The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-10-10
Patience I'm Good Work.

the diSappOintmentS one is almost sure to
meet in attempts to elevate and improve
the people who stand in most need of help.
Many are ungrateful. They do not appre-
.ciate the labor done for them or the assist
.ance they receive. and their querulOus com
plants are made especially irritating by the
knowledge that they have already been
given more kindly attention than they de-
serve. Some are simply careless; they do
not make good use of the opportunities for
advancement offered to them. They waste
the time of their instructors, and refuse to
the latter the poor boon of qualification for
good accomplished. A far greater number
are hOpelessly dull and resist all attempts
at improvement. To labor with such peO-
pie day after day. as many good Christians
do. to maintain an eQuable temper through
all veXatOns. and persist in the efforts to
advance humanity, requires a degree OF
patient persistence which very few people
possess. A not infrequent result of the
struggle is the abandonment of the true
work of the philanthropist. although its
form may be retained. In large cities, for
example, societies are formed for the im-
prOvement of the idle and vicious. The
task is found exceedingly difficult If
schools are organized some of the pupils
are found to be disOrderly. irregular i'm at
tendance and troublesome to manage in
various ways. These are the very best
subjects for improvement if there is pa
thence enough in teachers and managers to
cope with the difficulties of the situation.
But the usual recourse is to get rid of the
disagreeable element. Rules are adopted
that gradually exclude those who most need
nd INN cont nhnV
whatever form it may take. is extended only
to those who occasion the least trouble, and
are. therefore. least in need of training and
fostering care. Churches are freely open
to those who are self respecting. and neatly
.attired, of good moral character; they are
less freely opened or closed altogether to
the poor sinners to whom the Gospel should
be preached. Boys and girls VINO can OBJ
tain references as to their good character
and attainments have no difficulty in getting
into free schools and societies for their
moral Improvement; those who ought to
enter such schools and societies. the de-
PRAYED disposed to repentance and i'm
prOvement. are shut out by rules and regu-
latiOns with which they cannot comply.
Excuse is found tor this in the difficulties
that are encountered in dealing with the
morally lower classes, but it is these classes
that need the attention of philanthrOpStS
and teachers. 1t is much pleaSanter, no
doubt. to teach select class of boys and
girls, all OF whom are well dressed, well
behaved and intelligent. than it is to labor
with ignorance, to battle with vice, and
finally to show only meagre results of the
struggle. but the really charitable work is
that which deals with the most unprOmis.
ing material. There is room enough for
every kind of human effort for the better
fNf y ind hat
great colleges as we'll as for that which
teaches newSboys and bootbacks to read
and write; for that which POUNDS academies
of the fine arts as we'll as for that which
teaches elementary drawing to the young
mechanic; but the difficult work is that
which shows the least in results, that which
deals with the least promising material.
1t is that which requires not only great pa
tience. but great persistence in we'll doing.
He who POUNDS great college with a high
standard of admission finds only good pu-
pills to deal with and each year brings it's
reward in the certain knowledge that his
pupils have been benefited by the instruc
ton they have received. and have advanced
in their chosen professions. But he who
Pounds modest little school to give ele-
mentary instruction to neglected boys and
girls finds his pupils dull careless or in
different, vicious or i'll trained and they
pass from under his care. leaving scarcely
any record of their improvement. though
he may have planted seeds that will bear
good fruit in the distant future The faith.
the patience, the earnest purpose required
to enable one to continue in such work
must be much greater than that required
where the task is pleasant and the results
are immediate and obvious. What is true
of schools is true also of the work of nearly
all charitable organizations. If they limit
the subjects of their care to those who are
agreeable, of good character and reason
ably we'll to do. their task will be much
pleasanter than that of the missionaries who
seek to do good among the danraued and