The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-10-12
VAGRANCY.
Is II An EViIP If SO, by what
Means May 1t he AbatedP

Means May 1t he AbatedP
No one doubts that vagrancy isanevil
and no man who thoughtfully survey
his surroundings can deny that the evil
steadily increasing. No truer wordseve
found place in Holy Writ than these
"The poor ye have always with you,
and 1t is by no means the object of thi
article to discourage that sympath,
which our divine Master taught by pre-
cept when he added "Whensoever We will
ye may do them good" and by exampl,
every day and hour of His ministry.
Nor would we intimate that only thos,
whom we are wont to style 1.-THE dcserv
ing poor" should receive the aims anC
help of charitable people. We find ne
qua' }ying adjective in the sentence abov,
quoted, but we would rather draw atten
tion to the last word of the final text
"Whomsoever ye will We may do then
GOOD"
How is this good to be done? MANY
christian people seem to think that they
obey this injunction by an indiscriminate
bestowal OF aims upon every beggar that
approaches them. They scarcely take
time to consider whether in many cases
this conduct may not be tartheSt re-
moved from doing good" to the poor
wretch who, abandoning all self respect
adopts this method of cleaning a lveli,
hood, because he finds it easier and less
tatiguing than honest, faithful work.
Such christians should ask themselves
'ls this really charity" Cannot anyone
see that it is much less of sacrifice for a
millionaire to give So to a beggar than
to take five minutes of his time to invest
igate the case, and to inauguratc some
| plan by which the brother or sister, as
the case may be, may be elevated to the
| plane of a human being?
Of course it is much easier to any of us
| to throw down a small coin as a Salve to
our conscience, and under it's soothing
influence to walk away with head erect
and hugging to our breast the thought,
How good and charitable we are!"
The constant repetition of this conduct
produces its natural result. The beggar
is encouraged in his vagrancy, and others
are induced to abandon perchance
struggle for an honorable support be-
cause they find that without labor they
Suh hNS at lHC ca pSlSS vi OlHeTS.
The effect is becoming apparent even in
our own little town. The number Of
beggars is rapidly increasing, chiefly by
emigration from adjoining counties,
whose inhabitants act in manner more
wise and more truly charitable. Only
day or so ago we overheard a blind ~
beggar abusing donor for having given
him only dime, and we marveled how
quickly his eyes had been opened to the
smallness of the coin. How much better
if the donor had taken care to find out
whether the applicant was really blind,
or was the impostor that his conduct
proved him to be.
We think there is one remedy for va
grancy, if our people, both resident and
visitors, will only acquaint themselves
with its methods. This remedy is to give
liberal support to that organization of
good women Who haYc banded them.
selves together for the express purpose of
being the almoners of those who may not
have time to investigate each case of
poverty for themselves. This society is
known as "The Flower Mission, as they
started out with the modest ambition to
carry sweet flowers to the bedside of the
sick and suffering. But as is ever thecase
willing hands and loving hearts found
broader fields to spread out before them,
and bravely have they grappled with
their problems. The whole city has been
divided into wards, to each of which a
subcommittee attends closely. Every
person in destitute circumstances is
promptly visited and helped in manner
most calculated to make him soon regain
his independence, and never to forget his
self respect. To the professional beggar
this society is perfect horror. He knows
that he stands but slight chance to hum
bug these wise, practical women; he
knows that his claims for help will be
investigated promptly and fully, and as
this is just what he does not desire, he
comes not near them, but prefers to go to
the wealthy visitors with his false state
ments, and perhaps with his slanderous
reports of the Flower Misslon-that
these good ladies are neglecting him, and
squandcring on their tavorites huge sums
that are placed in their hands for distri-
button.
We urge anyone who has the heart to
do a truly charitable act to contribute
according to his means to the support of
this Mission, and whether they do so or
not, to abandon the indiscriminate be-
Stowal of aims, but to refer each and
every applicant to the proper committee
lady, whose whereabouts can be learned
at any moment of any of the stores Of
Ashcville. This will certainly have the
immediate effect of abating the great and
growing evil of vagrancy. p.