Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-22
PEOPLE WHO SEEK AID
Curious Figures From the Records Of
the Legal Aid eursau-oId Papsrs
That Tell the Original story Of
Waterloo and Trafalgar
BY GEORGE NOX Mccain

|
- of the Department of Public Welfare.
has just completed his annual report Of
business done by the Bureau Of Legal Aid.
Only a small part Of the work accom-.
| plished has been perfoSmed under Major
Much the larger portion was handled
| under the direction Of the late Director
Ernest II. Tustin.
Roman G. Hassrck is chief Of the bureau
under which the unusual accomplishments
Of that section Of Public Welfare were
| achieved.
In some respects It is very unusual and
surprising.
1t presents an admirable field Of investi.
cation for the psychologist and student Of
THERE is a great to-do. ordinarily raised
L about the number of aliens who receive
| public assistance which costs them nothing.
The surprising feature Of this branch is
the welfare department shows that the alien
comprises only q small portion OF those
| seeking direction and assistance.
There were nearly five thousand Ameri.
cans, or those claiming to be American citi.
another.
The Jew comes next with one. fifth as
many cases as the American.
1rishmen come next. after whom come the
finally the English in the order named.
a study Of nationalities dscloses some
curious facts about those seeking the bu.
reau's aid, which is given free.
OUT Of 1900 cases considered only one
~ Albanian and one West Indian applied
for legal assistance.
There were two Arabians, FIVE Chinese.
two japanese, two Turks, nine Serbians and
only four Porto Ricans and five Swiss.
The business Of the Bureau Of Legal Aid
is to give advice upon any and all subjects
1t would naturally be inferred that neigh
borhood quarrels, matrimonial and domestic
difficulties and criminal actions would EN-.
brace the bulk Of the complaints.
1t would be an erroneous impression,
however.
THE most prolific cause Of trouble and
L appeal to the Welfare Bureau was
squabbles between landlord and tenant, Of
which there were about 1000, Or at the rate
of more than ten day.
The next cause for worry involved wages,
but required only half as much atten-
tion as the landlords.
Collections. which included the non pay
ment of overdue wages or differences between
employer and employe, stood next highest on
the list.
The smallest troubles involved commitment
to an institution, in which there was one
case.
United States Government insurance to
survivors of the World War had only two
cases; Government compensation and bonus.
seven cases, and the custody of children,
eight cases.
Among some Of the troubles considered
were payments on the installment plan. pen.
sions. SANDER. negligence, divorce, real
estate and wills.
MIR. HASSRICK tells me that record
AVA is kept Of every visitor. The name Of
the person who sent him to seek the bu.
rcau's aid and all the various other facts
connected with distress or infractions Of
the law are matters Of record.
Friends of the visitors to the number Of
$500 sent them to the bureau for assistance
and advice.
The newspapers sent 23OO more. police.
men 1913. various municipal departments
567. and magistrates and constables 400.
OF religious and philanthropic organiza.
tOns the Red Cross sent ninety five persons
seeking aid; the Salvation Army. three;
thirty six Y. W. c. A., forty five.
The American Legion directed forty -four
persons to the doors of the Bureau Of Legal
The Board of Vocational Training, eight.
referees in bankruptcy, 1O3.
There Is no record that any church or.
ganization sent any Of its members to the
bureau for aid.
Over 81 900 personal interviews were held
with visitors during the last year.
T NOTED the fact few days ago that I
l. had enjoyed the privilege of handling an
uncut copy of the Edinburg Scotsman's first
issue.
Possibly. in the eyes Of curio collectors.
more valuable even than 1t. was copy of
the London Times of Thursday, November
Z, 1905.
1t contained the announcement Of Mel.
sons victory and death ut Trafalgar.
The paper was faded to a saffron hue
Its edges were scalloped by the hand of time.
and the creases where it had been folded
had worn the paper until the imprint Of the
type was indiStinguiShabe.
But the value of the publication was In
the fact that it gave to the world for the
first time the immortal story, in all its de-
tails. of the Battle Of Trafalgar Bay and
the death of Nelson.
Nearly two pages were taken up with dis.
patches from Vice Admiral Collingwood.
commander in chief of His Majestys ships.
The story was dated after this fashion:
"on board H. "; $: Enryalus off Cape
Trafalgar October 20, 1906"
In that report Is set forth the words of
| Nelson that have become immortal. ENG
land expects every man will do his duty
AS A historical fact from original sources
| "A / quote the following:
when the engagement began Nelson said
| to Captain Hardy and the officers who sur
rounded him on the quarter deck: Now they
make sure Of twenty Of them. I shall prob.
ably lose leg. but that will be purchasing
a victory cheaply.
Two hours afterward Nelson received a
| wound in the shoulder from a musket ball
| which was the cause Of his death.
| Another treasure, equally worn, frayed
! and yellowed with age, was copy of the
| Times of Thursday, June 22, 1916.
| On the first column of the first page in
body type double loaded, appears the fol.
lowing:
| .Wc again stop the press to insert A
| copy of the London Gazette Extraordinary.
| The Gazette was dispatch from Field
Marshal the Duke of Wellington, X. G.,
Earl Bathurst, dated Waterloo, June 10,
| 1S1h