The morning news., 1892-02-21

The fact is. we are selfish rather than
charitable. Hhas is it 70 a man with a
satisfactory income 20 give here and there
OF his plenty! What, On the other hand is
1t not to poor devil in trouble, whose mind
is worried, whose pockets are empty. in the
center Of whose pathway rises en- unget-
overable wall, to find q helping hand, to
catch kindly eye, 10 encounter an ear will
ing 70 listen. heart susceptible Of feeling
That's where the charity business ought TO
come 10, but that's where it fails
But oeggars are imposters." il is said.
And it is said truly. Very many OF them
are impostors. and they calculate deliber-
ately. saying to themselves: Now. that
man would much prefer to give me S5 than
TO talk 70 me five minutes, and I'll strike
him" That's "a shrewd move on their part,
for as soon as they begin their wall of dis
treSs their old-time friend, who divines
what they are about to say, whose lntui-
tions tell him all that the pleader expects
to reveal, sizes the petitioner up and
determines in an instant whether to give or
refuse.
A DISTINCTION AND A DIFFERENCE.
have noticed with a great deal OF inter-
est that the men and women who Rave
charge OF charitable organizations are, as
rule, very tough hided. Tney know how
often imposition beeaguers the benevolent,
tAuu Iu6N IGkdTu III every
hundred as cheats, as lazy devils who hope
| TO live on the industry of Others They put
| questions that seem harsh in q blunt and
often q severe manner.
The ordinary giver feels a delicacy in
penetrating beyond the outer surface, and
taxes il for granted that what is told is true
and acts accordingly. The consequence is
that S.. 100000 which can be easily traced
run up unQuestionably 70 another 81 900, =
D(nl thrOncb fboS0 Hfrla nfF F-hond honnfiaa
that are given without consideration, with
out thought, by men who crafty their
| own selfishness, their own pride in the Civ
| ing.
The world was never so good as it is to-
day.
Human nature was never so humane,
generosity never so full orbed. Courtesy
kindness of heart. well wishing were never
in such continuity of development as they
are in this year of our Lord 1892.
But charity is greater rarity than ever,
II by charity we mean that outworking
sympathy which induces mankind to take
| each other literally by the hand, to give
literal aid and comfort by word of mouth,
by personal intercourse and by manifesto
tions of individual interest. Thousands Of
men would, have given 800 cheerfuIlv to
the Johnstown sufferers, not one of whom
would be willing to go to Bellevue hospital,
or to Blackwell's Island, or even to
the Tombs. in propria persona. TO talk
with the unfortunate, to console the dis
tressed and to extend the right hand OF fell
lowship TO men made in the image of their
creator" This is directly traceable to the
| habit we moderns have of intrusting our
benehcences to organized bands Of men and
women.
We prefer to believe that the great socie-
ties can more judiciously distribute our
| gifts, but in reality we help our suffering
brethren in this way, because personal COM
munication with men and women, in dirt
and squalor is unpleasant and distastetul,
and in order that we may, with the least
discomfort to ourselves, put the plaster Of
| self~satisfection upon another wise ram
pant and suggestive conscience.
Moral-give freely Of your cash, and don't
be niggardly in personal manifestation Of
interest In the poor.
IOSEprI HnNuApr, In