In this stirring and insightful work of social commentary, Queiroz offers a detailed examination of the state of poverty and charity in late 19th-century Lisbon. Drawing on his own experiences as a journalist and social observer, as well as extensive historical and archival research, Queiroz paints a vivid portrait of a city struggling to come to terms with the challenges of modernity and social change. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.