The New York Herald Newspaper, February 13, 1874, Page 4

4 HOPE. Action of the Produce Exchange for the Relief of the Poor. —_—-——_— JBPEECHES BY PROMINENT CLERGYMEN, Mr. John Hall on the Condition of the Working People. Real Stories of Destitution, Mis- ery and Sorrow. “NO FOOD, NO COAL, NO WOOD.” Charity’s Appeal to $ W oman. Practical Sympathy and Generous Gifts. Kondition of the Poor in New- ark and Brooklyn. GRATITUDE OF POOR MRS. FORD. The silver lfning of hope has begun to dawn Fapon the black cloud of despair that was encom- assing the suffering and desutute poor of this ity. Below will be found the report of a meeting jet prominent merchants, who have resolved that nis terrible distress shall be promptly re- eved. Less prominent citizens have also come korward with their special heip, and in their com- munications, which will be tound in another col- jumn, it will be seen that these hard times bave Soitened many a heart that has probably been very fancharitably considered to be given up to selfisn- yess, That all this symputby is needed no reader \Will doubt, when the recitals of poverty and desti- ution met witn by the visitors of St. John’s Guild Jere read and thoughtfully considered. PRODUCE MERCHANTS TO THE PRelief Meeting at the Produce Exchange Westerday—Interesting Addresses Rev. Joha Hall, Rev. A. Wiswall, Rev. L. ML Pease and Rev. H. Newton—A Committee of Fifteen Appointed to So- licit Subscriptions, The meeting at the Produce Exchange yes- Werday alternoon was characterized by the jearnest promptness and despatch usual in fousiness meetings in this city. There was but ttle applause. The speeches were short and ycrisp and listened to with serious ‘attention, and Wo time was wasted in idie discussion. At a \quarter past two o’clock Mr. Franklin Edson, the WPresident, called the meeting te order, and at ‘three o'clock it was already adjourned. The mem- ers of the Exchange who attended included nine tenths of the produce merchants usually doing Sbusiness on the floor, and as there were but few | seats most of the auditors had to stand upon the Moor, on the staircase and wherever they couid | find suMcient space. It was a jarge gathering, «comprising many of our most respectable and mvealthy merchants, and the committee for solicit- Ying subscriptions which was appointed will un- dountedly be able to relieve hundreds and hundreds -of the suffering throug) THE GENEROSITY AND BENEVOLENCE rof the members of the Exchange. In calling the meeting to order the CnarRMAN waid:—This meeting has been called at the request pof seventy-five members of the Exchange for the tpurpose of considering what steps should be taken | ‘to relieve the suffering poor of the city, and in order that we may act understandingly in this | ‘Matter we have invited several gentlemen, who ‘are more familiar with the subject than any of us, to address you on this occasion. fn introducing to you the Rey. Dr. Join Hall. (Applause.) DR. HALL'S ADDRESS, The Rev, Dr. HaLL was then introduced and spoke as follows :— Mr. President and Gentlemen—I have no partic- ular knowledge on this subject that is not within »the reach of every gentleman in the city, nor have | J any special wisdom to suggest a system that had better be adopted, In the early part of this win- ter we were threatened with a panic on tle sub ject of want nearly as alarming as the panic in commercial circles. Measures were proposed for relief on a large scale, the very discussion of which attracted to the city many persons who otherwise would have taken care of themselves in the coun- try. We must take care that we do not repeat THIS HAZARDOUS PROCEEDING in any public action, more particularly at this mo- ment, when the worst, I think, has been reached, nud when things must rapidly improve. It ap- pears vo me that the machinery of benevolence in this city is sufficiently extended already, and I should regard it as a public calamity if it were en- jarged. Tne channels are cut and open, and all ythat can be required is @ sufficiently large current ‘Yo How in them and to flow to the proper quarter. ‘I would even go to the length of adding that enough flows already in these channels, ifit could ‘be confined to those who have just claims on be- nevolence. It would appear to me to be wise for this body, assuming that you propose to give some pecuniary aid, TO APPOINT A COMMITTER from among yourselves to examine the existing agencies and detertnine which of them you can use ‘with most advantage. It will be good for the mem- bers of the committee and not bad Jor the charities. There is @ furtuer suggestion | would resnectfully make—namely, that you employ ali you can, even though it be at some inconvenience. Better to let $100 go im that way to men under your own eyes ‘than to cut some off, save the money and give it as a@ subscription. So, the ladies at home might have @ hint from you that you woulc honor any bills for seamstresses, if not in making up new things, at ‘least in that necessary work of revising old gar- ments, which iadies 80 well understand. (Ap- piause.) Nearly every house bas some RELATIONS WITH POOR FAMILIES from among which persons may be selected as charwomen, porters, errand boys, and so forth, | Loo« them be 4 for yourselves and aid them where | it is wanted, And above all things keepupa cheerful tone. Jn my opinion, formed on such ex- | pelience as a working clergyman has, and his op- | portunities of observation, and on the returns | made by public institutions, there is Ro real cause ior alarm. To show you the grounds on which [ rest the more cheerful view of things let me give YOu Sclassification of the poor as they present themselves to my view. There are first of ail, the yaupers, criminais and unfortunates— A VERY INFELICITOUS GROUPING, | Which I hope will be amended, for whom the Com- | missioners of Charities and Correction provide at ‘the rate of nearly $1,250,000 a year. If insuMcient, under proper management this can be increased easily. The Commissioners report that they now wive outdoor reliel to over 20,000 persons, Sec- ondly, We have the class of emigrants who have not yet been five years in the country, who them- welves provide @ fund for their care aa they come | and tor whom the Commissioners of Emigration rovide at the rate of $500,000 a year. Then we have, thirdiy, men out o1 <iuployment, because | trade organizations, With Which they have yolun- | tarily assoctated themselves, do not sanction their working except on conditions TO WHICH EMPLOYERS DR¥TR, J pity the wives and children of these sen, but 1 | Jor One do