New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-04
WHAT THE C. 0. S. DOES.
Hoo 1t Helps Reduced Gentle
1cOmen OUer Hard Places.


is in all this city place where q reduced gentle
woman who Is stranded car go to be tded
her need; and attention drawn to the manner
in which some OF the prominent phiianthrOpic
ganizatiOns notably the Charity Organzdtio1 So
clety, deal-Or fail TO deal-with such eases.
Replying 20 these criticisms of its methods,
official connected with the Charity Organization So
ciety said
1t IS not usually the fault Of the reduced gentle
she is reduced in circumstances or that she is not
equipped with ability TO rise above them yet for
suci eases II IS true there IL no special institution
or nome OF any sort whose purpose II Is to take
IeW9ihah Is the victim or an economlG system over
which she has no control and OF which she, nm
as Yet made no definite provision for her case apart
from other cases OF distress.
II Is not true however. that among all the
phanthropieS and charities OF New York City
nothing is being done for her. She is one Of the
types with which charity has to deal And OF all
me NEEDY ones IN the metropolis il IS doubtful II
any accession the conscientious charity worker more
serious attention and tactful planning in proper
uon TO the number OF cases. than the reduced gen
situated? Having striven to 90 her best and been
found wanting, LEI us say She applies to her min;
ably referred To- the Charity DISSEMINATION society
with a letter describing her needs Or she may
have sent begging letter to some wealthy or
to the society. In either case and in any case she
central or the district office Of the society II she
IS an invalid she could not appear. The proper
ION the suggestion Of mutual friend and if aid
be given her il is not invaria6le that she ne in
PUT HER ON HER FEET.
Such, for example. was the case Of a woman who
wrote 10 one Oh me most cnartabIy lncilhed Moe
asked TO look her up and advise. For long time
came. Her husband had died about a year pre-;
vousy. but for years before his death she had
ana toward the close of his life he became mentally
unbalanced. Both had seen decidedly better days.
misfortune
situation and made herself a first class dressmaker
husband 'i was soon exhausfed her eyes troubled
her through long hours Of work ana 2sthm nm, hnG
TO church because she disturbed The congregation
sary supplied her With coal and groceries and
above all, assured her that her situation was by
ing machine payments were brought down 10 date
On the next visit the worker was surprised at her
cheeTfulness- TWO pairs Of glasses had restored
and through the rest Of the winter il was neces-
sary to give her f.ieI oniv She has gradually
been helped maintain herself in position OF per
Cases do not all turn out rosiy this though
whatever can be done IS done often IN spite OF
unWillngness and lack Of appreciation on the part
OF the woman who has seen better days and
ccme sGe was T the case i Of Woman Of about
sixty years, whose husband died while they were
little none; in the hank a small businoss csta b.
lishment on Broadway and some apparently worth
Instead OF econonlizng the widow kept the
|. self She failed miserabiy and finally had sell
the Charity Organization Society and visitor
called. The woman resented the intrusion. and
yet was in such evident need that the visitor fclt
bound 10 continue the calls. After short time II
- ma ne ] VS. .ll,ls no.
cause she was RECEIVING aId but because Inc ana
small She constantly deluded by The
shortly lee very valuable hut weeks and months
wore without the slightest Frightening Of the
sef-supportins. the society gave her relief for
eight months and finally secured her reluctant
d 4
quito as likely the investigation distaetefuI
though it may seem the unfortunate results in
a settlement OF difficulties through discoveries Of
obligations which could be unearthed in no other
good family in New York resulted in this way. she
had drlfted away from her family ana was living
had been Incorporate and her family had turned
h-I, iHeA were '.AtIetl-iE Dltef IN tirlt .eflGh-
citation. She was boarded in private family for
stopped drinking: her family under the stress Of
continued urei;E became reconciled and TOOK her
back. Not long ago she was married. Yet she, in
vestigaton which in reality proved 10 be the only
means OF starting her out anew.
INVESTIGATION NECESSARY.
Some women. Of course. shrink from investsa-
because Investigation would disclose something
that they wish 10 conceal since it is more or loss
applied app for ree on H. ground that she had her
be anything but reli<bie. As soon she learned
that her mere statement would not be taken with
out eorroDoration. she left with great show of
indignation.
Investigation frequently unearths abusive rela-
tiVef who say harsh things of the unfortunate but
quite likely the harsh things said
because the relatives realize that they not
doing their duty and graspng n any excuse
for Sinking it. In one cSSe, after considerable ar
gument with the relative. they persuaded at
last to pension an aged woman. although they in
sisted that she had eztravagantly run through
large Of money left her by her husband.
Inquiry sometimes brings To light some who
really has no moral obligation. but willingly as
woman who was living with her nieces. who aid
not treat her very well Her who had sup /
ported her, was dead and In the course OF this in
Vesugatlon MS old employer was seen lie was so !
impressed by the need of the that he paid |
her board until she could be got into home, and
then paid the admission fee.
Quite often il turns out that the woman in ques- !
ton has a claim the Of some one in a dis /
tant city, or perhaps in Europe. This person is |
him, the woman meanwhile being supported her /
passage Is paid 10 that point where relief is the
most likely and logical
Sometimes the relief is sent from abroad I'm a |
recent of two sisters who received a regular |
remittance through the society from England. A /
middle aged language teacher became stranded In !
society. Her board paid for several weeks !
while every effort made by herself and the /
place was secured. At $40 a month, IN girls
school in another city. The money advanced /
TO pay her railroad fare there. and she is still |
These cases are not those Of chronic beggars;
they of we'll born and well bred persons who |
have met with an overwhelming adVersity to which
ing places If there is no room ut the Margaret
Louise some similar place they are sometimes
which no need be ashamed to have lived The
society, of course, does not have its boarding
houses, although if is sometimes stated that it does.
CHANGES ITS NAME.
A meeting of the Interurban Political Equality