The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-03-04

months and have failed to see anything
directly bearing upon this most import
ant matter. To preach charity In gen.
eral way is pleasant, because it makes
no appeal to our sympathies nor draft
upon our pockets; buta single discourse
about the suffering of the poor would be
more beneficial to society and to the
higher sentiments of the man than an
hundred general sermons on charity in
the abstract.
To the press is left this service, and
the duty is discharged with great tidel-
ity by many journals.
AT Booths Theater, the other day,
when "Henry V" was acted there was
among the supernumeraries q pale-faced,
delicate woman who tainted and fell to
the floor. She was carried to the green
room and surrounded by pitying COM
panions who sought the cause Of her
trouble. AT last one of them placed her
arms around the neck of her sister and
asked what was the matter with her.
The poor, weak girl whispered, IL am
starving. 1t has been three days since
tasted food" A good meal was soon
up for her among the attaches Of the
stage. She was taken to her lodgings,
where was found q husband dying of
consumption, with four children suffer-
n Mt nf Nho vutf nd
mother, who had never before been on
the stage, was the sole support of the
family.
This is but one of many cases that are
almost daily described in some Of the
journals. For every one brought to light a
dozen more are heard of. They are nu-
merous in every city. They can be found
within fifty PAGES Of the daily walks OF
every citizen. A physician of New York
was lately called to damp and filthy
cellar where a man was paralyzed. In
one corner lay woman on a pallet of
rags who had a few hours before given
birth to child, and she was not only
without nurse but had been for q long
time without food. In an adjoining cellar
lived rag-picker eighty years of age.
She had heard means and groans in the
next apartment at midnight, and she
groped her way into it,. She tore the
skirt Of her ragged dress into bandages
for the sufferer. Going into the alley
after hours OF watching, she saw that 1t
was growing light, and that she must
soon be out again in shivering cold to
gather what was necessary to bring her
daily crust of bread.
She groped her way back into the Gel
lar, knelt down beside the sufferer, ca
ressed her and wept tears upon her face.
She fumbled moment about her dress,
then stood erect, took the babe in her
arms, and soon returned it wrapped in
warm covering. Though about to face
he biting blast, this venerable rag-picker
lad removed her own petticoat from un-
ler her torn dress to wrap up the child |
hat was being introduced into the world
through that dark and miserable ante
'oom.
This is but another one Of hundreds of |
cases of equal suffering that the public |
never hear OF. Then think of the great
volume Of wretchedness through all the
grades Of poverty up to the condition ofI
neagre subsisten
And yet we 60 on with our fashionable |
our gentcei dissipations, our ex-
,enditure of thousands more than is good |
or us, and close our eyes and shut our
'ars to the sufierings OF the poor! There
8 surplus for all, and it would be good |
or the fortunate to deal literally with |
he distressed. 1t Is shame to our pro-
essions Of Christianity that We do not
10 organize the people that no case Of
suffering can occur without all needed as
,istance. Every city should be divided |
INTO small districts, and faithful men |
md women should know of every poor
'amily and of the condition of every |
child, and have abundant means for rem
lering any required relief. Every boy !
md giyl should be looked after as care |
ully as If they were our own offspring,
md everything needful for their educa-
ion and moral culture should be pro. |
iided. 1t would not injure the pros
,erous classes particle to do this. On
he contrary, 1t would insure the highest |
GOOD Of their own families.