not feel the force Of these men's claims | by | I take pleasure | | till nightral NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET, ni to Aid ete imagen “channels fof" many as to ugen- ration we ald witn wisdom and be Spparess that T do not so MY A Vi do. hen I remember that the TAKE of things as sume functions of governmeut are noi to find employ- ment Jor the people, and that the attempt has al- ways Nn Tuiscliievous; that we demoralize @ Roptation wher we invite its members to become | ependent; that there are certain uatural motives to tbriit, economy aud forethought which we should not weuken ; that there is 80 large & propor- tuon of the country's wealth as $100,000, 000 in say- ings banks belouging to the working people; that the number employed in trade indusiries in New | York is under 160,000—1 cannot realize that three | months’ diminisued employment should create any appaling oecessity, and 1 suould deprecate @ny action that would leave BESIDUUM OF PERMANENT DEPENDENCE, (Applanse.) When you give, therefore, ntle- | men, let ic be as gener daly ag you will, tor | never knew any ove permanevur injured by giving too much; but let it be given with a true idea oi the | facts of the case, lor] have known many perma- | neatiy injured by too much receiving. (Appiause.) REMARKS OF MI, WISWALL, The Rey. Alvah Wiswall, ot St. John’s Guild, then | addressed the meeting. {t had been the experieuce of clergymen generally that they were not oiten sent for by geutiemen who were ip good health and had full pockets. (Applause.) He nad been trying since be bad veen in tl ding to ascertain how | they made their money, but he gave it up, and would aow only try to And out how to get hold of it. He hoped that the committee suggested by Rev. Jobn Hall would spend aiew hours in the oftice of the St. John’s Guild. In the Filth and Eighth wards there were some 1,000 amilies in gree distresa, and in the dowptuwn districts a | arge populatwn bad grow Up Without a shadow | of instruction 4s to their duues toward religion and suctety. He tiad seen hundreds of women und cutldrep Who had to breathe the impure air of tenements and could not go out because they had | no clothes to put oo their bucks. The St. Jon Guild had a large number of visitors, some of whom Were occupants of tenemen's themsecives, and with every poor family in neea and with every charl- | tabie merchant they left a card Rtalie | them to | the office of the Guild. ‘hey bad rooms tree of ex- pense, every waiter gave his services gratuitously, and all they wanted was oatmeal or some other food to FEED THESE HUNGRY THOUSANDS. We would ask them rather for the produce in which they dealt thua for money, and tl sumcient aonations were to Ouw in to exiend the charity to | | other districts the same plan could be carried out | in the Fifeeath ward, with the aid oi Dr. Deems. Over 150 famities bad deen visited this day by the visitors of st, Jonn’s Guild, A poor woman hu | asked nim just before ne came here, ‘Kor God's | sake Visit me,’ aud when visited it was found that | her husband, although he had offered wo work (or | $4 weex, had found it impossible to ubtain em- | ployment, and that the family were actually sutfer- | ing the terribie pangs of hunger. Such unprece- dented distress called for prompt action on the part of the charitable citizens of New York. A MERCHANT'S MUTION, mr. A. E. OR&, of David Dows & Co., No. 20 South street, moved Chat 8 committee of fifteen ve ap- ointed to solicit subscriptions among tue mem- | ers ol the Exchange tor the distribution among | | such sucieties as the Committee might select, Mr. Orr said, iu explanation of bis motion, that he Would not like to say @ Wore in opposition to the | views advanced by the gentlemen who had spoken belore tum. However he koew that there were a great many DESERVING POOR PEOPLE | | in this vast clty who could not be relieved by the institutions mentioned by the Rev. John Hall. He | knew that sonest, deserving peopie could be relieved betver by private than by pubiic charity, | a8 Wany Oo! them were too proud and too modest to clan =publi¢ charity. He telt thoroughiy con- vinced that there was a vast amount o/ saffering | among these classes 0! poor people and hoped that | the meeting would not adjourn without taking some action in the matter, He trusted that the | ovject o1 the meeting would not be lost sight of and | that they woul) raise some money on the spot. | (Applauie.) SPEECH OF MR. PEASE. | Rev. L. M, Pxase, of the Five Pomts Mission, Said he was glad to be able to speak lor the poor, Last evening. when be was invited to come here, | he said cheeriuliy that he wouid go, but nad ha no opportunity to collect many facts on this su0- | ject. He was engaged with the poorin 1555 and 1857, and What tue poor passed through then wag | | very distinct in his memory. There were two | | classes o! poor—the nomeless poor, the Noating | population 0: New York, and the poor families, | WIDOWS WITHOUT sUPIORT, bat with many colidren, &c. The ciass for which | tue least provision was made was composed of | the many worthy poor families in this city who were without auficient means of support. Upon | the register of the Five Points Mission | there we: the names of 425 iamilies who | were receiving assistance: from the institutiun | regularly, and this number was increasing every | week. These famijies suffered in silence, and no public demonsjration tniormed the public o! the | miseries which they necessarily undergo. He was | called to a deserving poor amily this morning and | found them to be in @ famishing condition. The | | father declared that he must take his chiidren toa | | soup house as they were ail suffering the Hap | pangs o! unger. Me knew of his personal experi- | ence that there were a great Many iamilies in this +| city who for mouths past had only had one meaia | day, and that probably cousisted of but one piece | | of bread. A family with five children came to his | | notice last year, who, after they had every lit- | tle thing they haJ and paid their yery last penny for | rent, came to tne Mission and sald, “Will you give | us something * a little gir! of ten years came to | the speaker the other day and ASKED PITEOUSLY FOR BREAD, | and her sunken cheeks toidasad tale of starva- | tion. Another littie girl met him on @ cold, bitter | morning this winter and said, “I sleep cold; can ‘ou not give me @ quilt /”” He said to the wretched ittle wall, “My dear child, the last guilt 1s | | gone. Your only hope & in 30 and | pray to the Lord.” The little girl replied tnat