The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-07
CONCERNING BEGGARY

From the ~ y. qrtbune
We hope there is no truth in the story that
lately went the rounds importing that Miss
Anna Dickinson, as she journeys, Grating from
city to city, is infested with missions from
ardent, Ingenious Youngsters, who BEGIN bv
prmsing her wit her beauty her philan-
throw, her eloquence, and conclude bv re-
queshhg the remittance, by way of Gift or
loan Ga distinction without diference) of a
$50, $50, or at least SO, frola her ample
boards in relief Of the writer's urgent neees-
sites. Some OF the mendicants are pious
and solicit help TO enable them to nualifv 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 ambitions and
want to study law or something else that Cthsy.
fancy will put them up a round or two on the
ladder of Fortune. For the credit of human
nature, we should hope that such base ours
exist only i'll the realms ofefancy vet 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
nothing is its grand mistake: it makes wretched
its votaries, and they in turn diffuse the curse
on every side. Weare all the victims in some
shape of omnipresent beggary
Labor is ennobling and man is invi9orated
and elevated 10y work. No one can heartily
address himself TO it without being best in
his deed. Let man step out of doors early
in the morning, saying "Here am I, 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
/ so,
a wife and children looking vainly to me for
bread 1 am willing to take place in the
Custom House, a clerkship in a dry goods
store, an appointment on the police, or even
a situation 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 cheer
fully whatever he can get.
Spring opened late this year, and planting
was finished much later than usual so that
the late warm, showery weather is bringing for
ward the farmers work with uncommon ra-
pidity. Henceforth till August hereabouts,
and till September further north, wedding,
haying, sowing buckwheat, harvesting pre-
pairing 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 OH Wlun an average OF Twelve nOurS 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 wearily their hot pave
ments from morn till night, looking for ''situ-
ations' where there are none to be had, Won
dering why they cannot find something to
do" and protesting that they are willing to
do anything isn't 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-
tion 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 fve-fold that amount where they
are employed for PHYS sake, and because they
mast have Something to Do.