Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-10-02
A PROPOSITION.


"Ifthou art rich, thou art poori
For like an ass, whose back with ingOts bows,
And death unloads thee"
This communication is addressed ia
the editors Of every journal in Memphis,
for, whether the public appreciate the
fact or not, good journalist is the fore
most man in every good word and
work" in which the general public has
an interest. The exigeney which prompts
il makes Il necessary that il shall appear
in the FIRST journal published after its
preparation, but il is earnestly hoped by
number Of citizens who approve the
proposition" that il shall be noticed by
all. Tho fact has not been concealed by
the press that terrible scourge exists
in certain infected locality Of the city
where very poor people are numerous,
and where scenes of suffering which
shock the civilization o; the age are
Of daily occurrence. The calamities
Of the present extraordinary year,
the smallpox, the cholera, the money
famine and the present pestilenoe
have been followed by squalid state of
restitution among the poor which APP
peals loudly and DANGEROUSLY for help.
Those heroic men aud romen rho, by
night aud by day, are doing the blessed
ministrdtions Of charity, report that no
such state Of things erer eristed ia
Memphis before. The contributions for
the relief of the suffering have hitherto
fallen uuequally upon the people-and
even these, though cl,sD muni6cent, are
now exhausted, and life and death often
hang upon the uncertainty Of an irregu-
lar aims giving. My proposition is this;
Let us, by selfimposed assessment,
create permanent and reliable charity
fund at once for the benefit Of the
poor. The writer is citizen of Shelby
county, who has no business interest in
the city and no property there. He
will be one of two hundred citizens
who will pledge themselves to pay five
dollars each every Monday morning
to the Howard Association during the |
prevalence of the present scourge. The
other hundred aud ninety-nine sub
seribers can be obtained in few hours
canvass of the city. This voluntary as
sessment will create the snug and GER
tain sum of one thousand dollars per
week independent Of all other contribu-
tons, to carry comfort to the cottages
of the suffering poor every Monday
The rich man can provide for
himself The poor people should be the
wards Of your generous citizens, and if
the municipal government should be
able to make its promised benefaction,
let it be used in some appropriate man
ner for the benefit Of the general health.
This appeal is not made to the rich, but
10 the men of moderate means, that the
burthen may fall lightly upon each. The
richer citizens with their families are for
The most part absent from the city.
Their generous contributions will
doubtless continue to come back
10 the succor of their suffering
neighbors. Let US not temporise
10 this important matter, OF put of ae-
ion upon the idea that an early frost
will put an end to all this suffering.
This may, or it may not be. The wea-
her representations of the spring, &C
,ording to the homely adage, do not IA
sor a very early killing frost. The ext
gency is upon us. Let it be met at once.
The LEDGER Office is near the business
penter of the city. Let its publisher be
he temporary depository of the fund,
10 be delivered to the Towards every
Monday Afternoon, and by them, at their
discretion, disbursed for the benefit Of
The poor.
IF 'twsre done. 'twers well 'twere done
quickly"
Let no contributor, male or female,
wait to be called on, but send in their
names and contributions at once, so that
The first thousand dollars shall be ready
BY next Monday morning. The writer
sends you herewith his first contribution
Of five dollars, and will remit like
amount every Monday morning,
"Iil these calamities be oyerpast."
1t Is but a pitiful mite alone, but
aggregated with the rest, will make a
benefaction to the poor.
RUsTICULUs.
October 2. 1873.