The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-04 00:00:00

QUESTIONABLE BENEVOLENCE.

It is hard to believe in the statement that many
people, anxious to seem charitable, have sent to the
ladies of the London Sick and Wounded Association,
contributions of the dirtiest and foulest of linen rags.
A personal inspection of large quantities of the linen
articles sent, has convinc3d outsiders that the com-
plaint of the Christian ladies, whose labour has
been so cheerfully and so nobly afforded for
the benefit of the sick and wounded, is only too true.
Not only have people forwarded old and tattered
strips of towelling saturated with oil and
grease, but also articles of clothing abounding
with things which not only creep themselves, but
make one's flesh creep to look at them. Nay, it is
said that " some of the bales contained • even
worse abominations than those indicated, and had to
be turned out of the house at the shortest notice and
burnt, lest they should breed a plague." Now
the donors of such abominations ought to be aware
that if they so far offend Christian workers by send-
ing rags that can be of no use whatever, their con-
duct is rather more criminal than bene-
volent. There is no doubt that much
of the valuable time which could have been
devoted towarls more satisfactory ends on behalf
of the sick and dying has been wasted in opening
and in getting rid of certain donations of dirty
clothes and linen. Cleanliness is, moreover, it ought
to be remembered, akin to the charity which
prompts the gift. Most of all, perhaps, is it most
necessary that contributors should have a fair esti-
mate of the feelings of the noble-minded ladies who
have engaged themselves in the work of mercy.
They are not supposed to be sorters of filthy rags or
washerwomen, but cheerful toilers in a work which
requires all helpers to be inclined to the same good.
end, and impressed with the same ideas of how it is
best to fulfil it.

INTANGIBLE ALLIES.

Most readers are familiar with the remark of the
Russian general who reckoned on the assistance of
his two good generals January and February. Similar
allies are often counted on by contending armies.
Cold, famine, and sickness prove too powerful
antagonists for the courage of troops or for the
military capacity of generals, and even the. strongest
numerical superiority must yield to their deadly
agencies. The Times, in commenting on the position
of affairs at Metz, observes that two unseen
agents are descending into the contest like the gods
of Troy. Famine is helping the besiegers, while
Pestilence helps the besieged. It is impossible to
resist the conclusion that the immense force in and
about Metz must be in imminent danger of eventual
tarvation, but not less certainly is disease fighting
against the Germans. Their leader, Prince Frederick
Charles himself, is incapacitated from work by
dysentery, which, like typhus, is prevalent in his
force. Some of the villages in the neighbourhood
are becoming what is called enzpestes, and the meat
is growing unwholesome from disease. The hospital
accommodation is ample, but it is a serious thing
when diseases like these break out among large forces.
They depress and dishearten the men, whose courage
and confidence evaporate before such intangible foes.
It is a battle between Pestilence without and Famine
within, and it remains to be seen which will be the
victor.

STEAM CULTIVATION.

Mr. William Smith gives an account of some
experiments which have been made on a farm in
Wiltshire with steam cultivation. Mr. Ruck, the
owner of the farm in question, has steadily employed
steam cultivation since 1859, and, with the assistance
of two neighbouring farmers, does most of the work