St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-18
CoRIE DAVIS.
WOMEN ON uUaMITrEEs

WOMEN On COMMITTEES.
johanna Hints the World Is Des-
tined to Become a Great Charity
Ban.
Written for the Globe.
"One day last week ! saw tired
woman throw herself down i'll weary
heap upon the sofa, and when her hus-
band asked: 'My dear, are you very
tired?'' she responded snappingly,
"Don't speak to me; Eve been on a
committee all day." He had had suffi
cient experience to know that under
those circumstances silence was safest,
so he bottled his reply auout charity be-
ginning at home. [ think the adage
should be changed to charity begins in
the WINTER and l might add, beggars
do also. To this class belong not only
the ragged, forIOrn, hungry children;
the hapless drunkard'S wire, the for
saken aged; but church beggarS, hos
pital beggarS, missionary beggars,
bazaar beggars. ball beggars--all sorts of
beggars--Degin at this season to be-
siege us. They seek our home. penetrate
our scant pockets sadden our hearts
and make us feel that to refuse to put
our name to the bottom of that dingy
paper is disgrace worse than going to
the penitentiary. and we should there
after be summed and Snubbed by the
set in which we move. 10 this class OF
mendicants | myself belong. Once ii
week | attend meeting oI society
which originates many OF these methods
for raising money. Nine or ten ladies,
all interested in the good works. sit
around the president gravely making
motions. and just here let Inc say that
the importance of a woman who makes
a motion is only equaied by that OF the
small boy wearing his first pants. Our
society is given good deal to making
motions and doing little else, in fact,we
are living. breathing demonstration Of
perpetual motion. Inc outcome OF 1t al
is, after sitting most OF all afternoon in
the most parliamentary manner, brlSt-
ling with dignity and casting votes,
mauifesting the same by raising our
hands until partial paralysis sets in; we
agree to take around subscription
papers and solicit aid. and woe be unto
the member who brings back an empty
paper. Millstones are nothing to the
ScOru of the women; I'd rather have Il
whole mill tied around my neck. Yes,
we must force ourselves in public
places, endure the c0ntumely of the
entire popuIace and have people run
from us as from plague. What is to
be the end of it all, wonder? Will
the universe be turned to charity
ball? Will 1.-The sea and all that
therein is" become missionary
comm1ttee? Or will the citizens
arise in their might and slam their doors
in our expectant faces? At least, we
who beg can sympathiZe with each
other, and the past week has each day
appealed to me with fresh instance. |
was first attacked by city missionary.
then two tiny tots visited me with a
paper for nursery fund: no sooner
had they left than my waslerwoman
appeared. Now" L thought, there is
at least one disinterested, inoffenSive
Specimen OF the human race" My faith
was broken. however, in a few moments
when she drew from her pocket paper
of doubtful color and asked me to look
at 1t. 1.-The ladies of the - church
would be grateful for any fancy work
for their bazaar, etc, etc." With sigh,
took the toilet mats from my bureau
and cast them at her feet. Then |
looked at the hole in my shoe
and wondered if she wanted my Sun
dav bonnet. Just then the bell rang
and the girl said an old lady would like
to see me. / ran down and found my
visitor an ancient dame. who did not
introduce herself at all, but branched
out into lengthy conversation about
herself. her family, the cold weather,
which she found hard, after having
been raised in warm country; the
election and many other subjects, and
finally she added, i've got an awful
sore mouth. and I'ye tried everything
everybody has told me for it, but it
don't do no good, and think if l had
some store teeth it would help it. least
wise the doctor he said so: SO | thought
certainly the good, rich folks inst. Paul
would give me some if | aXed 'em, but
Eve been to heap of places and no.
body has given me nothing yet"
[ looked at her comfortable, even,
nice looking clothes. for her appearance
was lady-like, and asked her if her chill
dren could not help her. YES" she
said, 81 live with my son, Ind he is very
good about doing some things for me,
but he is married and his wife is very
fnnicky and hires sight of help, and
that takes so much, and she don't think
much of me noways. and she thinks /
don't need no teeth; but | do. and l
want folks to give 'em to me-" Now
this novel commodity can be had lin few
houses for the asking, and I'm confident
/ need all my Owl, SO could give her
but little comfort, and she hobbled Off
to the next house. My last applicant
was an old woman of not so progresses
ing an appearance, and she had evil
IDENTIFY just laid aside her pipe. She
told a very pitiful story. and my SYM
pathies were aroused. Have you a
asked. s'OE, yes" she re-
piled. well, can't he help you? What
does he de?" "Oh. he gets drunk" she
answered, in the most matter-of-fact
tone, as if his profession was an ordin-