags. All these are subjects for the
aid of the Associated Charities.
One of the greatest difficulties with
which the association is confronted Is
when a man who has never appealed to
charity before comes to it for relief. The
man generally has some pride about the
matter Occasionally that self-respect is
SO injured that it becomes dead. and he
is very apt to call more frequently than
necessity demands.
Mr.. Weller, secretary of the Associated
Charities, believes that if he could place
workmen in a position to do odd jobs until
their misfortune is ended that it would
relieve the situation to a great extent.
He therefore has made On appeal TO the
residents of Washington that whenever
they have any odd jobs that they want
done around the house to notify one Of the
officers Of the association. and they Will
send some one around to look after it,
He states that these little Jobs would
not only be help to the man himself. but
also to the association, as 1t would be
equal to giving him SO much money, and
would be that much saved to the associ-
alton.
WashingtOn Divided on.
Washington is divided into six districts
by the Charities, and in each district
there is a branch ONCE. The central Of
hce is situated in the first district. at
s11 G Street northwest. The first dis
trict is perhaps the busiest of them all.
1t is surprising to know how much SUI
fering there is in this part Of the city.
1t includes the greater portion Of the
rich people Of the District. Yet right
alongside OF the rich there are the poor.
Within three or four squares of one of
the bon-ton sections of the city there
is one of the poorest sections. In this
section the association does its greatest
work.
One of the cases in which the secretary
of the association is especially interest
ed, and which shows the kind of work
the Associated Charities is doing, is in
the case of a young boy. He lives with
his widowed mother, who is hardly able
TO earn more than a livelihood. The boy
Is in the first stages of consumption.
Mr.. Weller has investigated the case
thoroughly, and has consulted we'll
known physician of the city, who has con-
sented to render free medical service.
The boy will be given all the attention
possible and will be provided with good
warm clothes during the winter. If he
Is able to do anything by the summer he
will be found work in the mountains OF
West Virginia, where it is hoped he will
find curative. The boy Is willing t.
. work at anything, and Mr.. Weller states
that he is deserving.
Contributions.
The following contributions were re-
ceived by Mr.. John Joy Edison, secre-
tary of the Associated Charities, on Fri
day and yesterday.