The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-03


 New York, Dec. 2, lso5.--At the re- cent Lord Mayors banquet in Londen, Premier Balfour violated all precedent when he Ndrageed the unwelcome sub feet of London's unemployed into the lime-light. 1t was one thing to hear with the complacency which fonows q eood dinner that there was much suf- ferine in the great East End, but that, of course, efforts were being made 10 relieve the distress. It was quite an other thing when the astonished guests self that they ought to go out and do something about it. Such an utterance was a startling departure from the usual recital of the giories of Merry England.
 found necessary for Americans, al- though 1t is not necessary to look Tar for evidence that the suffering due to lack of work and consequent poverty IS not confined to the old World. A days experience in the dispensary and the free wards of New York hospital re- veal many cases of hardship and priva- tion. Into the reception rooms pour representatives of all the races and nearly all the classes that make up the cfty's population. m the dispensary or the New York Post-Graduate Medicm SCnOOl ana f1O6pttdl dIOHC Ah0Hh vVtVNN to S0,000 cases are treated yearly, or an average of about 200 a day..
 The waiting room is scene for Balzac. Patients from the crowded tenements of the East Side. which make up the greater part of the hospitals district, throng the benches all day long, the lame, the halt and the blind waiting for the hour when their doc tor, shall take care of their particular
 L. fho al and the character of the patient must be dag nosed. For instance. the woman in charge of the reception room must de- eide whether the candidate is truthful -or not when he asserts his inability 10 pay the nominal fee of 10 cents or the price of medicines that are prescribed. for not all who seek free treatment are as poor as they claim to be and some are not poor at all.
 The rule of the dispensary is a sim pie one; the patient pays if he can. It is in its application that the discretion of the matron comes into play. Many of the poor are too proud easily to con fess to the humiIiating, lack of 10 cents, and frequently they take refuge in equivocation. which would be con demning in the eye of the casual ob- server. Not so with the matron. S1e knows human weaknesses we'll, and discriminates wisely. Recently clean looking little boy in threadbare clothes approached the desk. and when asked if he had the customary 10 cents Tor his fee said he had forgotten 1t.
 You forgot it last week. too" ac- cused the registrar in an endeavor to get at the truth. The boy was the ob- feet of side glances among the by standers. The matron, however. inter posed and he was admitted.
 ''He is an honest boy. in spite of his little lie," she said. 'THe hasn't 10 cents to call his own. and can't bear to admit it."
 Soon after that pale young woman in black, with worn eyes and tragic, drawn lips approached the desk
 q lost 10 cents on the street car she whispered. and dropped her glance before the eye of the matron. There were many pressing about the window. and the young woman was admitted with no comment. -There, I am sure," said the matron, lis another instance right at hand or q fib to escape confession before the others. That poor woman has been here three times with a different ex- cuse at each appearance. It Is so much pleasanter 50 have them speak frankly They all know that they will not be turned away, unless they are impos- | ters, and we are troubled with very few of those Most of the persons who come here can pay, and 1t is fortunate if they can do so. for I thtpk 1t is good flor their self-respect But we had quite [ a different case the other day. An old | woman woke up the whole dull room- full by shouting at me:
 Sure thought this was place Tor the poor. Ye're dirty lot to be mak- in thim pay an ye won't git wan cint out av me. I'll pay me own doctner
 his two dollars the visit amy day. be-