The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-09-09
meaerp ssepers-s,y.

No0ffn
Upon very different sense Of Generosity
ars soiss Of the pIaciises of the present. time
founded Ii is no: an uncommon hing
amongst some persons, with Peculiar.no-
tons Of doing things deIicately, for conir'bu-
tons TO be conveyed TO some decayed gentle
woman under various preiences which are
meant to disguise, more or less transparent.
ly, the fact that she receives money in cha
rity. Some wretched products OF her pen
Gil, which would not command one penny
in the market, are privately sold for five
shillings apiece, and the proceeds are paid
TO her as il she had earned them; or a few
deplorable verses are stitched together and
disposed OF in the same manner. IL is
surely impossible to take more unworthy
view Of what should be the character and
spirit OF gentlewoman, than that which
this sort of proceeding implies. If a gentle
woman be in want, she should say so with
openness, dignity, and truth, and accept in
the manner that becomes gentlewoman, in
all lowliness, but without the slightest hui
initiation or shame, whatever money she
has occasion for and others are willing to
bestow. The relations between her and
them will in that case admit Of respect on
the one side and gratitude on the other.
But where false and juggling pretenses are
resorted to, no worthy or honest feeling can
have place. Delicacy is a strong thing
and whether in giving or taking, let Us al
ways maintain the maxim, that what is
most sound and true is most delicate.
There are some other ways Of the world
in this matter of charity, which proceed, !
think, upon false principles and feelings
charity. dinners, charity balls, chaIity-ba-
zaars, and so forth; devices (not even once
blesseD for getting rid Of distress without
calling out any compassionate feeling in
those who give or any grateful feeling in
those who receive, God sends misery and
misfortune into the world for a purpose
they are to be discipline for His creatures
who endure, and also for His creatures who
behold them. In those they are to give
occasion for patience, resignation, the spirit
ual hopes and aspirations which spring
from pain when there comes no earthly re
lief, or the love and gratitude which earthly
ministrations Of relief are powerful to pro-
mote. In these they are to give occasion
for pity, selfsacrifce, and devout and duti
ful thought, subduing-lor the moment al
least-the light, vain, and pleasure-lOving
motions Of our nature. IL distress be SEN
into the world for these ends, it is not well
that it should be shuifled out Of the world
without any of these ends being accom-
plished; and still less that it should be
made the occasion Of furthering ends in
some measure opposite to these; that il
should be danced away at ball, or Toasted
away at dinner, or dissipated at bazaar
Better were it in my mind, that misery
} should run its course with nothing but the
/, mercy of God to stay it, than that We should
thus corrupt our charities. Let me not b
} misunderstood. Feasting and dancing, il
: themselves, and by themselves, | by NJ
means disparage; there is a time and
place for them; but things which are ex
cellent at one time and occasion, are
mere dissertation at another. 1t is muc
; more easy 10 desecrate our duties than L
cOnsecrate our amuSenents; and bette
therefore not to mix them up with eacI
I other.
Another modern mode is to raise a sUb
scription by shillings or pennies-hxin
the contribution at so low a sum that nc
! body can care whether they give it or no
I and collecting it in the casual intercours
t Of society. This is a less vitiated mode tina
} the others, being OF more negative ehara1
ter; but if the others are corrupted charity
this is no better than careless charity
: Notes from LJs.