New-York tribune., 1869-06-05
CONCERNING BEGGARY

We hope there is no truth in the story that
lately went the rounds importing that Miss
Anna Dickinson, as she journeys orating from
city to city, is infested with missions from
ardent, ingenious youngsters, who begin by
praising her wit, her beauty, her philanthropy,
her elOquence, and conclude by requesting the
remittance, by way of gift or loan "a distinc-
ton without dfference) of a $50, 800, or at
least s1O, from her ample boards in relief of
the writer's urgent necessities. Some of the
mendicants are pious, and solicit help to enable
them to qualify for dispensing the bread of
life others are philanthrOpic and want to
arm themselves for battle against all the ills
that flesh is heir to; other some are simply
ambitious, and want to study law or something
else that (they fancy will put them up
round or two on the ladder of Fortune. For
the credit of Human Nature, we should hope
that such base ours exist only in the realms of
fancy; yet we have had experiences that make
us fear that they are real.
The age we live in is worse in some respects
than many of its predecessors, but it is better
in others. 1t is less sanguinary, but not less
venal less given to cruelty, but more prone to
beggary. To seek to obtain something for
uothing is its grand mistake: it makes wretched
its votaries, and they in turn diffuse the curse
on every side. We are all the victims in some
shape of Omnipresent Beggary.
Labor is ennObling, and Man is inyigorated
and elevated by Work. No one can heartily
address himself to it without being blest in his
deed. Let man step out of doors early in the
morning saying, Here am |, able and willing
to work; show me whatever is to be done,
"and | will take that part of it which suits
"me best, and do it with all my might" and
he cOmpels general respect. But if he says,
" Here am /, needy and furnishing, with wife
"and children looking vainly TO me for bread:
/ am willing to take place in the Custom
House, a clerkship in dry goods store, an
appointment on the Police, or even situa-
" ton on a newspaper" the multitude will not
conceal their disgust. For he, being in need,
should consider not what he would prefer, but
what he can get, and take hold of it with
frank alacrity. His way to finding what he
would like lies through doing cheerfully what
ever he can get.
Spring opened late this year, and planting
was finished much later than usual; so
that this warm, ShOwery weather is bring
ing forward the farmers work with un-
common rapidty. Henceforth till August here
abouts, and till September further north, weed
ing, haying, sowing buCkwheat harvesting,
preparing for turnips and for Fall seeding,
will drive our farmers to the utmost No
Eight-Hour rule for them they will be lucky
if they get off with an average Of twelve hours
work six days per week. Many will overtax
their strength, rather than see their crops suffer,
when they would gladly hire additional help,
if such was to be had. In the event the Hay
crop alone will be deprecated in value many
millions because it could not be seasonably
made-cOuld not, because those who should
have helped to make it are away in this and
in other cities, pacing YEARLY their hot pave
ments from morn till night, looking for "situ-
cations" where there are none to be had,
wondering why they cannot find something
"to do" aud protesting that they are willing
"to do any hingn-that is MT wanted.
Infinite are the shifts and disguises of Beg
gary, wherewith Life's cup runneth over; but
none are more baleful than those which dis
honor Work by sinking its manly utterances'
into the whine of Mendicity and obliterating,
so far as possible, the broad line of demarca-
ton between Wages and Aims. Heaven bless
and keep the true hearts that would rather
earn fifty cents per day where they are really
wanted than iye-fold that amount where they
are employed for PHYS sake, and because they
must have Something to Do"