The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-24
THE STRUGGLES OF LIFE.
Observations Made by n Philanthropic Lady
of indianapolis

of indianapolis
81 do not doubt Mrs. Beecher's state
ments, really. 1 think the half was not
told of their privatiOns during those early
years OF labor and sacrifice for humanity"
remarked a young minister's wife to me.
during the course of arecent conversation,
in which the subject and the charges
made against Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher
came up. "0nly God and themselves
know it ALL"
''In these later years, when it is said
ministers are better paid than formerly,
most any preachers wife could relate ex-
periences that would give a second shock
to those who now stand aghast in righteous
horror over Mrs. Beecher's disclosures.
The preacher and his wife feel that their
mission is to make humanity happier, to
help bear the cares of burdened souls.
Therefore they do not relate publicly
their own struggles.
There is no profession so dependent as
the ministerial, and as the pastor waits the
convenience of the brethren, he frequently
finds himself in embarrassed circum-
stances. Ii he makes his wants known he
is accused of preaching just for money.
Il well remember one cold Sunday
night shortly after our marriage, | sat
alone waiting the return OF my husband
from his pastoral duties. / was like
Martha of old, numbered with many
things, uppermost in my thoughts was
would be get any money that trip. l had
but one half bucket of coal and our pocket
book contained a lone, solitary penny. |
had no assurance of our needs being sup
v,1ia1 nplsr ~ 20 s&oal fire ha
kingdom of God and His righteousness
and all these things shall be added unto
YOU"
1t is not always those that ask for aims
that are most deserving or most needy.
Many widowed gentlemen, wives and
daughters in our city are tonight not on
the street corners chatting to boon COM
paniOns, but in the solitude of desolate
homes, which, If perchance visited by
court OF inquiry. would disclose little that
betOkened the thousand and one struggles
that those who have seen PALMER days
make to hide the bugbear want from pub
lie gaze. Examine the clean but thread
bare carpet, darned and turned; that I'M
slightly patch that deftest fingers could not
hide, placed so it would come under the
old pianO-sole relic of bygone splendor.
All who shall tel of the heartburnings,
the lueutCLudl Ilah6SDlllS OF IuOSc WHO
sit and weap over their misfortunes, when
hope is dead and the future a dreary
blank? 1t is always the refined and SEN
sitive poor who are most the objects of
true pity. AFFECT hunger and want star
ing them in the face will scarce induce
this class to make known their condition.
NV first venture out after siege of la
grippe was yesterday morning. l had &C.
casion to stop in the transfer car while
waiting for friend. A ladv, whom l had
known Tor many years came In, she told
me that herself and son, young lad, were
out of work that their rent was due with
no money to meet it, and said she, with
tears in her eyes: you know what nice
furniture l used to have, It's all mortgaged,
and my Notwithstanding her deIusive
chain-is gone too, but ohw whispered
she, mo one knows this but you, among
all my old friends"
Fifteen years ago this lady was the fash
ionabe young daughter OF one of Marion
county's high officials.
Iron-nearted money boarding cynics
may endeavor by mathematical precision
to solve the problem of the why's and
whereiores in such case. The question
is not why, but how shall we meet and
provide for such contingencies? POur
critic disposes of the matter entirely sat
isfactory TO himself. Says he, 81 give SO
every year 10 the Flower Mission" Should
be Flour Mission). Surely And your
conscience is at rest and you lie down
night after night sleeping the sleep of
the just thanking God that
YOU are not as other men because, for
sooth, you gave the munifcent sum of SO
for the cause of charity. And don deny
it; you look to see your name announcing
the fact in every paper in the city. Now,
don't you know, or do you care, that the
most worthy poor that walks the earth
would die from slow starvation sooner
than apply to any charitable organization
for aid
Happening in the Boston store | was
accosted by a lady who, before her mar
riage, was a teacher in the city schools.
She married prosperous mechanic and
for awhile all went well. BY united
effort they purchased and paid for com
Portable home; but in an evil hour friends
persuaded him to run for an office. He
won the position but lost home, honor
and manhood. His wife now takes in
plain sewing to buy them necessaries.
good lady last winter, seeing this
woman's daughter, who is striving to be-
come teacher, pass and repass her win
dow daily on her way TO school, with kind
inquiries elicted the fact that the girl was
wearing cotton undergar ments and was in
sufficiently clad, stated the case to a mon
led friend, who gave her a goodly sum.
Putting on her benevolent glasses she got
the girl down town on some pretext, and
taking her to the New York store pur-
chased complete outfit and sent her home
to her mother, enjoining strict secrecy. We
will not reveal any names as we are under
promise not to. But we know. and God
knows. and we Just drop this little incl
dent that you may rest assured there are
persons in our city who do not think it
necessary to sound a gong or advertise in
the daily papers every time they contribute
toward the uplifting of humanity.
This woman has her rent 10 pay and the
landlord stands not on the order of his
coming. Grape on the door would not deter
him from stalking in and demanding his
money. Last month she had been sick and
didn't have it. Cold weather, too, with
deep snow on the ground. During her
absence from home her few household eff
fects were piled promiscuously on the
sidewalk, returning she found the rooms
empty, her two little children having
sought refuge with a nelghbor. Her hus-
band at the corner saloon, drinking death
and damnation at B cents glass, his fam
lily homeless and without bread.
Reaching home / found a lady whose
manner and bearing despite outward APP