To the Editor of the "Nontu-Cama Dar News,"
Sin,—Althongh in the Foreign Settlement there sre now bat few exterior traces of its small beginnings, there are still to the seeing eye certain economy, giving proof of the unplanned start from which it has sprang to be the terminus of the thoroughfare to the East. No better illastrs in to be fonnd thoo in examination of the philanthropic work which has been Testare of the life of the community ever since it developed a public conscionsners. We are often reminded swift increase of its foreign population, has brought into being ever growing namber of foreigners and who live in s state of deprivation to be realized ely by spending " few years in sustained and consistent efforts to relieve it. They are generally admitted to be #0 numerous as to have passed far beyond such assistance as the charitable societies founded in the past are able to provide, Unquestionably the organization and methods of the local charities have been outgrown by the rapid march of new conditions; and if they were not so porely charitable in intent they would deserve the criticism that, from the standpoint of public che as whole bsphazard relatively wasteful. When two or even three societies are helping the same indigent, each unknown to the other, nobody will deny that h effort without sufficient direction; and it needs bat the slightest administrative experience to know that where there is ove discovered instance of such poor management there must be extravain practice, I do not wish to convey that the work of any individual society is deficient, but to make it clear that taken collectively as an engine for charitable relief of the poor they are failing in their purpose, for lack of ce-operative organization and are too often mis-spending th fonds, Precisely the same criticism applicable to the individual members of the mercantile community. Many give to the same persistent beachcomber, drank or sober, good or bed, and declare the gift a chesp price for being rid of some wanderer of obscure nationality who makes " suppressed commotion in the office coolies' room he waits for the alms-deed.
There occasionally advertisement telling send the beggar for h Present conditions it is fair to say when he obtains it, it consists of a little sufficient to whet his appetite for more, The position of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.