The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-11-21
The A11eghan1an.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER al, 1867.


The sun had not gone down on the
vecent disaster in Pfssburg by which
about twenty persons lost their lives be-
fore agencies were put into operation for
psaviding rclieI for the families of the
suferefs. The men and women whose
hearts were thus quickly touched at the
cry OF suffering deserve the commendation
oi their race, and they are sure of that OF
HsAveR Occasions for such charities
must necessarily occur, and persons who
make them the opportunity of doing good
10 their fellows are not without hope of
reward. That, however, is the best be.
nevolcnce which makes charities most
seldom necessary He is benefactor
who supplies the wants of suffering peo-
pie. He is much more benefactor who
gives employment to the idlo, or in any
way prevents the necessity of charities
England has twenty millions Uf people.
L is said that one in twenty of them is a
pauper. England keeps these paupers
by charity. But who supplies employ
ment for them and makes them self-sup-
porting is wiser and more charitable than
he who feeds them the bread and soup of
an almshouse or the crusts of individual
benevolence.
In America, few or none necessarily
starve, and comparatively few lean on
public charity for support. Except by a
few emigrants, beggary as a vocation is
not known among US. But place twenty
millions of Cur people in the limits of
PENNSYLVANIA and half Of New Jersey,
and separate them by long distances from
agricultural districts on which they would
depend for food, and life with the means
of supporting it would become different
matter. Proportioned to our population
and the ease with which livelihood is
obtained, there are more people living
from hand to mouth here than are so liv.
ing in England.
Why is this? Not because labor is les:
know but one reason why. Their advan
tages are too often disregarded by oul
people, and their earnings squandered.-
What is earned to-day is too often no
earned to provide for the wants of the fu
ture, but to pay the debts of yesterday:
All classes Of our work people are no
alike in this respect There exists {
marked and wide difference. We think
it may be safely asserted that of any por
tion of the people, agricultural laborer'
who are not the owners, but simply the
Iillers, of the soil, are the most poorly
paid of any. Yet among these are otter
found more thrift, more economy, anc
less occasion for bestowing charity, thar
any other. 1t is q noticeable fact tina
those who delye after ores in the earth
and those engaged in our mills and furna
ces, though often receiving wages create
than other mechanics, greater than tn,
remuneration Of many preachers, physi
clans, and lawyers, are apt at death or il
case of accident to leave their families il
com ple,e destitution. IS tie cause of thi
found 10 the fact that such people bav,
less opportunity than others of securing
clearly comfortable homes These peo
PIE are the most exposed OF any larg
class, except sermen and railroad men, t
accident.
ANY movement that would efectivel!
tend to securing comfortable and retired
homes, that would teach them habits o
thrift, would be the greatest benevolenc
of the age. The essential to home i
privacy. Where that is not TO be found
there can be no home, in any true sens
of the word There are very few me
cSsnios, aud not great ratio of what ar
called mere laborers, who could not, b.
ordinary management. own and pay TO
their own home alter the first ten years o
theiE majority, a, cost of 81 900 to So, ,OOO
-
AVERY singular proposition Is, we learn
ba EoDnrasa 10