The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-05-02
At our Gates.
BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS.

BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS.
The readers of The Independent have
no doubt seen in the daily papers the story
of a worxingman named Sillars. an indus
trious. sober fellow. with wife and child
dependent on him. who. losing his position
in the Cellonite works at Arlington. went
to Connecticut in search of work. He
wandered through the state for two or three
weeks with no success. and at last. penni-
less and starving. was driven to beg a cup
of coffee from farmers wife. The woman
refused it and caused his arrest. He was
tried. convicted of having begged for food,
and sentenced to a months Imprisonment
and fine of $50. This is the lightest pun
ishment awarded in Connecticut, it appears.
to any man or woman who asks for food.
This man, be it understood. was gentle and
civil in manner. quietly telling his piteous
story.
Sillars escaped from Jail and returned
home. but was reclaimed by the State of
Connecticut and hailed back to serve out his
full term.
His wife and child. being homeless and
without food were cared for by some kindly
neighbors. almost as poor as themselves.
My readers will probably recall another
incident which occurred in New York City
a few years ago, which bears the same
significance as this story. A woman driven
from her home by drunken husband with
starving child in her arms walked. one
bitter winters night. from one charitable
institution to another and was rejected by
all. because she had not the requisite papers
of admission. The law forbade her to beg
al any private house. She sat down at last
on the steps of a church. and there. while
the well-meaning wOrshipers passed in to
their prayers. the baby froze to death.
Now what do these incidents tell us of
the condition and temper of the Christian
people who throw starving man into
prison because he asks for food; and who
allow baby to freeze to death rather than
break the red-tape regulations of asylums?
Not that they are wanting in pity for the
poor, or are unwilling to help them. Never,
since the world began. was the feeling of
brotherhood which Christ taught as strong
in it as it is now.
But it shows it's strength by united efforts
rather than by individual action. The Lady
B0untiful no longer dOleS out flannelS. Soup
and good counsel to men and women (every
one of whom she knOws). or feels herself
responsible for their clothes. stOmachs and
morality. She belongs to Guild or an AS
ISOLATION for the Suppression of Mendicancy
and trusts to its machinery to do this gra-
ciOus work for her.
l know all the arguments in favor of these
organizations, and acknowledge their force.
Hhn mr. f<>l1 &c ~,
tramps and professional beggars. 1t is not
the duty of the industrious Christian to en-
courage them by ndiscriminate aims giving
Give your money to the Board of Charities,
or the Society for the Suppression of Beg
gary, and their agents will take care that it
reaches only the worthy poor. etc.
This is all true enough. and the organized
machinery is fit and useful, unless it hap
pens to fall into the hands of mercenary,
tricky men. as it sometimes does.
But it's purpose. be it remembered, is the
protection of well-tO-do people from impoS-
tors. rather than the helps of the poor In
the eyes of the Society for the Suppression of
Mendicancy, or of the law makers of Con-
necticut. every man who asks for food is a
scOundrel and fraud until he proves himself
otherwise.
You, Christian, give your money to the
agents of this Society. and hencefOrth wash
your hands of all care of your needy brother.
The agents will visit him. if they see fit.
He will not dare to ask you personally for
help and sympathy.
This work of protection done by these
organizations is doubtless good admirable
work.
But it is not the work which Christ eX-
acted from you and me, and which he never
intended we should hand over to any agent
or visitor The damage done by these or
CARNATIONS to Christianity is that they offer
to relieve us of that duty and soon make
us willing to Shirk it.
No Christian can throw the saving of his
soul or the saving of his brothers soul on
to board. or committee And how can