she had been praying and ng for nights, tut that as yet no quilt ha | come. Weill, some one in Central New York heard 0! this incident, and two weeks alter @ quilt came by express. He had to pay about $1 25 express charges, but the woman who had sent the quilt, and Who waa hersel! poor, returned the money by mail. He would say to them that, notwithstanding nis experience among the poor of New York tor the past twenty-turee years, he could scarcely iq Temember @ time when the distress was more | generai or more bitterly felt, And they had not seen the worst of it, Rey. John Hall had not seen | the worst o:it, There were numbers of tamilies | who had to sell every article of comiort or conven- fence to buy food. The best portion of the poor had never yet told their miseries, He would not } pate the time of the meeting any longer, knowing | that bis hearers were all business men; but if they | had had ume he could have told them of thrilling incidents without number, shuwing the dreadful destitution which prevailed this winter. He went into the schoolroom ot tne Mission one morning | and said to the littie chiidren, “Ail of y | | parents are two months in arrears with their rent | raise their hands." They would have been teal { | astonished if they had coanted the number of chil- | | dren who raised their hands, The better classes | of laboring men must be retieved, and ne hoped | the Produce Exchange would lend @ helping hand in this great work, A MOTION FOR HASTE, Mr. STEERS moved an amendment to Mr. Orr's | motion. Large bodies moved slowly, he said; this | Was 4 well Known lact. While the Fifteen would be Erving to come together some people might | starve. He moved that a Committee of Five be | appointed to solicit subscriptions, yet expressed | the hope that some money wouid be given on the spot. ‘TOLD DESTITUTION. Rey. HEBER Newron was then introduced by | the Chair, and gave some interesting statistics in regard to the “bread and beef house” im the Twenuty-second ward showing the enormous quan- | tities of meat, rice, milk, coal, &c.. which had | been distributed. In the course of his remarks he | expressed entirely different views from those of Rev. John Hall, stating that there was much more | Gestitution than was generally known. MR. KALL'S EXPLANATION, Rev. JOHN Hatt said he wished to correct a mis- a@pprehension on the part of the last speaker who had addressed the meeting. He did not state that there*Was no want, but simply that the agencies of relief should not be multiplied and made still cost- ler, He hoped that the Committee would act with their eyes open, a8 a great deal of good could be done be done by directing charity into its proper channels, THR COMMITTEE ON CONTRIBUTIONS. The CHAIRMAN then announced the following a8 the Committee of Filteen:—Mr. A. E, Orr, chair- man; James Arkell, J. W. McCulloch, Henry W. ai Smith, Alexander Brownell, Edward Hincken, William Blanchard, E. R. Livermore, A. E, Kent, J. H. Drake, Topham Mills, Coarles R. Hickox, George D, Cragin, L. B. Snaw and E H. Tompkins. The meeting then adjourned. THE WORK OF ST. JOHN'S GUILD. From the Rev. Alvah Wiswall, Master of St. Jonn’s Guild, the following interesting details of the work of that energetic organization have been obtained :-— en ; Yester man early hour in the mornin, a ly the open court in front of the Gui) was turonged with people, rich and poor, with one incoming stream of visitors brivging food, cloth- ing and money, the other an outgoing stream bearing packages to the poor of the neighborhood, he mothers of fiity-three chidren told their piteous stories to the jor public relief, (Applause.) Nor do i believe | that eG Cobalderable number of American work: | men will sustain their clam tO public aid. (Ap: plause:) Butt have had @ man ask me for fity cents Who candidly told me he could not and wou Work for less than a day, Then there ins 8 fourth class—the respectable ir cluded in any of these and eminently eget Of sympathy in their diMcuities. But the le yr Will be found in some one or other of the Charshes, and 1 hoid it to be THE DUTY OF THE CuvRonEs to take care of them and keep them in the churches. (Appiause.) Moss of them do. and it jady in charge of the clotuing bureau. They were | lmmediately visited by members of the Guild. | Many others applied, who, upon visivation, were proved to be linpostors, but the fifty-thre ove Teferred to were touna ip great distress | Ohee lurnished with needed garments. Over 260 articies of dress, ail the gilts of Cae hearts, Were distributed, besides many blankets, quilts. &c, In the Guild office several gentlemen were | engaged all day in Sent its crn and pro- | Visions, Which were distributed to over 200 fam- { ties whose stories of Lunger had been corroborated | on Biackweli's | stovies. This is in no case ever omitted, ) gaged | Over fourteen years, and can tell with comparative te visitors, Here are a few of the cases:— rs. B, Saluvan atrees, rear, med the mst chemise of ber eldest daughter and a tavleciotn, the only articles left to pawn, im order to get bread jor hersell, husband gud five chudren, When she was Lold tual assistance would be given her she burst into tears and sobbed for pearly an hour a8 Wf heartbroken and eaid, “I am so tnanksul, Mavame; 1 would never have asked charity lr myseli, ba I nos 0 see my baby aud children starving.’’ ire, W., pre- Canai street (the names and cise addresses in some iustances, by special request of the oahenpy but sensitive people, have beeu suppressed), asad story, On visiting the wretched bome, 1t was sound on a@ top fivor, Avating with water, a regular pond, with dripping doicies formed on the leaky.roof, This was the Dieasant dweling of @ father, mother, aod three Children. ‘lwo years ago smallpox attacked the entire family. They were obuged to accept the obtrusive hospitaiities of the Pesthouse isiand, The health autho: ities kindly destroyed ali their furniture, They have Dever been able since to poplace Ae ‘they were en- Brel Gestiture; whey QO fvod, no coal, Lo woud, and barely enougt clothing to cover them— Certainly not hali enough to protect them from the weather, They were lurnished ell these neces- Barles by the Guild. How thankiul they would be tf work, however smali, could be obtained, so that ae jeanid tide over the bard tamea stul belore ern At No, 242 Elizabeth street, Mrs, Tnompson, & Widow with two children, had just been served With adi possessing Warrant by her landlord, she had applied to the H8KaLp ior relief, and had been reierred to St. Jubn's Guild. A visitor at ounce Called on