The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-25

che marital and filial relations.
Under the head OF negative benefcence. we
would particularly mark what the author has
to say about restraints on undeserved pay
ments, about restraints on displays Of ability,
and about restraints on praise. Apropos OF
the first named topic, we are reminded that
there Is form OF negative benetlcence so I'M
prepossessng and so apt to be misinterpreted
that It Is little practised. The cases in which a
selfish motive causes resistance to any claim
made by another enormously propondcrate in
number. and hence most people find it nearly
impossible to believe that such resistance may
be instigated by an unselnsh motive.
Proximate effects exclusively occupy their
thoughts: and they cannot see that recog-
milton Of remote pains may prevent actions
which yield immediate pleasure The first
example OF the actions which the author would
deprecate is the following: Poor fellows! I
must give them something" says a soft
hearted woman as she opens the window to
hand out six pence to the leader Of detest-
able street band which. for some ten minutes.
has been racking the neighborhood by ex-
circulating playing OF miserable music. So
saying. she thinks she has done a good act
and ascribes lack of feeling to one who disap-
sion OF this matter by pointing out that money
given in return for something doneis properly
given only when the something done IL
in one or another way beneficial: that Il Is
right to Day Tor the receipt OF pleasure.
but not right to pay for the receipt Of pain:
and that II the principle OF paying equally for
pleasure and pain were pursued generally So
cial relations would dissolve Another obvi-
Gus fact In recalled that every payment Of In
capable street bands induces them to peram-
bulate other streets. INJECTING upon other peo-
PIE their insupportable noises. But the evils
do not end here. II money can be got by bad
playing. good playing will not be to the same
extent cultivated. so that besides diffuse in
Fiction OF pain. there results q deprivation OF
pleasure Yet ono more mischief Is entailed.
The unmusical m usicians II they were not paid.
would abandon the occupation for which they
were unit. and take to occupations for which
they are fit. ant society would then profit by
their efforts instead of being injured by them.
Hero. then. according to Mr.. Spencer. q supe-
fior negative beneficence is shown by bearing
the several pains which refusal to pay street
musicians entails viz. the pain caused by de-
nying the immediate promptings Of sympa-
thy and the pain resulting from misinterpre-
tation Of motive.
Another Of the daily incidents Of town life
suggests to Mr.. Spencer an occasion for keep
ing In check an unthinking generosity and for
bearing instead q considerable annoyance He
refers to dealings with cabmen. He takes the
case OF cabman who demands from his pas
eenger On amount OF money in excess Of his
legal fare. 1t is assumed that you know the
distance well and that you tender an amount
which, to your certain knowledge. not only
covers the legal claim. but leaves wide mar
gin. But the man demands more money;
Av.AAa Nnna
have entered tho house. keeps his cab standing
at the door. thinking to alarm you by his per-
eistency. What are you to dor 1t Is a
disagreeable business. and you feel in
clined to pay the extra sum demanded,
about which you may care next to moth
ing and thus end the dispute. More.
over. you perceive that some Of those around
think you mean in refusing: so. that perhaps,
after all. 1t may seem better to comply with
the demand But according to Mr. Spencer,
n you are swayed by the higher negative
benehcence. which takes into account distant
effects as well as near effects. and the benefit
of the many as well as the advantage OF the
few. you will persist in your refusal He sets
forth this justification for such course:
II It is proper for you to yield. then It Is
proper for all others similarly overcharged
and similarly threatened to suocumb: and 1t 10
OfopoE ehots w tuib procesb' tno ualIy proHtS
of cabmen should be raised. What do We
learn respecting the effects from political
dismal science. as Carlisle called
It much In our authors opinion. as a child
might call arithmetic dismal because OF like
repugnance. The first effect would be great
In the number of cab drivers whose
10 pleasant one for idle fellows, Of
whom there is never any lack. The body OF
cab drivers would be augmented partly by In
hux OF these and partly by recruits from
other occupations which did not yield such
good daily returns. Surprising tho number Of |
hirings OF cabs remained the same (which 1t |
would not. since higher rates would lessen the |
demands OF customsrs. what would be the |
subsequent effects on the enlarged body OF |
cab drtversr The same number OF drives
having to BIO divided among larger numbe
~ drivers. 1t would result that, though each
received more from every fare. he would have
fewer fares. The reduction OF mis- abnormally
raised returns In this way would 20 on until
inc profits OF cab driving no longer caused an
snnux into the occupation-until. that is, 1t has
beeh brought down In its GesIrableness
70 tho same level as before. A con-
comitant effect would he an Increase
IN mo number Of cabs built: for an extra
demand for them made by cab drivers
would De met by an extra supply OF cabs and
m extra rste charged for them: part of the
totai e&tra payments for cabs would go into
tho pockets OF cab owners. There Is yes
another evil sequence to be noted Thera
would come to be superAuous number of
cabs. and OF horses drawing them-a wastefuI
Investment OF capital A supply OF horses
and cabs in excess OF the need implies
Q nAtioA2 Ssss. Nor have We even now