The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-01-11
yhs Nuissncs Of Begging Lsttsrs-"Ths Poor
Wilder With SIX ChiIdsr."
PevsrtY's Different Vctims-Bsggin g Be-
coming Common and the Public Deceived.
specimens of Beggars' Demands-A Kind
Woman's OOrrespondence-Wha =
Clergyman Wanted-The Gentsel
Begging Art.
copyrighted, 1Ss7.)

The suffering among the undoubted poor
In the city is much more severe than in
the small towns and villages. What q
mercy to them as well as to those who are
necessarily besieged for assistance, if they
could all be transported into some healthy,
not too sparsely settled country places.
But "the poor we have with as always"
Their claims are such as We cannot gainsay
or resist, and no generous-hearted person
has any wish not to accept their share of
the burden, when the application is made
by those who are real sufferers, and make
no appeal until absolute necessity compels.
But there are many classes and grades of
those who call for or need aid, and wide
dissimilarity in the effect they produce on
our feelings and sympathfes. Some make
known their destiTution by letter, either
being at too great q distance to apply in
person or lacking the courage to make
known their poverty, and solicit aid.
Often this latter class are the most honest
and deserving. But those who are dis
fressed and perpetually harassed by these
incessant demands flor assistance soon
learn to estimate the character of the appli-
can't correctly, whether the appeal is made
personally or bv letter, the latter, how.
ever, being by far the least annoying.
Half dozen lines Of a letter will
give one instructive knowledge
of the characteristics of the writer
whether written by. one accustomed TO
that style of correspondence, or by one
whose distress and modification are unmis-
taxable. From a long letter with two or
three pages of lsttery and compliments,
one turns contemporary. Or, beginning
with an earnest appeal to lone so widely
known as public benefactor, [" whose ear
Is ever open to the cry of suffering human
1ty." Or. what is still more offensive, 1.-THE
winter would never have ventured to tres.
pass on your valuable time, bu. in the
watches of the night, while praying that
the Lord would direct our next appeal to
one OF His most charitable servants, we
really did hear voice close by our bed,
saying, Go to -, who will never turn
2 deaf ear TO a case like yours"
One would hardly deem it possible that
any sensible person could be influenced by
such an appeal, but such letters do, for a
while, have some weight on persons living
remote from large cities, or who have not
the misfortune to belong to the public.
But when every mail brings similar doc
Hments, asking, almost demanding, aid,
because 1t would be sin to refuse such
vouchers as these visions Of the night
afford, the waste-basket very soon receives
such messages without the one addressed
Keeling the least pity or compunction.
When the door is besisged at all hours
with class that you see. as you approach
the yestibule window or glass door, are
until startled by your sudden opening OF
the door, when instantly each apron is car
rled to the eyes, and they begin to whine
and wbimper: "The Saints presarve YOUR
1adyshipl Phase help poor wilder with
six childer an not prater in the house,
an the landlord that hard-hearted he's
threatenin' to turn rs in the street the day
IT don't pay the rint, and God presarve
ye, an not penny to bliss meself. The
Holy Vargin be good till ye, but what will
DO at al, at al, If yer ladyship won't
help mer
The heart soon grows callous TO this Oft.
repeated story OF the poor wilder with six
ch1lder and a stony-hearted landlord" 81
cannot assist you" is easily said after few
such similar experiences, ana to hear the
blessings t1rn TO cursiDg and abuse as the
door closes! To give to this class of men,
d1cauts is only to defraud the deserving,
and cast pearls before swine"
But there are others whose sad story,
mooestly and quietly told, 1t is impossible
TO doubt, and for whom sympathy springs
spontaneously, and substantial aid ia ss
far 81 possible, forthcoming almost before
the words die on the blue and quivering
ups Their restitution may be the fruit OF
1Delr own lack OF foresight or economy-no
mat er. III there are any who have not
made mistakes or done many foolish
EhlDgs let them cast the first stone.
Another class-the saddest to meet of
aI-are those who but short time since
lad all the comforts and many Injuries
that wealth can give, but business stagna-
ton and long financial depression. not.
withdrawing their most strenuous exer.
lions TO avert these misfortunes have
swept everything away. With no stain on
their honor, no carelessness in their man.
agement, step by step they have gone
ooWn 70 the most appalling suffering and
poverty, and they come to our doors, not
even yet In their dire necessity will they
ark for aims, only for work, something To
DO, no matter how mental, Just simply to
Keep the wolf from the door and be saved
the humiliation of asking or accepting
charity. These are among the hard spots
N lie Tor which human knowledge finds
no explanation-bard for those who suffer
and We sometimes feel almost as hard for
Inc kind and generous-hearted who have
not the power to even tighten those griey- |
GUS burdens.
These are some of the forms OF suffering !
that poverty keeps before our ewes almost |
constsntly-some that steel the heart and |
some that Waken the deepest commissera- |
tioD.
Then others there are that at the first
glance are laughable, but It is well to have /
had the laugh before a moments reflection |
enables one to read between the lines and |
understand how low a person NAV fall
!Mlsi0rtune5 often assailthe most deserving.
One blow follows another quick in success
Elon, which ali mortal skill seems pogerless
70 avert, and yet while sinking lower aud
lower under every additional stroke. see
ing no path that can lead them out of the
1hick gathering darkness, they continue to
meet adversely with patient heroism. Still |
hoping, If not to regain that which they
nave lost, at least to shield those depend
emit on them from want too dreadful for
Longer endurance. But the struggle is In
vain, the battle Is lost, and, despite all ef-
Tort actuai starvation Is upon them. Death
would be easier than to be compelled to
beg, and Jet what can they do? The most
DaTefuH treasured articles have bean dis
posed Of to provide shelter from wind and
storm, or furnish morsel OF the cosrsest
Lood to children crying with hunger.
now when all mortal power and fntelli-
gence can do to preserve Independence has
been done, the time has come when asking
Lor assistance OF those whose lines have
Ialien IN more pleasant places should not
We looked upon IS a disgrace. Starvation
md death must have less terror TO the
earnest, sensitive mind than the first ap-
preach to beggary, IL only their own In
1iYidual comfort were all that was at stake.
Begging Is q fearful thing, and any one
With any self-respect will risk all depriya-