her aud /ound her @ worthy, industrious, guite a nice person, She has been gut of employ- | ment lor months, and had wandered daily up and down the city seeking Work and failing to find it. This rent quesuon, Mr. Wiswalit, says, is the great dificuity. ltisimpossible to meet it with @uything lke the funds as yes raised to meet the Wants of the hour, The imperative need, of course, is food, and then comes clothing and Boeiter. For the miserable accommodations in many of the tenemenia the rents ex- torted ‘are exorbitant in the extreme. Tue Jandiorda, too, or their agents, are prover- Diully bard people to de with, and the Question seriously presents itself whether thou- bands may no: be homeless ere many weeks elapse. Intuis particular case an exception has been made, and the rent will be paid ay. Mrs, Miller was found in a cellar five feet by ten, in the rear building o1 bo. 146 Sul.ivan street. Tne Noor was bare; there was not ick of furuiture. An old trunk stood in one corner, There was no fire in the fireplace. The bedding for the poor wo- mau and her husband consisted of one quilt, one blanket and one sheet. Botu were almvst par- alyzed With rheumatism abd could not speak above @ whisper. A decent, worthy couple, they had sought work with the persistence ui despair una vauingly. The rent was $6 & month. clothing, beaainy, wood and groceries were sent in by the juild, in Spring street Mrs. B., a widow, seventy ears of age, Was fouud resignedly reading tle vie, With ber gloves on, The room was the per- fection of neatness. ‘The old lady said she was “quite comfortuble, except she had no coal or food.” She hud been supported by ber children, who now found they could uot do it any louger. Her rent had been paid by them up to the lst of March. Up to this year She had never known what want was, She was astonished at the terribly hard times. On the top floor of NO, 28 Oak street Mrs, Ellen Sampson, her husband and several children were Jound starving, They had had no work for weeks. Everytiing had been pawned, On'the second fluor of the same building Mrs. Lamuer and her family were found ina similar condition—every thing pawned, no fvod, no fire and no clothes tu speak of, tance was speed- ily 1urnished in both cases, TRICKS OF IMPOSTORS, A number of mpustors called at the office of the Guild, and, with practised glibness, toid melan- choiy Stories and gave false Lames and addresses, Their ingenuity o1 invention Was unprofitable to themselves, and oaly wasted some time for the members of the Guild who were sent to verity their e im- portance of this prompt pare! is abundantly manifested by the very tact alluded to. AN URGENT APPEAL, As Mr. Wiswall was starting for the Produce Ex- change, where, as previously announced, he was to expiain toe working of tue Galld and the circum- stances of the destitution in the section vi the city covered by its Overations, & Woman came Up With a Bad story Of trouble. “For God’s sake,” she said, “let g visitor come at once; my children are | starving.” Her story Was corroborated in every particular by the neighbors, who gave the highest character of these poor people. The ‘ husband had offered to work for $4 & week and couid not get anything to do even at that price. In twenty minutes the cnildren were eating. There is no circumlocation or delay about the way the St, John's Guild examines aud assists the needy, They quickly fina out they are rignt and then go ahead, GOOD INVESTMENTS, As Mr. Wiswall was leaving the Produce Ex- change a gentleman, who retusea to give bis name, said he “had just made $5. Would Mr. Wiswall invest it for him #” to Jet nis left hand know what his right hand was | doing, asked if Mr. Wiswall would reiuse to be his aimoner for $10, Mr. Wiswall had no scruples in the matter and felt that it would be a good thing | if many more could be encouraged to go and do likewise, dr ited relieved yesterday at th¢omMce of the Guild were several agus men of culture and the highest recommen hold responsible positions. Most of them had, in- deed, been well off tiil tne panic shook them down from their postitions like an earthquake. These are salesmen, chemists and others. Their ad- dresses are with the Guild, and communications are earnestly invited from employers willing to lend @ helping hand. They will work chea) and the Guild will guarantee that they wi work well. Rev. Alvah Wiswall has been en- in this work among the poor for ease whether intemperance or other vice has heiped in bringing men into such dire straits, In ‘these cases he 18 sure they are in no way to blame. At karle’s Hotel, at the corner of Centre and Canal streets, a poor box has been opened, Its contents will be devoted to the supply of soup tickets for tne relief of the Sixth ward, It is an idea worthy of imitation in all our great hostelries, Every litue helps, and the casuai dime or the price of a sacrificed cocktail may save the lile of a lellow creature, A GRATEFUL WOMAN'S THANKS. 116 CENTRE STREET, New Yorg, Feb, 12, Tora} To rye Epiror oF THE HERALD:— I hereby in this note beg leave to express my deep gratitude to the editor of the New YorK HERALD for the Manner in which he called the | attention of 60 many kind ladies and gen- tlemen to my wants and to the neces- sities of my family. Being a widow (and my husband, who formerly worked as an engineer for J. M. Cornell, being in a better land), without hope almost and witn nothing to eat in the house, I fee] that ] might have starved here along with my children had not Mr. George Middieton, oi Centre Street, thoughtfully insisted that 1 should make my Wants known in the HekaLD, which paper he said went everywhere, among’ high and low. I did s0, and the result is that i have been ree lieved from the iate which many a decent tamil has undergone this winter. Jie lollowing kin ladies and gentlemen have helped me, thanks to the editor of the HERALD :— Dr. R. Burns, $3; J. M. Cornell, 141 Centre street, paid three months’ rent; mrs. Mc- Gowan, 339 West Fifty-seventh street, $20; box of clothes by express, from Thirty- fourth street (unknown) ; W. J. Hutchinson, No. 40 Wall street, cash, $10, shoes and Canton flannel; W. D. Lent, No. 424 Broome street, $5, cash; T. 8. hayward, Nos. 20 and 24 Delancey street, coal, meat, bread and vegetables; George Moore, cash, 1; Mr, Earle, of Earle’s Hotel, $2 and groceries; irs. Joseph Stiner called and gave relief; Mr. Lynch, $2 worth of groceries; J. P. Dugan also relief; Mr. R. L. Hargous, No, 434 Fifth avenue, $4 in cash; J. Ciute, Broadway, $5 in cash; Mrs. Thomas, $1, and a number of other