New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-06
LIVING MACHINES $.
To ne Edsioy Of The ". Y. TriJus.

To ne Edoy Of The N. Y. TrJusa
SIR: Permit me through your columns 10 warn
the public against private livingmachines, kind OF
institution with which society is getting TO be much
overstocked. / do not know how else TO character.
ize them. They are institutions got up under one
or another pretense Of benevoence, which in itself
no person will disapprove, but the chief practical
beneyolence of which consists in the featheriDg Of
comfortable neat for few diligent wire-pullers,
while an ostentatous display of interesting cases
from time to time furnishes the prctex for aperpeiual
appeal the pockets Of the cbsrably disposed can
tell better what mean by example; Mrs. b. is a
good sort of woman, who has poor aud most
likely lazy minister for a husband In the gene
raj sagerness of people TO be doing something for
the soldiers who have "gone to the wars, she tees
chance to do more for Mr.. and MIS-. b., 40 she
gets few Of her friends together, and cslls them an
association" selecting some good oatchword rs a
prefix. II isa Soldiers Widows Association" or
Soldiers Orphans Association or Soldiers
Childrens Educational Union" something elmi-
lar. Mr.. Is. doesn't help her at all-oh no! He
decent write any prospectuses for her, and he
doern't sit behind any curtain pulling wires, or any
such thing Blu, she gets out a prospectus. applies
members Of Congress, eminent diyines, and 30 forth,
to append their names to it, RS approving the OBJ
iect, and 10 has her ticket made out for the sp-
pointment Of a collector. Tie collector Of course
10 her husband. lie arms bimsef with subscrip-
ton boon, L.-Asd with the names of the digniiied
and influential indorsers or ,he plan and Coca out
on benevolent rampage" He'll take dollar
or a dime, whichever you choose TO give. Hen
~ eli of lONer of
tea, realms of wrapping paper, old shoes and bon
nets for the wives and children Of volunteers, bot
ties Of wine, tons Of coal, skates, books anything
under the sun. And so he goes "rampasng
ound. hunting up the though,less charitable, wor-
ryng the rich, who give their dollar to get nd oil
him, and "letting yon of this time with the
smallest contribution he can wheedle you out OIL.
But beside the contributions, he gets your name,
and then your neighbors name on the strength OF
yours ndlnally great catalogue Of names, which
are a. good capital to him ne bank stoek-and
much better than that for dividends in these times Of
suspension.
Mrs. b. doesn't stop there. She wants al organ
not street organ with dancing monkey, but pretty
much the same thing"a Soldiers Magazine" in
which she can advertise her "cases," and make her
appeals to the country at large. and write stirring
songs for the soders and spread ont her nets smaz-
inyIy ON all sides Her husband Of course is the
editor OF the organ. You are not 40 simple IA to
suppose he doesn't yet good salary-are youi De
pepd on il. the primary benevolence of the concern
l. TO compensate Mr. and Alrs. ID. for their devotion
10 The cause Of tour brGre sO!dierSF The end IL,
they succeed in establishing great iriag-maedne,
and when ges once into good running order, 1t If
monstrousy profitable Affair." Tie field is large, and
though many, after bleeding freely, find out the hum
bug. moro are duped in TO al Their places
II would 10 unjust TO the honorable secretaries,
senators. clergymen, and editors, who give their
nsnes to Mrs. u. 70 hold them responsible for heT
abuse of their credit; but they are at least nyolun
,ary parties to the imposition, aud therefore not en-
tirely blamees-.
The latest organized association Of this olass tc
which public attention needs to be.caed, PROGRESSES t'
have for its main object the education OF the chldFer
If volunteers-a matter much more wiseiy PROVIDED
for already by our public schools than 1t can be ny
benevolent rampage" Of the parties engaged IN II
I trust Sir, that you will wan Ito eommn
nfv AGAINST all such associations, and especially
against such o. have tackled on 10 them al advenis
ING and solf.puing magazine with an editors salary
.nd III the attendant expenses Of publication once
n these expenses are not hrst pad, before cen
Goes 10 tle education Of volunteers children, tb
nroieoton Of this new scheme VIII be very dishohes
Tor IL IA well known they have no private ehpl'hl
their own to bo so applied. H. N'
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