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Newspaper Page Text
nmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm cHOW TO BREAK UP A HOME AND STARVE AN OLD WOMAN INTO THE POOR HOUSE There lived in a very humble home in Xew York city Mrs. Sarah Nary, 80 year old. and her grandson. Joseph McPartland, aged 12. The boy sold newspapers, and his earnings were the main support of himself and his grandmother. A church relief society gave the couple a small amount of gro ceries each week, and they were also aided by an organization called the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor. This as sociation, after considerable effort, and by overcoming some op position, had Joseph McPartland taken into court and committed to an institution, alleging that his grandmother was too old to be a proper guardian for him. Having thus deprived the old woman of her principal means of support, the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor withdrew also the aid it had been giving, and for two weeks Mrs. Nary had no money or. food except what neighbors and church workers brought her. A newspaper discovered this singular state of affairs, and sent a reporter to the general agent of the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor. After much questioning, the general agent finally divulged that the association thought Mrs. Nary would be better off in the poorhouse on Blackwell's island than she was in her home with her grandson. Mrs. Nary did not agree with the association. In order to bring her to a proper frame of mind the association had, after taking away her grandson, withdrawn also its contribu tions toward her support. To put the matter quite bluntly, the as sociation proposed to starve the old woman into going to the poor house. The reporter asked the general agent of the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor: "Is this starvation method of persuasion for those who shun the almshouse a new one or an old one?" To which the general agent replied: "I believe it is employed by every organized charity in the country." His statement would seem to bar out the view entertained by ' many persons for many years past that organized charity is gen erally 99 per cent organization and 1 per cent sympathy. o o A shock-headed boy of seven knocked at the door of a house where he had frequently called with his mother when on her beg ging missions. ".Well, my little mau, what do you want?" said the lady who opened the door. "Please, ma'am," said he, "can you help me? I have a blind hus band and three children at home." mtmmmmmmmm