ladies and gentlemen who came and heiped me. To them I offer wy gratitude and the best wishes of my chil- dren for their tumely relief, and to Mr. Middleton— for what he has done for me I cannot forget him— for to his timely mention 1 owe that the HERALD published my statement, Mrs. FORD. POPULAR SYMPATHY, The National Guard Armories as Re- treats for the Poor. To THE Eprror oF THe Heratp:— Now that every kind hearted person is suggest- ing, through the columns of the HeRaLp, ideas to help the worthy poor through the winter, with your permission I propose that the armories and drillrooms of the First Division, National Guard, be used as soup houses and siceping quarters, tem- porarily, Their close proximity to the meat and vegetable markets of the city commend them as specialiy suited for charitable purposes; besides, tney could be had without rent if the proper au- thorities chose, Their fitting up for culinary purposes would be aneasy matier, withont injury to the property therein. For sleeping accommodations they are admirably saiied—the large drilrooms jor the males, and the squad and coinpany rooms tor the females. The bedding could be a, supplied, say, Single straw mattresses, $1 each, if to be pur- chased; but I am satisfied that if the HERALD should appeal to the generosity of the bedding manufacturers of the city enough would be ob- tained as donations. Biankets could be got from the Quartermaster General United States army on proper representation of the city authoriti the same to be properly cleaned and returne when good times come again. The occupation of such armories would in no manner interiere with the driisa of the troops, which generally take place between eight and ten o'clock P. M. The preservation of order would be quite eas each company could jurnish a sec- tion of men under command of a commissioned officer for alternate daty, cach police precinct to ations, fully qualified to |. | Ball; Another, equaily resolved not | furnish a special to keep the loafers and bams at ba: eing a Guardeman mysolt I have no hesitation in sasing the First division boys would cheertully co-operate with any movement rrr | oan tne Te i. Pas Hopson Stasgr, New York. The Poor of the Ninth Ward To Be Helped. A meeting of prominent citizens of the Ninth ward was held at the residence of ex-Commis- sioner Lewis, in Fourteenth street, on Wednesday evening, when preliminary measures were adopted toward organizing relief for the poor of that ward, A committee of 260 citizens was appointed, and Commissioner Lewis aunounced that be nad en- aged the Academy of Music jor @ dramatic Pirtance on the evening ol Saturday, February 21. A communication was read {rom the Murray Hill Amateur Dramatic Association, Offering (heir services for the occasion. Auother meeting of the committee will be hela at the same place this evening to perfect the necessary arr ements, A Refage for Women. Rev. C. 0. Goss, of No. 97 Varick street, is organ- izing @ committee to open ® soup and lodging house for women and _ respecta- ble families, Several buildings have been placed at bis disposal, but as yet none exactly suitable. Any charitable person having one unoc- cupied whieh could be devoted to this humane purpose would be aiding a noble work by commu- nicating wito Mr. Goss. ST. JOHN'S GUILD AND THE DOWN- TOWN POOR. The following additional contributions were re- ceived yesterday by Rev. Alvah Wiswall, for the poor of the Fifth and Eighth wards:— Throngh the Rev. S. H. Weston, D. D. Anonymous $5 00- A Lite Girl For St. John’s Gu 3 Mrs, F. W. Gritith.. 5 A. V. #. Stuyvesant 60 8. FP. Tee 5 For Si ‘8 10 Mrs. Caroline W. Astot 100 ‘Througo Evening Express :— E hroagh G. J. N. Zabriskie albert Beebe... KH. oreo James Cowl.. Through J. L. Davis:— FE, L. Mesgett. G. L.. Lady.. has Anonym ‘Through A. W. Leggat A Little Girl......°77* 3 Tne following was sent to the Key. Alvab well, St. John’s Guild office :— Willtam H, Dutt... .+.ses ee Cash, Produce Exchange ? W. E. A., for some special case, from Pro- duce Exchange . Re S SS gH wo wo * 4 Simon Fitcn. Charles K. Brady. Friend of Comiort. A.B. Reid K. M. An Engl Roselle, N. J. ©. A. P.. Anonymous. Telegraph Op: J. B, Piwot.. Hendrickson kdwin Lord E. A. A, Staten F, A. Yenont.. A iriend 10r the poor. H. A. Foot Mrs. Clossy. SSSSSSSSESSSSSSESSssEesssesssssss SS FS ssus E88 8 SSSSSSEs aaSBeSanaa8antodannaawssonabtaksa TOUAL. ...sessescereesseesene Previously acknowledged... Grand total. And additional contributions which will be re- ported to-morrow. Many packages of groceries ana clothing have also been received, Contributions may be sent to tie HERALD office, or to Mayor Havemeyer, City C. V. B. Ostrander, President of the Mer- chants’ Fire Insurance Company, No. 149 Broad- way; Andrew W. Leggat, Coliector of Assess- | ments, City Hall; G. J. N. Zabriskie, cashier of"! People’s Bank, corner of Canal apd Thompson | streets; J. L. pa vie Sneaon & Co., No. 677 Broad- | Way, and Kev. 3. Weston, D. D., No. 3 East Forty-Futh street, or to the Kev, Alvab Wiswail, Master of St Joan’s Galld, St John’s chapel, Varick street, THE RELIEF FUND. Donations received by the HERALD for the suffer- ing poor, not previously acknowledged :— A. hae B., for St. John’s Guild. c. P. 5 z 3 8 $10 00 + 500 o s hh B. oe “ Harry, for Alired Biome A Lady, Germantown, Pa. M. M, S. seeeneeeee A Poor Mother, for Mrs. For Freddie, for some poor little boy. » aw Srowonopemase SSS8SsSssssssEes|e A Fr Charity, J. Be For the poor. Howard Relief, from Three Bl Howard Relief, from H. K, St. Jonn's Guid, from L, C. St. John’s Guild, from C. Mamie and Eddie. Wulism V. Brokaw. Howard Relief Association, Subscriptions from February 10 to 12, inclusive, reported by Hatch & Foote, Treasurers :— Jonn Le Count. * on Sy S8SSSSSSSSSESES SHSSSSSESESSSSES G. L... 25 8, B. R. 20 00 | Mrs. Schenck. 10 | R. 0. 0, 10 00 | RW 5 00 | . 