Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, August 1899 Volume LV

"Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, August 1899" by Various is a compilation of scientific articles from the late 1800s that explores how science impacts society. The collection contains essays reflecting advancements of the time across diverse interests. A major theme is the question of how charitable organizations function. One article, by Franklin H. Giddings, starts a discussion around whether charity funds are managed well, as the author calls out instances where organizations miss the mark. The piece highlights that private charities in New York City received significant funding with limited monitoring, while previously, poor relief from the government was not necessarily better. The author analyzes past and present handling of funds to begin a bigger conversation around the accountability of private versus public agencies in solving problems in society.