New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-27

NE LIKED 70 BE SWINDLED.

UNABLE TO RESIST DEGGARS APPEALS.
ARGUING Is Favor or PRoMiscuous ALMs-GiviSG
INTERESTING CAsEs
Two old New Workers were discussing the subject
OF public and private charity the other day. One
of them referred the report recently made by the
Charity Organization Society To show that only
small proportion oi those persons who beg ia New
York are deserving of charity even really des
titutc. He argued that t. give aims TO n beggar.
however ritiable bis condition might seom, was to
commit a wrong against society by actively aiding
IT. the maintenance Of n class Of. INSCRIPTIONS
lepreiators upon tho best part of the public He
was an earnest man, one who evidently formed his
convictions after careful investigation and then
based his actions upon them unsweryingy.
The other had jOyial expression OF his broad
face He seemed sharp enough not To 10 east y de
ceived, provided lao allowed his impulse 10 wait
upon his Judgment, which might not be always the
case He smiled good-naturedly at his friends
energetic remarks, aid replied Undoubtedly your
conclusions are perfectly correct and. il we are H.
live simply as political economists we have nearly
all the facts and pretty much all the logic or our
side when refuse to dispense private charity ex.
cept those with whose history and domestic cir
cu;nstanccs are personally acquainted. III all
sbond adopt this course there is no question that
Leggary would cease; the starving and homeless
would be compelled 10 appeal 10 public institutions
for aid tho sick and tho feeble would DO cared for
woven would be forced To work. This sounds like
desirable result; but Is It'll IL is admitted that
not all who ask Tor temporary assistance from
strangers are swindlers aud 10 not the delicacy
which leads mau woman in distress, instead of
applying to public official for public charity TO
ask aims fron one whose face inspires con-
fdencc the very thing that sho US that tho person
il orth sayingf There are strangers in every large
city WHOSE past history can Do known to none with
in their reach aud who sorcly need aid. often only
Tor a day or q week, but who, II they once became
public paupers. would be crushed beyond recovery.
Lave known many such instances. There Is moth
ing degrading in receiving food when hungry, or
clothes when naked or money wit: which 20 buy
cit.ler; but the manner of their bestowal may be
aChurch benevolent societies. and organizations
for the relief of the poor OTHER than those under the
management of State or municipal anthorties are
open, Oh the hand OH account Of laxity, 60 all
the objections urged against private charity, or on
account of careful and almost inquistoria invcsti
cation Of cases brought to their notice. 10 the
charge of degrading the recipients of their bounty
Then think what n nation of cdrmudgeons we
would become If We should adopt the rule of doubt
ing the truth of every tale of sorrow told u.s. aud
refusing 10 feel any emotion Of pity until the
had been officially Investigated and pronounced q
worthy one. Why, I'd rather be deceived in eleven
cases ont of twelve than To- shut myself up In such
shell of ld-bloodcd increduty. l take 1t rs a
personal compliment when ] Am appealed to for
charity and congratulate myself that there must DO
something good in my nature which shines ia my
face and inspires confidence"
Something soft in Your nature, you mean, which
shows you can be easily duped. Come now frankly,
haven't you given ald to professional swinders
oftener than to those who wore really deservingp
"Of course have, but have never felt SO moan
when discovered had been hpmbuggcd as | would
have felt if had not given. suppose have had
about all the tricks played me that are in use.
Some Of them are extremely ingenious. ] was rush
ing down Cortandt-st. some .mo ago with light
grpsack in my hand in haste TO catch train. when
a young and wel-dressed man approached me and
offered 10 carry my bag I rebulled him sharply!
aud hurried along. He followed and said in ono of
fle saddsst tones ever beard Iii carry IL for
n cent. Perhaps can buy cracker with It, This
was too much. l carried my bag, but bo got
quarter. A humbagf To 10 sure lie was but with