The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-04
CHARITY WORK
IN THIS CITY
Associated Charity Makes a Re-,
port of the Scope OF Its
Work.
Mr.. BUCHANAN AT THE HEAD
Interesting Stories Of Cases That
Have Been RelievedBy the
Association.

Tho work OF the Associated Charities OF
Richmond, incorporating under one man
agement the Citizens Relief Association
Of Richmond, City Mission OF Rlchmono,
and the Baptist Neghborhood House. Is
now in active operation Mt the Old BAL
lard House, 1i0S East Franklin Street
During the month OF january the general
secretary OF the Associated Charities,
Rev. james Buchanan, has been collect
ing all the available information regard.
Ing the applicants for charity In the city.
Of Richmond during the past yanr. Al.
ready 4, card index has been complied In
which all the names Of applicants are
recorded and alphabetically arranged
Many sources of information have nos
been exhausted, yet the astounding fact
stands forth that there have been 1IO.
white applicants for charity outside. and
Independent OF charity administered by
the city OF Richmond Many of these
are heads OF large families. In many
cases the name OF the applicant WIS re-
ceiyed from different sources but in no.
case IS the name duplicated in tho re-
gister. just complied, except where the
application was made by the same in
diylduai under different names, which
has been repeatedly detected.
Lady Visitors.
The ladies OF the City Mission y.sit
this class and administer sympathetically
to their necessary needs 354 tons Of coal
and provisions to the amount of 5000
have been supplied during the past
month. Before giving help 10 any appii-
.ant you should telephone the Associated
Charities, telephone $50. which Is in
position TO inform you what aid is b..
ing extended in any particular case. The
ANALYSTS OF this index bring out many
interesting and instructive facts.
Out OF l,406 applicants 40 We're emer-
Eency cases due 10 sickness. loss OF enl-
ployment and accident; $50 were cases
for J,errnanent relief due to old age and
partial disability; 40 were worthy cases.
due to dependent widows and deserted
wives with young children; $50 appii-
cants were able bodied persons. in which,
the causes nreSdrink. opiatas, dlsincIira-
ton for work, lack OF training for work
and inporsrure. In addition to and not
Included in the above are n large num-
bcr of applications from able-bodied
and homeless men and women.
As can be readily seen only forty per
cent. T560) OF the 1,i00 cases come under
the class which should be helped with
out asking work in return for the aid
given. In many cases where applicants
in this class are not wholly incapacf-
iated for work, suitable employment
could be given them in their homes
whereby many could help towards their
own support. Regarding the other sixty
per cent. or $40 persons. able bodied,
seeking charity, many of whom are heads
OF families. IT, as general rule should
not be given except In return for some
kind OF work which the applicant is able
TO perform. The rapid growth of late
years of the class of able bodied persons
seeking charity has astounded the most
hopeful charity workers. IT has become
evident that continual aims giving to this
class simply encourages them and ag-
Eravates the the existing evil In small
communities cases OF this kind can be
easily detected, but In larger cities 1t
becomes very difficult task This
clearly shows in Richmond. where $40
applicants belonging to this class are
preyins upon the public
II times We're dull and the demand for
labor low. such n condition among the
poor might he excused, but, where the
calls for both men and women, skilled
and unskilied. is greater than the SUM-
ply. no extennatfng circumstances can
be given. Work Is plentiful; they would
rather beg than work. The demoralza-
ton resulting from this practice is pro-
ducine papers and criminals ana rob-
hlnS the commerce of our city of many
Thousands of dollars per annum Every
dependent is not only parasite upon
society, but the producing power of the
city is thereby lessened because of his
idleness. Almsgiving to such is crime
Pitiful Stories.
Y,{{j f,,I
might be told. wholly due to this prac-
tice. Well-meaning citizens who desire to
do good are unconsciously encouraging
laziness. debauchery and crime A no.
table instance OF this was brought to the
attention OF the Associated Charities a
week ago. Mrs. T., who has an able
bodied husband, an abe-bodied son.
nineteen years, a strong girl and boy
respectively, fourteen and twelve years,
and a girl of eight years, took the ten
year boy of another woman (Mrs. CT
and deliberately taught him a pitifiul
story about a sick baby at home without
food. medicine or clothing. She then
accompanied the child waiting cutside
while he went from doorsto door repeat.
Ing this woeful tale to unsuspect1g clt-
liens. narrowing the souls of our good
people. and in many instances receiving
money with which they were supposed
to purchase medicine and food for the
Sick LIBBY. which had its origin IN the
.mcg ination of this designing woman.
After. this hard days work the boy res
ceived as his share, ten cents. with which
hd purchased ticket to one of The
cheap theatres. The remainder of the
days proceeds We're taken by the wo-
man. At o'clock In the morning the
mother of tile boy, accompanied by an
officer. found the boy harbored inS the
woman's rocm.:s
Although the facts are known to tho,
police. vet nothing has been accomplished,
as 1T is impossible to induce citizens to
testify in cases of this kind. This Is hit
ono of many similar cases. Another was
that OF whole family of five who were