2 00 | J. B. A 5 B, B. 10 Mr. 3 Cc. 10 00 | A. M. 16 Cotton ge, by 160 Cotton Exchange, by D, \ Soiomon + Alfred Benjamin Mr. Aaronson ....., Sundry cash subscription: TOLAL ..sescsescssseeces Previously acknowledged. Grand total......... ESSRSRSESRSASR we gs & se eeesee ee G2j247 15 ‘Two Dollars for the Italian and One for the Poor Monkey. To THB EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Will the editor of the Heratp oblige by giving the $2 enclosed to the poor Italian, Ganganilla Tophaggi, of Mulberry street, mentioned in to- day's paper. The $1 bill is for the pse of the “emaciated monkey” spoken of in fhe article. The great Wesley has said that the dumb beasts Bball rise in evidence against us in the last day. FeBRUARY 11. EL Charity’s Appeal te Women. To THE EpiTOR OF THE HERALD:— Enclosed you will please find $i—a “widow's mite’’—to be added to the fand you have started for the relief of the poor in our city. Where are the wives of our miliionnaires? Why are they silent and inactive amid ali this suffering and des- tituuon? What man but would gladly and Brena. give of his abundance, were his wile to ask it, in such acause? © women, with suoh strength and gl in your hands, hasten, for humanity's sake, 0 the aid of the starving, helpless creatures who are daily dying so near your very door! CHARITY, Children’s Charity. TuHROGG’s Neck, Feb. 11, 1874, To THR EpiTor OF THR HRRALD:~ Please send this ($1 50) to Mrs. Bridget McCar- thy, of No. 5 Vandewater street. We took it from our bank and hope to send more soun, THREE LIITLE BOYS, Fifteen Hundred Loaves of Bread for the Hungry. New York, Feb, 12, 1874, To THe EpiTor oF THE HERALD :— Enclosed please find thirty orders each for fifty loaves of bread daily on Mr. John White, No. 14 Catharine street, which I would ke happy to | ba Gietridute to those institutions whicn ° jately opened for the assisiance of the Doody 500. Gread wilt be deiivered to any Parties Rresenes. one of these orders, at any Diace wit two miles of the bakery. Respect P. A. MAYOR, No. 42 Mott strect, Am Offer of Bread. New Yous, Fob. 12, 1874. To Tas Eprron or ram Hezatp 1 will aupply twenty-five loaves of bread dally, for the next thirty days, to any soup house started itp the Twenty send ward. Yours, &c., THOS, KELLY, No. 17 Barclay street. Generous Donation by Sixth Avenue Storekeepers. 313 Sixte Avenvsg, Feb, 12, 1874, To tas Eprroz or rae HERALD:— Enclosed please find check for $163, donated by & few of the Sixth avenue storekeepers, Which you Will please send into the St. John’s Guild for the sufering poor, and greatly oblige, &c., OVE, A Baker's Charitable Offer. New York, Feb. 10, 1974. To thw EDITOR oF THE HeRaLp:— L eve you are pleading for the poor. { will make this offer, that! will furnish all the bread at cost for charity dunations. J. G. DUNUAN, 621 Pearl street, Cast-off Clothing. New Yonk, Feb. 12, 1874. To THE EDITOR OF THR HERALD :— Please send to this oMce for alot of cast-of clothing for the use of those who may require it. iDGAR KB. HOLLY, Globe Fire Insurance Compuny, No. 176 Broadway. A Proffer of Coat for 2 Soup House. New York, Feb. 11, 1874. To THB EDITOR OF THE HERALD:: Lam Willing to contribute one ton of coal a week, for four weeks, to any soup house opened in the First ward. co rl are “phe HENRY SWEET, 143 Liberty street. Meat for the Destitute. To THE EDITOR OF THE HBRAL! I will deliver twenty-five pounds of good meat to be distriputed in the Tenth ward to the deserving poor. Respecttully, A. SWART, Butcher, Washington market, house No. 2246 Broome street. New YORK, Feb. 13, 1874, Contributions to the New York Juvenile Guardian Society. The New York Juventle Guardian Society acknowledges the following donations received to-day, towards feeding the starving poor at its downtown relief, No. 14 Dey street:— Edward Matthews... Henry F. Terhune & Co Richard Irvin... A. A. Thomson & Co Union Stove Works, one stove. J. L. Mott iren Works, one range, Richardson, boynton & Ce., one stove. Front Street, one barrel of flour. HE A & Loit, Dey street, five barrels of veget- ables. Heyman & Mack, Hudgon street, fifty loaves of bread daily. J, Miltau’s Sons, one case of Leibig’s extract eat. ‘This society appeals to the public for aid in car- rying forward the work oJ relieving the wants of the destitute. Donations in cash may be sent to William H. Vermilye, Treasurer, No. 16 Nassau street; Mr. Jeremiah E, Cary, No. 11 Wall street, or to the New York HERALD. Provisions, &c., may be sent to No. 14 Dey street, Down Town Reliel. A Hint for City Churches. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Why is it that the poor of this city have to walk the streets all night, not hav’ng any place to sleep, when so many Sunday schoo! rooms could ive them shelter with very little expense? This from one who has seen the time when a bench would have been very entire in the army. A VETERAN VOLUNTEER, THE POOR OF BROOKLYN. “In the Fifth ward there are a great many tene- ment houses, and hundreds of men are out of work,” remarked Captain Bourne, of the Second precinct, to the HERALD representative; “but per- sonallyI am not acquainted with any cases of downright abject want in my bailiwick. There may be such, however. I do know that a large number receive assistance from the Commissioners of Charities. The poor are aiso helped Materially by the provisions which are distributed in the basement of the Church of the Assumption, on the corner of Jay and York streets, so that they need not starve in the Flith ward. It is not the laboring people out of work who suffer the most in this dull season, for they have no particular delicacy of feeling to pre- vent their coming to the iront and asking for help when they requireit. With the shopmen, clerks, me- chanics and others it is different. They find it very hard to stifle the sentiment of pride which wells up witnin them whenever the thought of begging or asking for public charity presents itself to them. When hunger crags at their vitals, however, this feeling of pride must give way. in lormer years, speaking Of the lower order of recipients of charity Jrom the city, 1 have known people who actually owned their houses to obtain groceries and coal | from the city. It is not so now, however. The | Commissioners are more circumspect in their dis- tribution of retief."" “Have you many lodgers here at night?’ “Well, yes; there are a great many, and a queer set of people they are, too, It puzzles me to find out from whence they come, Shortly alter dark they will come shamvling along towards the sta- tion house tn squads o! five or six. They stand outside and peep in the windows, Then one oi the chaps will enter and ask ior lodging. The request being granted, the new comer wiil not half way down stairs to the sleeping room when another will enter and ask ior shelter, And 80 on they will come in one at a time. We never see them about the streets in the day time. They must stop in some gipmul, I suppose, for the heat, munching bis- cutt. ‘There is very little drunkenness in this pre- cinct just now, money being too scurce to buy whiskey.” ‘There are at present 788 inmates in the Kings County Aimsheuse. The amount of provisions consumed by them last week was $703 79, being ninety cents per inmate. In the Nursery there are 414 inmates; in the Hospital, 401; im the Lunatic ‘Asylum, 838. Suffering in Gowana: “7 know of a genuine case of destitution in this precinct,” said Sergeant Hall, of the Eighth sub- precinct, to the writer yesterday. There is a family named Ropinson, consisting of man and wife and four children, the youngest being twelve months old, They reside on the northeast side of Thirty-sixth street, Gowanus, near Third ave- nue, The father of the famuy is @ machinist by trade, but lost his job last fall, He obtained some work a8 @ laborer for a time, but he is now emaciated by disease, having Bright’s disease of the kidneys, and is unable to do anything, either for the rellef of bis family or himself. To add to the misery of this family one of the children 1s lying at the point of death. The case ig one really deserving attention and aasist- ance at the hands of the charitable. It is due to their neighbors to state that much aid in the mat- ter of iood bas been extended them throughout the winter. Two weeks ago they received an or- der for $2 worth of foud from the Commissioners of Charities; but that was mot much help to & family of six. {[ hope, sir, that the | publication of this case in the HsRALD tract the well disposed to their “There 18 another case of want with which | am also iamiliar in Thirty-ninth street,” Rald the Sergeant, ‘here is the family of a Mrs. Barrey, a widow, and four young children. The husband was buried a few weeks ago, and his widow and children are without means of sup- | port, depending upon the charity of the well dis- ag a in ey neighborhood.” joup house has been opened by the Soc! for the Aid of Helpless Women, and Children atNG, 20 Concord street, where ood can be partaken of on the premises by all who may require it. bread and soup can also be taken home by families in want. People are requested to purchase tickets, which are ten cents each, tor distribution, The Poor of the Twenty-first Ward. To THB EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— @iIn on article in your issue of yesterday you say that @ gentleman in the Twenty-first ward is actively engaged in organizing a committee to assist the worthy poor of that ward. Now, sir, ‘that is bardly necessary, as there is and has been & regularly organized committee of sixteen vis- itors in that and every other ward of the city ef members of the “New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor.” This com- mittee have expended in the Twenty-first ward about $3,000 the past three months jor the relief of the poor, and the noble work still goes bravely on. Any worthy person in distress, or any person knowing of such, by applying or sending the names of such to the office of Messrs. Pullman Bros., No, 245 East Thirty-filth street, or at their factory No, 222 As a ata street, wil! Teceive prompt assistance, stan! JOHN PULLMAN, Chairman Board of Viatora Twenty-Arst ward, a THE PAUPER D©AD. —+_—_ ‘The recent and indeed Present investigation {nto the conduct of matters concerned with the burial of the unknown dead of New York has caused no small wonferment among that class 0 People who, never having the interest in the poot which they should have, know little of the doings and sufferings of the lower ciasses. For, after all, the Potter's Field is reali place burtal for those too poor to pay mr drake ms ment tn @ cemetery. To be sure, the Potteré Field ts also made the receptacie for the corpses of Gil those who have not been identified by wiend orrelatives. But these are only a percentage « the vast numberof those who. are buried in this desolate pauper cemetery. The poorhouses of the city and the Almshouse on Biack well’s island, a% well a8 the Bellevue and Charity hospitals, give the largest quota of dead bodies te the Potter’a Field. For want of @ better place the bodies which are found dead in our streets trom hunger or starvation; the pustulent corpses fou floating in our rivers: the wretched tenants of the poor hove.s of tne lower wards, whom nobody knows and whose iife tickers out without a sigh trom friend or relation, these also find their last earthly home in the Potter's Field; but @ great majority of the bodies interred there belong ta people whose whole fortune would not pay iors grave even In the cheapest of our burying grounds, and whom the city must, thereiore, inter. These free cemeteries are public needa around all large cities where congregate large numbers of tat poverty stricken and the wretched who eke outa scanty livelihood Heaven knows how and Heavea knows where. THR POTTER'S FIRLD. The ortginal Potter's Fietd for the city of New York was situated in what is now Washingtor square, and which was afterwards transferred inte aparade ground, having before been the pubil¢ Place of execution. No doubt the bones o1 many a farmer and long ago forgotten pauper might be found beneath the green grass of that populas park, But as the needs of the city grew greatet and the inhabitants pushed up town tt was found necessary to put the pauper burying ground ip some more retired location. Ward’s Island was then chosen, and up to the latter part of 1868 oF the beginning of 1869 served that purpose, The necessity for the establishment of more public buildings on that island caused the transferral of the Potter’s Fiela once moro to its pres- ent location on Hart's Island, which, being gome distance up the Sound, away from the city, is probably better chosen than any other location could have been. Tne island during the war had been used for encampment, but had not been put to any use since that time, we believe, until it was bought from the United States for the purpose spoken of by the Commissioners of Chart ties aud Correction of this city. Steaming up the Soand the barracks where the soldiers were quar- tered may be seen very readily, but THB LOCATION of the Potter's Field is as it were hidden behiné them, though even were these barracks absent there would be nothing on the whole isiand to ar: rest the attention of the passer-by, as tuere is Dt chapel where services might be performed, n¢ tombstone, not even a grass-grown mound, tc interest the eye and tne mind. ‘he only boat which lands at Hart’s ssiand is th dead boat irom Bellevue Hospital and the isiands, and this simply to deposit its cargo, when it steams rapidly away, as wf instinctively anxious to get awaygirom tils avode oi death, Lanuing at the dock One walks up 4 slight elevation, and, reaching the top and lookin; down, the Potter’s Fieid lies before you. All aroun is desolate and sad—no kind hand to decerats these graves with the