New-York tribune., 1878-10-14
4 CHE1p CHARITY.

As we mentioned the other day, the Life
Saving Stations along the coast are opened
and manned, while the building of the new
ones is being pushed on rapidly to compile
ton. by the end Of this month it is hoped
they will all be occupied by their crews,
and patrol established along the whole line
of danger on the Atlantic coast. Last Winter
we reminded our readers of the dreary and
isolated condition of the crews in these sta
tions, removed necessarily from their homes, the
cOmpanionship Of other men, and all healthy
domestic and home influences, and compelled
to pass their time when off duty without any
chance of exercise or Improvement for their
minds. We suggested that kindly and Chris
iian people should send books, papers, etc.
to them, which would not only beguile the
intolcrable tcdium, but exercise a wholesome
educational influence on them. man
who half the day and night patrols
a stormy coast. drenched with salt
spray, or beaten by the driving storm, ought
TO have something better to look forward to
when his work is over than intcrminable
games with greasy pack of cards. In answer
10 our appeals and others made in their be-
half, many generous folk sent last Winter
supplies Of reading matter to Washington,
where it was neatly bound and distributed.
There was not enough, however for all of
the stations then, and there will be none now
for the new ones. Those Of our readers, there
fore. who feel inclined to give n little help
where it will be sure to yield great income
of good and pleasure, can send such volumes
as they can spare to Superintendent 5. q.
Kimbali, Life-Saving Service, Treasury Depart
ment, Washington. ID. e. Any kind of healthy,
live books, whether history, fiction, religion or
travels, will be heartily welcomed and care
fully bestowed. A system of exchange has
been arranged between the stations. so that
books as soon as read ut one are passed on
to the next
There are other places, beside these stations,
where such books are the best of teachers
asylums, hospitals and prisons. The class to
which we appeal are, as rule, 30 used to an
abundance of reading matter, and to tho in
cessant occupation and food for the mind
found in IT, that they do not at all realize
what 1t is to be utterly deprived of it.
Conceive u recovery of weeks from long
illness without companonship, save that of
other gIoaning invalids, and not q printed
page to look upon. We remember hearing a
noted specialist in diseases of the brain de-
scribe his feelings on visiting State Asy-
lum for the Insane, where hundreds of patients,
whose minds were but slightly affected, re-
curing the most constant cheerful diversion,
were shut together for years into great square
whitewashed rooms, without PRINT upon the
walls or book to read, except single we'll
thumbed volume of flash illustrated paper.
There are many asyums and hospitals in New
York in as pitiable case as this.
There are, too, in the upper shelves of every
library, volumes Of magazines and books which
once read will probably never be opened again,
but which would bring a real breath OF joy
and life into these dreary places tenanted only
by the unhappy. A book, which we do not
want for reference and shall not read
again, has no more business on our
shelves than has rusted dollar in
the miser;s store. Let every one of our
readers hunt out those buried treasures and
pass them on to his poorer neighbOr-take
them himself to the nearest asylum and see
what happiness so cheap a charity may
bring. We have known a bundle of old
illustrated newspapers taken into the
children's ward Of a hospital light up every
weary little face with delight. How they
pored and chattered all day over the poor
prints; folded and hid them under their
pillows at night to take out with the first
peep of morning. Let any kind hearted
woman try it for herself. But when you send
books, let them be live books not the stale
ddactc volumes which you have shirked
reading yourselves and now rid yourself of
IL the name of charity, with sigh of relief.
There is a good deal of such sham charity IN
the world but it never imposes on the poor,
or OH Him who cares for them.
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coon NAMES TO RFNEURRP