St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-12-11

to work. and demoralizes the classes
whom il Is intended to benefit. HUI
man nature is so constituted that 1t
easily falls into dependence upon chart
ty when once the ease of dong so Is
established. and the habit being ac-
uuired it becomes exceedingly difficult
to throw it off There is nothing so
deadening to the self-reSpcct which Is
the only sure foundation of honorable
industry as the reliance, by people who
are not really obliged to assume it, up
on the bounty of Others. The evil
effects of encouraging such conduct
are manifold they ramlfy Ill all the
relations of business and social life. ami
are responsible tor Il great deal OF the
poverty and crime which might under
il different system have been avoided.
There are always enough persons Ill il
| large city who imperativelY need as
SiStance to make it wrong to deprive
them of it in order to favor those who
have no real claim upon our bounty.
Wherever there is ability to work,
relief for the poor should he given III
that form. and it is well to take little
more trouble to provide 1t than to
make needless distribution of money,
or even of food or clothing, to those
who should he encouraged to obtain
them by their own cXertions. In case
of sickness. there can. of course, be
but one method to pursue but with
people who are well, there should Ice
10 inducement for them to depend upon
charity for their subsistence. Street
begging especially should he disc"unte-
nanced, for. with the numerous appli-
cations for the relief of the deserving
Door, there can he no reason furencourag-
iIg he class of professional memdicantS.
who are usually neither ncccSSitous nor
honest. Whenever applications are
made. either ut the door or in the street.
which the person solicited has not the
leisure to investigate, the best way -
to give the applicant the address OF the
visitor for that part of the district OF
the Provident Association in which he
lives, or to send him to its head quar-
tiers. the Bureau Of Charity on Charlton
: street. The directory of this excellent
institution gives the needed information
aS To which of its visitors application
; should he made in any particular case.
There are often difficulties i'll the WAY
: of extending relief to families without
wasting it on the drunken and worth
less members who have brought them
to destitution. but this should not pre-
vent doing what is possible for the
} really meritoriou> poor. But II Is not
good policy to assist men without tlnl-
: lies whose shittlesSncS> or improVidcuce
| or vice has brought them to want. They
should he encouraged to 20 to work.
but if they will not do this there is II"
Use i'll giving them amy other refuge
than that which the State affords il they
/ have Il settlement here. i'll the aims
: house.
There are various charitable societies
in this city. many of them connected
with churches. and these with the cit!
= missionaries supply the assistance
which the destitute are likely t" need.
t But while il i we'll for those who HAY"
/ not the time to investigate all tia" ap-
| plicatiomS for relief that come /" them.
to make a charitable society their al
: munrr. il i better if they can t" dcV"t,
| their personal attention t" the work.
| The spirit of true hcnrVoleuce is
/ strengthened 10y such experience of sui
/ irIin.. and there l. less danger oi
! having their heurtlctiou> become auto
) matte instead of Spontaneous. >idur}
= smith hit of the evils that such habits
| are likely To foster when he said ''Chal-
> itI is Il sentiment common to human
+ nature: \ never sees !; in distress with
/ ont Wishing { to relieve him and
this thoviug oil the duty of persona
: hencVuemcc is something" to he dcpIc
Gated in the interests oi discrimination
:. ;l> we'll IL ut carnr>tmrS~ III TIA" work I"
, charitable relief. BOStoH Giobc