The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-12-12
MORE POVERTY
IN this CITY
THAN YEAR AGO
Charity Organizations Report
That Demands for Assistance
Are Considerably Greater
FREDERICK X. STEARNS TO
GLADDEN. LITTLE HEARTS
Will Distribute Christmas Cheer
to Over Three Thousand
Children

The Christmas season Of 1913 finds
more poverty In Detroit than there
was year ago. charity workers
agree. Those who try to make Christ
mas a special day for the relief OF
suffering and for making people III.
tie happier than they usually are. VIII
find quite enough to do, this year.
There is more poverty this year
than in 1912, due partly TO the increase
In the city's population, partly 10 the
fact that there Is not so much en-
ployment" says Supt. Thomas b.
Dolan, OF the poor commission. How
ever, there 10 no remarkable amount
OF destitution. not enough to make .
fuss about The mildness OF the sea-
son has prevented good deal OF SUI
fering, but II has also had ttS draw.
backs. II the weather had been cold
ar, more men would have found en-
ployment In cutting Ice. cleaning
streets and sidewalks. and delivering
fuel
"The city Is showing great activity
In preparing q Christmas for the poor
We are getting many requests for
names, from churches. societies ana
individuals"
The Salvation army II preparing to
give away 5000 Christmas dinners. In
baskets. on Christmas eve. In the
citadel. To those who are unable,
from physical ailments. TO come TO
the citadel. baskets will be delivered.
On Christmas day. there will be spe-
cial Christmas dinner for the inmates
of the various institutions OF the
army. On Christmas night, there will
be q tree for 500 children. in the
citadel.
I'VE are finding considerably more
poverty this year than In 1912, or than
two years ago." says Brigadier A. E.
Kimball. Il expect the situation to be
more serious before spring. We shall
need q good deal more help II We are
to take care of all the emergencies"
The Associated Charities finds that
many people are out OF work. but
takes an optimistic view Of the situar
ton.
Conditions are not abnormal: We
do not find that there are many more
outoof work now than there were the
first OF the year." reports the Char
tiles. There was more actual destt
tuition early In 1918 than there 10
now"
The Christmas cheer of the Asso-
ciated Charities h In charge OF . ape.
cial Christmas worker. Reports OF
poverty and Of sorrowful outlook
are tabulated by card. and anyone
wishing to send holiday aid and un'
able to ind anyone on whom 70 Do
stow Il can obtain the desired INFORM
alton by application to the Charities.
The association is not receiving or
distributing gifts, but IL merely acting
as a clearinghouse for the charitaoiy-
inclined individuals or societies.
Frederick K Stearns. who for shout
q sec re OF years has made Christmas
q happy day for - many children as
he could. II doing more than ever this
year. The Stearns Christmas list runs
over 5000 hames. To each child on
the list will be given q toy OF some
kind, and q pound OF candy. Frederick
Stearns Z Co. automobiles gill be
kept busy, Christmas eve and Christ
mas day, delivering the packages. A.
ready, q big room In the plant has
been given over to the storage OF
scores of varieties OF dolls. sleds, toy
dishes and many other things to make
heart glad.
Mr.. Stearns' Christmas giving came
from q picture In q magaxine. about
20 years ago. showing the grief OF .
child at fnding an empty stockinb on
Christmas morning. His example nas
caused many other welIto-do citisens
to follow his lead. to the extent OF
their ability and inclination. The
Stearns Christmas has become an In
gtitution. Children write to MT.
Etearns, Santa Claus" notifying him
Of changes OF address. to be sure that
they will not be left out. Last year.
Mr.. stearns obtained from the post
ONCE department all the Santa
Claus" letters mailed from this city
for the government refused to clog
the department machinery with them
and saw to II that the children who
wrote them were remembered.
Mr.. 6tearns Ia at present IN
Madeira, but the work OF preparing
for Christmas IL under way IN HE
plant. as usual. Lists have been Oh.
tanned from the poor commission ana
the Associated Charities. and MISS
Franch. Mr.. Stearns' private eecres
tary. has been given carte blanche TO
DO everything possible to make this
Christmas Q merry one for the poor
children of Detroit