To the Editor of the, "Noxta-Cuma Darty News."
Sm,—May I ask for space itt your valuable paper to draw attention to the. tion of distressed foreigners in Shanghai My short experience in this port leads me to believe that the Community wishes to be kind to men in distress, but at the same time I find that there are many who think that not a little good money, charitably given, is really wasted. My experience of the men who ask for and assistance is, that some are helped to their feet again, but. others are helped to idleness. The question of course is, how can we differentiate The vantage ground of the applicant in Shanghai is (1) That the men in dire want are comparatively few, and that the community asa whole is comparatively well off.
(2) That it is almost always impossible to prove the statement of an applicant as to his past history, plicant will have to sleep in the open, un—Tess helped.
This last point is a very sad reality to a worthy man, and a very valuable asset to a regular beachcomber. It is not absolutely a true statement, for I believe that the Police station will give " night's shelter to any foreigner for the asking. "But then, Sir, a man doesn't like sleeping at the station, for fear of losing his good name." Moreover there is no food provided for a breakfast, unless a kindly sergeant gives a meal this own charges.
dificult to know what proportion of the "distressed" are mon who are too lazy to work, and. one hardly knows whether to hope the proportion is large small, I know of one man who asked for "a little assistance to get a night's lodging," and who must have been disappointed when he got a written order on a coffee-house instead of cash, for that night ho presented four orders at the coffee-house, Another man came to the Deanery one night at 9 p.m, with the made him unbutton his, feelings. when he found in his pocket an order for a night's lodging, signed by myself at noon, may be loft to the imagination of your readers, On the other hand, I have had jo short Joan of money returned with interest at twenty per cent for the good of the poor box.
Most people will agree that. there is room for improvement, The following is a suggestion which may perhaps be good enough to call forth better (1) That the Missions to Seamon Society or some other benevolent society, should open during the winter a depot in Broadway.
(2) That the depot be open daily from, say, 6,30 pam., and that an order on some coffee-house be given to any.man who claims to be in need.
(3) That the order be for a supper, bed, and breakfast.
(4) That every man who becomes a pensioner must give his name, nationality, the date on which he came' to Shanghui, and the ship by which he travelled., (5) That all possible assistance be given to the pensioners to find ships or work.
(6) That clearly to und their names will in no case be ro-entered on the register.
The success of such a scheme would the other benevolent societies, both in method and finance; partly on the confidence of the Public; and perhaps chiefly on the man in charge of the depot. A kind word of advice or a shake of the hand may do more for a man than many dollars.
If the scheme worked well, we might hope that in future men down on their luck, but willing to work, neod not taste the bitterness of begging; that -in the course of time we should have data at our disposal which would enable us to check the influx of Deachcombers into Shanghai; and lastly we should know that if any man came before the magistrates charged with begging, he had at all events been given a chance since he landed in Shanghai.
The cost of the enterprise would be" heavy, but I believe that it would be a saving on our present system, Tam, ete., A, J. Watken.
19th October.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.