tropmes of love and remem- brauce, not even a headstone to show where is interred what was once a human being. The bodies interred here are as utterly \orgotten and wiped away as if they had never eXisted. Aud yet all those Bed let ol rotiing corpses which lie below here once bad hopes, ambitions, likes and dig- likes, tastes, sympathies like ourselves; but al that 18 not even now a remembrance. There it usually in a visit toa cemetery something consol ing im the thought and the sight of all tuose objects of love which are strews avout the graves of lost imends, Death 1s shorn of some of its terrors and one dreads tt less, But burial in this horrible, dreary spot in- deed makes death Jeariul Better to be throwo into che open ocean, a3 ou shipboard, Shculd even somebody remember the dead here it would be tn. possible to know wiere they lay, and all that tellg Ol the presence of the dead is the decaying, letd, pungent stench which oa some occasions pervades the air for @ great distance around. The Potter’s Field probably covers some six oF seven acres or more. It indeed looks smailer than itis, tor on all sides it 13 bounded by the-suvery waters of the Sound, Which wash up against the banks and within a few leet oi the nearest graves, HOW CORPSES ARE CONVEYED. The marts which matuly supply the dead of the Potter’s Fiela are the Bellevue Hospital and the Charity Hospital on Blackwell’s ls.and, Tne pau pers on the various islands of course are mainly buried here, but they generally Make a short sta) at the Charity Hospital first. Not ali of these, however, go to the Potter's Field, Jor the most likely and good looking corpses are selected 10% toe dissecting rooms in this city and Brooklyn, and, as shown on the investigation, many of the re mains claimed oy friends who have not been noe Uilied Of the deaths of those in the hospitals, and which are represented to have been sent to thé Potter’s Field have to reality been surreptitiously carted off to the dissecting rooms, where tuey be come the prey of medical students, only tne fesh 1p this case ever Lye hen | burial, the bones being taken possession of ag legitimate property by these young men who pay $10 each for the “subjects.” ibe oniy corpses a3 @ general thing sent to the Potter's Field, unless there be an unusual glut of them, are those which have been mutilated of Which are emaciated and too old to be ol any use for dissecting purposes. Wuen found in the rivers or streets they are always, ll recognizable, placed upon the siaus for some three or four days and then taken to the dead house, photographs being taken of them for the purpose of identification, aud tne clothes also kept. Ii tue deatn has occurred in one of the hospitals the corpse is immediately Bent to the dead house Without passing through the Morgue, and is there immediately boxed up in | @ rough deal box, painted red, on which a number is chalked corresponding to the number in the books of the hospital, where a corresponding description may be jound, Sometimes iustead o the number being chalked upon the boxa tag if used. In all these details the authorities are at times very careiess, a8 Was proved last summer in the death of poor Coulson, the HERALD reporter, who, Daving papers upon his body to prove hit identity, barely escaped being sent to the Potters Field through the carelessness oi one of the Coro- bers aud tue singular and almost criminal hurry the authorities were in to get rid of the corpse, But this carelessuess is characteristic, the whole World over, of this service. The constant presenci of death makes nen brutish and unteeling. ai there is, probably, little help tor it. The Alder- | manic Committee will probably censure this, but it will be repeated a short time alter, as it always has been. Once boxed up tie remainder of tie rocess i8 very Simple. ‘he dead boat, the Fidel. ty, (‘ormerly the Hope did the service but she wag sunk), is at the dock at nine o’clock in the morn- | Ing ana receives ner cargo of dead bodies, and away she goes, HOW THE BURIALS ARE DONE, If anything the burials are even more atroctonsly simple than the first disposition of the bodies. Directly upon the arrival of the dead boat (Wich has called in the meantime to pick up any | Stray corpses at the various islands) at Hart's Island, the red deal boxes are speedily transierred on shore and are wheeled to the burial place. ‘These are not separate graves, as is the case insome | Pauper burial grounds, but the thing is done on the principle of the French fosse commune. Large | trenches are dug, some ten feet deep, and in thes¢ the boxes are piled up one abovi ther in ins terminabie rows, a few inches of the layers of corpses, The plan, 1 | according to the representation of ¢ | authority over this Field of Death, is the only | one that ig practicable, a8 were the dead to be given a grave each the space taken up would be suca that the authorities would be constantly searching 10Fr new pott flelds to conquer, | Harv’s Island would not last more than a couple of years with @ system of separate graves to each one, whereas now it will serve indeiinitely. Io the trench spoken of at the investigation over 60¢ bodies had been interred, but there is one trenck on the island in which some 1,300 human corpses have been interred. This system of course makes recognition impossible for friends and relatives, because to find one body the yrave or trench dig gers would have to disturb and pull about perhaps @ couple of hundred, cazectaliy if it were placed the botiom of one of them. It 1s stated that t burial here of the remains of Grand Master Fren ‘was the cause of the investization, and that t body is, perhaps, in sume such position as this— right at the botvom of a pit. Tne system as it is practised, has other faults, tity of Fecognizing however, besides the impossibil or even of searching for friends. The main fat May be said to be exposure of the corpses in the trail boxes to any storm which may happen. 4 heavy rain storm will at any time carry BAY Ue) little earth which cogers over the boxes in a trench which has not been filled up, and the cheeria. sight may be seen of red deal boxes, without it] bers, enclosing human remains, swimming f+ +4 and wedged w ener, 9 La ieee amount o! “a to be done to repair e damage cause all this remvering. mass of pte Le 4 ay ne possiae wit ye S00 500 or 000 yards away. ‘I'he shows that at present some there. up or down the Soun haat ed Potter's fi) The subject is not ‘@ palatable one to handie, bur it is one of the sad needs of a Civilization vuich ie by no means perfect