Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-15
EXTREME DESHTUT|ON
Instances Cited BY Agents Of
Associated Charities.
STRUGGLE FOR BREAD
EFFORTS TO AID THOSE WILLING
TO WORK.
Stories Of People Who Save Money
From seanty Earnings-Fresh
Air Excursions.

Many pathetic and interesting incidents.
from the humanitarian standpoint. are wit
messed nearly every day In the city Of
Washington, 1t Is stated. by persons who
are devoting all or part OF their time to the
work Of charity and philanthropy In the
city|ncidents of which the general public
| Is in ignorance. because of their occurrence
| in some obscure locality. in neighborhoods
| where the unfortunates are hidden away IN
novels on by-streets and alleys. Observers
relate stories of tragedies which receive
| but scanty attention from the busy OUTSIDE
world. In many cases only those persons
| who become acquainted with the scenes by
personal and intimate association in their
T work of relief ever become Informed OF the
desperate fights for life that take place
perhaps within a stones throw OF comfort
and plenty.
In the reports of the division agents of
the Associated Charities Of Washington,
which were included in the annual report
of the general secretary and chairman OF
the board OF managers of the association,
previously reviewed in The Star, a number
of stories bearing upon the conditions met
with in the work of relief are related. They
form chapter in the daily history Of the
city which should be known to its citizens.
Instances Reported.
One of the stories as told by division
agent is. in effect, as follows:
1.-The illness of young colored woman
was one day brought to our attention, the
address being given as q lean-to-house'
below the level of the street in the far
northwest section OF the city, IN locality
filled with splendid residences. When we
arrived at the shack the only entrance to
the howell was found in the rear, where
there was an opening about four feet hiah
which served as a door. Once inside we
broken and dangerous flight of stairs, which
we attempted to mount, being Obliged 70
jump now and then to gain foothoid. At
the top of the stairs was discovered col
ored woman about thirty elght years OF
age lying on a miserable pallet on the floor
under opening in the wall, which was
the only window.
There was not even chair in the room,
no stove. no chimney even, but smolder-
ing fire was burning in an old tin can
which rested on few bricks. The ceiling
of the room was not more than four or
five feet high. The woman had been living
In this squalor and degenerate state for
over a year, paying 25 cents a week as
rent for the abode. In her case, Which was
precarious, 1t was decided that ordinary re-
lief would not suffice, so physician was
summoned and a nurse secured. Cooked
food was supplied until the woman became
stronger, and finally she was commanded
for habitatiOn.
The agent goes on to state that the house
was shortly afterward condemned and torn
down through the efforts of a member of
the division conference, after the plan APP
proved by the committee on Improvement
: of housing conditions recently organized in
the Associated Charities
( Struggle for Subsistence.
Another story is related of the struggles
of a man and his wife and their four young
children. The husband was a consumptive.
He was unable to work for any length of
time, but so long as he had employment
the wife refused to apply for aid, even
though the family suffered for the lack of
necessities Finally however, the husband
was taken severely Ill. and the Associated
Charities was called to assist them. The
man was taken to a hospital and the wife
was given work while places were found
for the children. The entire family is now
in much better condition and Is becom-
ing self-supporting.
Another instance where the charity
workers have been Instrumental in bring
ing relief in an extreme case was that OF
a man, his wife and one child, an infant.
Unfortunate circumstances brought them
to condition of AFFECT poverty, and the
parents were found sick amid squalor and
dirt. The patients were cared for by the
association, and they have been raised to
something like comfortable living. The man
is steadily at work, the family has moved
into better rooms. and in its home life
there is an increase of sunshine and a de-
crease of dirt.
Attempts to Better Conditions.
The Associated Charities does not stop at
mere temporary relief Of pressing wants,
as the reports show, but the association at
tempts to effect a permanent cure of the
charity case, teaching and helping the
parties assisted to become self-supporting
nd Matt cit oil trtn fn hrin
order and happiness into the lives of those
unfortunate people who are burdened not
only with poverty, but also with domestic
care and trouble. Many persons with recre-
ant husbands ana fathers come to the
agents asking for advice and help. A case
in point Is that of young colored couple,
the Incidents being related by one of the
division agents of the association, in sub
stance as follows
This young couple were the parents of
four boys, and I had frequently visited
them on one of my stamp routes 1 was
greatly surprised one day to learn that the
woman had asked for help from the So
ciety. Her husband had left his family and
refused to contribute to the support Of wife
and children I discovered where the man
was working and in the meantime secured
work for the wife to do and supplied some
ferred to the Humane Society and the hus-
band was taken to court, where he was
given orders as to what was expected of
him. The couple had difficulties for a time.
tablished and the woman recently reported
that her husband has greatly improved and
Is now contributing to the support Of his
family"
The case of another young couple with
three children Is cited in the reports.
Through his bad habits the young father
had lost one position after another, and the
mother applied to q church visitor to have
| their three little ones admitted to some
home that she might go to work The rel
atives had cast the pair of es irrecIaimable.
1t was resolved that the family must be
kept together and the man aided In his eff
forts to support them all. Accordingly.
child-caring homes were closed to them and
| the services of friendly visitor were en-
listed. This friendly visitor soon procured
| the mans reinstatement. on good behavior.
| in the position he had last held. recon
Citation was brought about between the
| young man and his father and the wife was
| encouraged in her home life. The man
braced up and began to pay his debts, and
| though he has fallen once or twice. presum-
ably through old associations, yet no has
kept his employment and things are run
| ming along smoothly with the family.
Efforts at Deception.
That the needs Of the poor and the re-
| probabilities of the benevolent do not end
| with doles Of food. fuel ana clothing in
| times Of pressing want IL proved In the