The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
By Bruce Stewart Hume.

"
Replying to your question Of how we
,ught to deal with the poor and with
beggars, and how charity may be most
wisely dispensed, will say: In tho first
place that all the poor and destitute per-
sons are not bcggars, and oil beggars are
not destitute or. poor. Some of the most
pitiful cases that have come under the
notice Of the Citizens Relief Association
we're accidentally discovered by our ,visi-
tors OF the City Mission, or the police.
These cases would never have been known
otherwise. probably, until the Coroner
was summoned to make an inquest. On tho.
other hand. tho majority of the class
known as beggars, arc shiftless. people,
who will never work as long as they can
set money food. clothes and fuel with
cut other labor than piufu tale Of dis
tress. stst:
When I say beggars, ] refer more par
ticularly to that class Who solicit aims
on the street, or 20 from house to house.
They are nine times out of ten fakes OF
tho first water. and money given to them
does double harm. 1t harms the person
| 1t is given to, and it deprives, perhaps.
scme really worthy family from getting
1t; tn eperson giving to tho beggar. feeling
that he has done his duty, along tho
| charity line.
There Is another class who are gener-
| ally worthy pcOplCp WIZ tA y S4ShSA vi
| fortunate, have sickness in the family.
on. OF employment through no fault Of
| their ow,s or some woman with young
children, whose husband Is a drunkard,
and does nothing for their support
These poor creatures nearly always ap-
| ply directly to our Association. their
church or some other charitable organl-
cation, rarely to individuals. and they
are always given assistance and relief.
| 10 1,f, nrfhv n r
| able to work, or can get work and Will
not work, that persons namo Is made
known to all the visitors. and he or she
| gets. nothing else at our hands, so long
as this condition prevails.
The best way to help man, Is to help
him to help himself. Give q worthy man
| or woman who Is able to work. employ
n,ent, and that man or woman will have
more self-respect, and make a better citi-
zen than II given money, Or Its equiva-
| lent. AS TO tramps and Migrants, wiz
say, that the Citizens Relief Association
was instrumental In Juno 1898, In having
a yagrant law passed by the City Coun-
ell, which, IL properly enforced by the
police, would rid this City Of these out
sido- mendicants. This law was not IN
tended TO apply to our own unfortunate,
except those who arc VIGOROUSLY worth
less chara cters but to the allen and pro-
fessional type. and It's operation Is en-
trusted to tho discretion of the police.
aud the good sense and wisdom of our
Police Justice,
This law requires these Migrants to
work ten hours a day breaking rock IN
the winter. and like number OF hours
cleaning out the bed OF Shockoe Creek IN
summer. II, therefore. this law be enforced
ana all people applying for aid to indi-
vduals. be reported to any one OF the
ladies whose names will be found In the
Charity Directory, published daily in the
News Leader. ] think It will 30 a Ions
way towards eliminating the unworthy
, element from this community.
! In conclusion, would say that II the
, good people OF Richmond will give US thu
means, the Citizens Relief Association
together with Supt Davis. of the Aims
!, house, will undertake to care for TIT
/ worthy poor. sick and unfortunate In this
City, and we will probably dispense tho
> charity more wisely than they would.
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