Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 246, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1913 — Charity Board Has Been Helping the Sharp Family. [ARTICLE]

Charity Board Has Been Helping the Sharp Family.

The Sharp family has been under the observation of the organized x>ard of Charities and through their recommendation by the Presbyterian church for some time aind has been given such aid as seemed best for them to have. There have been two able bodied men in the home and it is not the policy of the board and should not be to make dependents of-those who are able to take care of themselves. A recent visit to the Sharp home by a lady connected with the associated charity work disclosed .the needs and an effort was made to care for the needs in the best way. Tho men were employed at fair wages, Jbut notwithstanding this they have paid ho house rent, so the charity workers were informed, for several months. There were new screens needed, tho house being overrun with flies, thus supplying a community danger. The mother, for many months almost totally helpless, recently suffered a slight paralytic stroke, complicating the already deplorable conditions. The work of the board of charity has been timely and well judged. The Republican brieves that the organized charities in Rensselaer is pursuing the very best tactics. It it a difficult task for them to sift out the cases of deserving charity from that class of mendicants who will accept alms and quit work. It would too well in many cases if their power was greater and they could act as guardians of the expenditures of the homes where help is needed.

The proper action In the Sharp home is difficult to determine. With the mother an invalid, the little girl despondent and the home poorly cared for from a sanitary standpoint question is certainly a perplexing one.