The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-11
fOr tic DtSIlaicDI
shoulder 20 Shoulder.

No one can accuse the people OF Rich
mond of any lack OF kiDdheartedness.
Whether Il be in entertaining the stranger
or in helping the poor, they have always
done all they could. Nor can any one ac-
cuse the native Vlrginian Of any lack OF
individuality. IL is one Of the strongest
characteristics OF the race. Ii has helped
TO give its peculiar charm, and has been
one cause OF the birth OF go many great
minds among us. But in ono respect 1t
has been our bane, for we arc cOnserva-
tive people, and this tendency OF every
man to feel that he is sufficient for him
self has prevented us from realizing
the force OF one OF the greatest and most
necessary OF modern ideas: c00pratlye
effort. No one who knows Richmond can
be ignorant that in this lack has lain the
secret OF many failures OF public and pri-
yate enterprise among us, which would
have been productive OF good in many
WAYS. Richmond il not large place; it
has comwratiyely httle acquired wealth,
and therefore any scheme which il large
enough to aim at the advantage OF the
whole community must De supported by
all who are able, irrespective OF any differ
ence of creed, society, age, or aeX. There
are nL llllS IilbIfDt WV htAhAb NbA'A
prises started amongst us, the sue
cess Of which would he OF incaiculablc
benefit TO the whole city, and more espe-
cially 10 those who deserve but do not
always get the highest consideration and
forethought-the women. These enter
priscs are q circulating library and wO-
mans exchange for the sale OF female
handiwork. Every intelligent mind viii
own nj once that these arc wants which
have long been urgent; and 1t would be
hard to point out to-day an EngliSh-speak-
ing city of half the size OF Richmond
which IL not supplied in enc or both OF
these respects.
Charleston, 8. c., has had an endowed
library since before the war. Salisbury,
England, with list Of only $4,000 per
wear for varions charities, has formed q
:. Charity Organization Society" az the only
means Of getting al just apporti0nment
Of its funds. Could each householder in
Richmond Of comfortable income be per-
suaded TO unfold the long tGle of charitable
swindings which he has undergone, a
month would amply suffice to establish in
this city not only q woman's exchange to
which the specious prolierers O! roor
fancy work at immense prices could be re-
fcrred, but bureau Of charity, whose
business it would be to look into and, il
proper, TO relieve all cases OF want which
should be brought before its notice.
IL Is to be hoped that the promoters OF
these undertakings realize both the i'm
mense extent OF good which they can do
and how certain they are 10 fail (as so many
have failed before them) IL, like their pre-
decessors, they fail TO enlist the active in
terest Of al available minds on their behalf.
A library established by one or two eliques
in our society would soon die. But what a
pleasant sight it would be to see our best
men and women Of every circle and per-
suasion Joining in behalf OF these two great
objects las Cardinal Manning has in Lon
don Joined with Lord Salisbury, cheer
fully sinking all minor differences and de-
termined only to succeed.
"He who gladly kneels with one who
thinks largely wide from himself, In doing
50 draws nearer TO the Father Of both than
he who pours forth his soul in sympathetic
torrent only in the company OF those who
think like himself"
Lq5orqre est 0rdre.