The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-09
Cold Charitu

EDITOR Morning Nei0s There is a won
derful quantity of truth in the saying. "One
half of the world does not know how the
other haI lives" And there is a good deal
Oh truth IN this. that the one-half does not
care how the other half lives. whether in
suuering pain, want, or a kindly thought of
SonSlueration. IL jesus taught anything by
MS preaching and examples il was the
CHRISTIANITY OF humanity; h fellow-feeling
lot eac1 other; the loving of ones neighbor
WIN Il kindly consideration. The silver rule
OF NE Is the doing of a kindly act in a kind
~ way. Cold charity is no
charlty at all, for many times it is a cold
Insult; that have often seen, for the gift
was gwen In such a way as to carry a kind
or insult or a spirit of hauteur about il that
wounded deeply.
Two Grecian philosophers of the past
were standing together on the streets of
Athehs, when pauper came up and asked
Tor money to buy bread. E,caines gave
MN money, when Calippus said "Do YOU
not Know that he viii buy drink with it?n
gave him what no asked for" said
-t-scalnes. lie did not ask for advice or
lecture. l saw his want and gave him
money to relieve his want" There was
SOUND, practical philosophy in that. Buu
snere are suffering and want that are never
known; for there is q pride.of spirit, a sem
sitlVeness OF nature, suffering spirit of dig
NIFTY that can never ask for cold charity.
Charlty Is not what such natures want,
out simply assistance in the WAY of work to
make n living and feed fatherless family.
The quiet, patient suffering of some in Sa-
Vannah who are struggling to support
themselves and their Children is known
perhaps to only few. Widowhood, with
all OF its attendant cares; q father and bus.
band who lived and toited at starvation
wages-wagss which could only support
family while one lived, and at death not a
dollar in the house; such cases Of widowhood
cali not for the cold charity
OF the world. but that consid-
crate attention which would put
work in her hands. AS one said: az am
willing to work early and late, to live hard,
but charity Is too bitter for my lips. How
many such charities cast in the finer
mould OF birth and early surroundings
How many are there who were born and
lived in comfort and ease until middle life.
when widowhood and poverty came to-
gether to that home, and suffering, both
mental and physical took possessionl
What | desire, Mr.. Editor, by writing
this article, is to call attention to that COM
mon sense charity which should govern cur
actions in life.
To give without an equivalent is one
thing; but to give for a consideration is
another thing. One has sharp sting to it;
the other kindly consideration. A mer-
chant who runs store asks the charity of
support by simply asking trade. "Give
me your trade says he, land l will give
you good bargains" Give me work says
the widow, 80 that may feed my father
less children, and l do no5 ask charity; do
not want it; will give u Quid pro quo for
your kindly consideration in supporting
me. Trade with Inc and do not help those
who can live without assistance, when am
in want of work"
Common sense charity does not look to
foreign lands to help the heather; nor does
it, as it did in the days of slavery, look to
the interest and comfort of the "poor
negro" who had a plenty to eat and a home
and q master and be totally blind TO the
white slavery at the very door of the
abolitionist and fanatic that saw want in
the eyes Of the starving whites, and prosti-
tuition by the thousands on the streets to
make support.
Such charity is not wanted; but charity
which will give work daily to those who
seek it eagerly. Why cannot some kind of
factory be established in Savannah which
would have an eye single to the wants of
widows and others who will never openly
ask cold charity from the hands of any one?
The teachings Of Jesus meant that or they
meant nothing.
Says George Mason: 81 have no respect
for that se!f-ooasting charity which neglects
all objects Of commseration near aAd at
home, but goes to the end of the earth in
search Of misery for the purpose of talking
about it.n The man who builds fine house
is distributing charity by giving work to
those who need it. Let there be an organ
lied society in Savannah to give work TO
those who need and want it, aud will con-
slider it blessing given in the right and
proper way. Win the followers of Jesus
give practical turn and illustration to his
teachings by illustrating the Christianity
of humanity and love for our fellow-beings.
and especially the widows aud the father
less! r. NJ. o.