Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
Charity That Doesn't Count.

II is growing cold and we are nearing the
= Christmas holidays; the shops begin to take
on their brilliant winter aspect and the tramps
who snooze in the sun on the otherwise de-
serted park benches draw their rags little
closer about them and present more miser
able appearance in contrast with the general
expression of human happiness. The poor we
have always with us-the same now as when
Christ was upon earth preaching the gospel Of
mercy and charity. l wonder what He would
say of the laIter-day Christian religious system
if He could walk the streets of New York after
nightfall and spend Sabbath among our mag
nifcent churches! Would He approve OF US?
Or would He go down into Wall street in
wrath and overturn the tables of the money
changers? And if He did would He be locked
up as vagrant and sent to the island for ten
daysf
Vast sums of money are spent here annually
upon doctrinal exploitation of the Scriptures,
the great bulk Of it going into the fashionable
churches, fashionable preachers and fashion
able charities. That much good is done and
many unfortunate human beings are relieved
is unquestionable. 1t is, nevertheless, fact
that from the humanitarian point of view OF
the Christ $40 of this expenditure for church
purposes of every kind goes for appearances
where 81 goes for the real elevation or relief of
the human race. The benevolence which ex-
pends itself upon street cats and dogs and shuts
Its eyes to the homeless men. women and chill
dren is not more repulsve to the humanitarian
than the idea embraced in religion for only
such thing as a shelterless and starving human
being in this great country-at least not within
reach of rich and powerful church organiZa-
tions There are people, doubtless, who would
not contribute l cent to 4 relief fund unless
the money was to go to ireland or Africa, or
some efar-away-place-no, not If they stumbled
over a half-naked, half-starved human creature
right here in New York at every turn. But
there are plenty of generous people who would,
were it made fashionable, place their charities
where they would do the most good to the
st. aE1.,.
their lay brethren and sisters who became un-
duly agitated over the political situation in
this city recently would organize such cam
paign as this they would be laying up surplus
where moth and rust do not corrupt nor poll
ticians break through and steal.
Expansion of Brooklyn Bridge.
IF you should cross the Brookly bridge one OF
these cold nights and return on a warm,
sunny afternoon, you would have about three
feet further to walk on coming back. That is
to say, the contraction and expansion of the
entire length of the structure ranges some
three feet. To provide for this there are three
sliding connections, one for each span-other-
wise the continual stretching and shortening
of the whole would soon break it in two. If
YOU will examine one of these sliding connec-
tions on a sudden change of temperature you
can almost see the wonderful operation of na-
ture Just as you can see the minute hand of a
timepiece move by close observation. The
breaks in the roadway will show you where the
connections are. These are formed by over
tapping, SO as TO cause one part of the road to
slide upon the other and the "T'' rail of the
car track has similar provision. Perhaps You
will remember when you see all this that it is
the key of the iron bridge problem which both
ered bridge builders, and the solving of which
problem alone made such immense spans pos
sible.
New York Won't be Left
THERE is a very strong probability that New
York will have celebration in commem-
Grafton of the discovery by Columbus in 1892
whether such celebration is held elsewhere or
not. There is now plan on foot looking to the
organization of a committee of capitalistsSyith
this end in view. A large amount of money can
be raised for such a purpose. The ill-feeling
engendered by the defeat OF the Worlds Fair
nro1ect for this city has not wholly passed
away. There is strong sentiment IN favor of
holding a celebration of the landing of Column
bus here and making it very memorable occa-
sion This will in no wise interfere with the
greater Worlds project at Chicago; in
fact. it will act as an advanced agent for the
greater event in the West. Thereare a great
many people. chiefly New Workers. who be-
had here in given space OF time for such a
celebration than can be obtained at Chicago
Whatever effort is made one thing is certain,
it will be attended with success. Plenty vi
money will be forthcoming through properly
oroanized committee to make October, '92. an
era in metropolitan history to be remembered.
A Chinese Financier.
pRoBABtY one of the most mysterious per-
sons about New York hotels is Count Nit
kiewicz. of American-Chinese banking no.
toriety. 1t will be remembered that the Count
succeeded in forming a syndicate and organ
izing banking system for the Chinese EN-
pire in which he received concessions from the
Chinese Government of very important char
aeter These concessions. in fact were OF such
Importance that they startled the whole fnan-