Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-05-20
THE HEART OF THE CITY.
Bencvolence a Prominent Trait of Life
In Alexandria.

IN AlcXdDurla.
No regular census of benevolent and
charitable work has ever been taken In
the United States. The government
has compiled figures relating to public
and private institutions for the depend
ant classes, the blind. deaf and feeble
minded, but 10 take anything like an
accurate census Of the aid extended by
societies and individuals would be most
difficult. But the opinion of those quail
ified 10 speak is that the past decade
has witnessed a doubling of the inter-
est that the successful and the fortu-
nate can show for the poor and the
unfortunate. AS the number OF asSocia-
lions has multiplied, so also have the
lines of activity increased. Charity has
been reduced to a science, and there
are those who make 1t profession. The
work has been practically revolutioniz-
ed in recent years.
The activity of decade or two ago
was palliative rather than curative.
The effort was mainly to relieve dis
tress rather than to remove its cause.
Today the question is treated as one
that calls for cure. The charity sub
Ject in days gone by was treated as an
individual. Today he is treated as a
member of the State, and the effort is
to get him on his feet, so that he may
not only stand of his own will. but may
also lend a hand to others.
The eighteenth and nineteenth CEN
turtles in America were given to the
conquest of wild men and wild lands.
The twentieth century will be given to
even better work. 1t will be devoted
largely to the conquest Of poverty and
incompetency, and through the rescue
of the children OF the nation this will
be brought about. What the period
makes of itself depends on what it
makes of the children. Herein lies the
democratic enrichment OF the future.
The tendency is now taking a practi-
cal shape In handling the poor the I'M
fortunate and the incompetent. Socie-
ties under city and State control are
assuming the distribution of funds and
giving relief. The handing out of
money has about ceased. The Salvation
Army and Volunteers of America set
the keynote to all applicants for help:
Can you work? ?" Are you willing to
work." Favorable response TO these
test questions ends in the securing OF
work enough to provide place to sleep
and something TO eat
At the head OF the list of helpful
aids in Alexandria is the City Hospital,
420 Wolfe street, of which Mrs. NJ.
Adamson is superintendent 1t was
founded In 1872. and is managed by q
board of lady managers and supported
by contributions from various churches.
associations and individuals.
The present managers are as follows:
st. PauPs Church, Mrs w. d. Smoot,
Miss Mittie Klipstein; Christ Church,
Miss Alice E. Colquhoun. Miss e. w.
Smith, Grace Church, Mrs. Frank I.
King, Miss Laura King; M. b..
Church, South, Mrs. George K. Hill,
Mrs. Worth Hulhsh; Presbyterian
Church, Mrs. Ballenger. Mrs. Camp
bell; Methodist Protestant Church,
Miss Mary Goods; Baptist Church,
Mrs. H. X. Field, Mrs. Jos. L. Crup-
per; Trinity Church, Mrs. Fletcher
Dyson, Mrs. Oscar Baggett. The presi-
dent is Mrs. Mary G.. Boothe; vice-presi-
dent. Mrs. w. B. Smoot; secretary, Miss
Colquhoun.
The medical staff Is as follows: Con-
sulting physicians, Drs. VIM. NJ. Smith,
r. NJ. Slaughter; acting physicians,
Drs. George T. Klipstein, Martin Della
ney. s. r. Moore, Llewellyn Powell
The board Of trustees is as follows:
Arthur Herbert, treasurer; Worth Hull
fish, secretary; J. T. Burke, Hubert
Snowden, c. r. Hoof. j. T. Harrison,
X. Kemper, G.. l.. Bo0the, j. X. eaton.
A comparison OF the report Of 1898
with that Of 1908 shows a doubling OF
the number Of patients and OF contri-
buttons. No sufferer is turned from Its
doors, and each year finds new endow-
ments OF free cots and rooms. There
were 446 patients cared for in 1907. In
which persons suffering from injuries
and serious ailments lead in number.
Alexandria is the home OF Mrs. Kate
Waller Barrett. General Superintendent
of the National Florence Crittenton
Missions, a rescue work supported by
It's president, Charles N. Crittenton. OF