The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-27
Giving TO the UndeseryinC.

A woman was found sitting on curb
stone IN this city, u few days ago. with u
dead child in her arms. The child had
frozen 10 death. One of our contempora-
ries made some comments on the occur
renee intimating that charity hereabouts
Nas rs cold rs tho weather He was al
moSt hcrccly replied TO by certain philau-
thropists 10 tho effect that il nobody
ever gave anything 10 the poor in the
streets. tins little child and its mother
would not have been driven forth in a
pitiless storm by drunken husband and
father, and the babe would not have per-
ishcd. Indisoriminate almsgving these
writers in common with most others who
have made Il study Of the subject, severely
condemn.
When man isso maddened with drink
rs TO turn his wife and child out of doors
in bitter cold, midwinter day, 1t can
hardly be supposed that he is 80 far in pos
session of his reason as to speculate upon
what The effects may be; but one Of these
writ Is is confident that he coolly calcu-
lated money would be made out of it!
II is only the deserving, we are saGcly
told, who should receive pecuniary assist
ance; ana great pains should he taken TO
guard against giving except to the mcri-
torious. Now in answer 10 this ii may be
| said that the wise, industrious, economical
aud provideut seldom stand in need Of
charity. The late EDWARD EVERETT,
in one Of his ornate lectures, used
to relate an anecdote OF u young
man who applied to him for II
small sum of money. He asked him TO
! tsl, 10 Ia, g.
despatch to a rich relative Of the young
man, aud received an answer that he was
not worthy Of credit. Mr. EVERETT used
to tell tho story as illustrative Of the uses
OF the telegraph. 1t always seemed TO ~
supremacy ridiculous. Did he for a mo-
meut suppose that member OF family in
excellent standing would come to him tor
few dollars unless the world had in some
way gone wrong with him, and most prob
ably through his own faultf The violation
OF some law requisite to success and pros
perty IL the very thing that makes the oc-
casion-and the prlncipai occasion-for
charity If we arc only to givc TO
persons Of VANDERBTLT's or AsToR's pc
cuniary responsibility or BRYANrs
poetcal talent, and who bring with them
II certificate OF membership in Or. TYING !,
or DR.. TAYLoRs, or DR.. HALL church,
then the purse strings may DO tied in n
hard knot; they will never have to be un-
loosed
We have now an account OF the distress
in the coal fields. "Within sight of our own
city Court House and church steeples, -
says the LizeinC gazette, land within
the sound OF the bells within them which
call our people to prayers and to Justice,
hundreds of men, women and children
are thus early in tho long ami pinchina
winter destitute of the comforts of life
without employment, without means,
without credit, they are confronted by the
hungry wolf ut thor doors" 1t is very
likely that much OF this suffering results
from the heads of these fqmilies having
been engaged in ill-advised strikes, and re-
fusing to work in the summer when they
had an opportunity. What then, shall
they all be left 10 starve7
A poor woman, in the same region, n few
days ago, half crazed by tho cries Of her
children for bread, stole u piece of dry
| goods TO exchange for food. She had never
before committed Il crime Now she is q
thief. Shall the amount that would feed
her ana her babes be withheld from Them
ana sent TO some observing pcrson2
A gentleman in this city, who had been
detained down town to Il late hour by his
business, was walking up Broadway one
night, when he was accosted by q stranger
with glarlng eyes and in u state Of wild eX-
element, and solicited for a'shillng where
with TO buy bread.
| "YOu do not want bread was the re.
ply, land you would not buy any if
should give you the money"
"Surely would, CALCULATED the man.
ono was tho reply "you do not need
bread You are in the first stage OF deli.
rum tremens. Bread will not help you
H. you were to go to q doctor he would
| prescribe brandy for you. Here is quar-