The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-12-18

"o ovSPso s""s S""st1 ""- oe'~'" -
tho worlds applause, forgesful Of ste
real sufFerinss Of the poor. who ask for
their humble pittance in secret, and in
sorrow. All better by far, Is one unos-
tentatious deed of heaven-born charity.
which bringctb joy, and shaukfulness and
gladness to the nbole of real suffering,
than all he layishcd millions which are
yearly spent. in splendid projects--cost-
Iy domes and visionary schemes.
We trust, for the honour Of the coun-
try, that occurrences like that detailed
above are rare. From their character,
they are generally con,eaIed from the
public. Few or none find 1t to their in
terest to make them known, and the Bit
ter enimi.y of the parties whose cruelty
is exposed, is sure to light upon the in
divldual who is bold enough to unveil il.
He must trust for the reward of his hu-
maniiy to the dictates Of pure heart,
and to the peace of his own conscience.
We do not join in the remarks of the
Vermont paper in pfonouhcing the New
Englanders selfish people, but we do
say, that if there were in every part Of
the country less of the parade and os-
tentntion of charity which has become SO
common among US, there would be more
of the reality. Benevo;ence is too often
made a marketable commodity, worldly
applause being the consideration that is
paid for it. Vast sums are presented to
charitable institutions, and the donors
are held mp to the world as public bene-
factors. Thousands are contributed to
alleviate the sutferings of the inhabitants
of distant countries, and the public ear
is wearied by calls to contribute to the
relief of dis,resses that occur thousands
Of miles off. fa' e
We do not complain of this spirit as
long as il does not interfere with the ex-
ercise ofthe sane feelings towards those
who suffer before our eyes, who found
their claims to relief not alone upon the
fact that they are members Of the same
human family, but.upon the additional
circumstances of their being citizens of
the same country, and brethren sustain
ing the same principles. We compass
sea and land to make proselytes, we
Christianize the heather, we open our
Golfers to the destitute of other nations
when not unfrequently, while the whole
community is agitated by some grand
scheme Of the kind, the needy and des-
titute whom we meet with in our daily
walks are overlooked. Our sympathies.
instead of being at home where they
should be. are thousand miles of.
1t is q homeIy saying that charity
begins at home,' but il is true one.
The same natural preference which a
father bessows upon his own children,
the same protection and kindness which
he exercises towards them, more than
towards alI the world besides, should be
bestowed upon those cases Of helpless
hess which come under our immediate
view, beyond those that call to our MD
from afar. He who contributes to the
comforts Of his own little community, is
more Of publ c benefactor than he who
devotes his fortune and his life in the
fur,heiance of visionary schemes for tho
melioration of .she condition Of those
who have little claim to Ills sympathies.
Still. there are some among us who be-
stow their charities by the way side,
seeking no worldly renown for acts which
are prompted Ivy a pure spiri, Of teneyo-
lence, who - do good by stealth, and
blush to find it fame, '--and they have
their reward. In. Y Standard.
r.IHl tIHtN