Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-25

Christmas day should bring to those who
rejoice in abundance some thought of the
poor. Many such have already responded
nobly to the cry Of distress. To those, as
wen, who may not have an abundance. bu;
who have the means to provide for them
selves and their households the necessaries
II not the Injuries, OF life, the day should
bring some plying thought for the men and
women and children whose chimneys are
smokeless, whose tables are bare, who are
hungry and cold 1t is not for beggars, OF
tramps. or constitutional oilers that appeal
is made. but for the hundreds Of families
whose means of living have been taken
from them by the force of hard times,
whose little savings have been all doled
out and who in the dead of winter are
brought to face starvation-people who in
many cases make every shift to conceal
their distress. Compared with these. the
families that think they are sorely tried
to make small salaries meet their wants
may be said to be IN happy circumstances.
AS rule those who themselves have been
very near grinding poverty, or whose cir
cumstances are such that period Of en-
forced idleness. or disabling accident, or a
long illness, might bring them and theirs
to restitution, are the first to hearken to
the cry OF the hungering. Their hearts are
more easily reached than the hearts of the
rich Maybe IL IS because in that wailing
cry-in the sob OF the mother who huddles
her furnishing children about her-in the
groan OF the man who is powerless to save
his wife and babies from starving-there is
a familiar note. one which has been struck
from the chords of their own hearts at
some time when disaster seemed imminent.
when the future was dark, and they have
.rx L. an L.
condition Of most OF mankind.-not far re-
moved from poverty. To be deprived of
wages or salary for a few weeks would
bring them to distress. Perhaps it is better
so, for IT makes mems sympathies keener.
In proportion to their means those who. in
their circumstances, are nearest the poor
give more to relieve distress than the rich.
Their names may not appear in public sub
scription lists. but honest appeals are sell
dom made to them In vain. The hungry are
not turned from their doors without bread.
There are many people in Washington who
are both rich and charitable. 1t is hoped
the appeal made for the poor will reach
them and that they will respond with hbe-
raj subscriptions to the funds of the citi-
zenS relief committee. The Star viii be
glad to receive and record the subscriptions.
But to the thousands who can give, but
cannot give much. the thousands who would
eheerfully give a little II they knew just
what to do with their dimes, or quarters,
The Star comes with an appeal and a plan.
1t is to make a peoples fund 1t would not
be THE Stars fund. but IT might be called
The Stars subscribers fund. and that
would be synonymous in the District Of Co.
lumbia with the peoples fund. The propo-
sition The Star has to make is that in every
rr-Nxz
made to raise a small sum of money, a
dime, a quarter. a dollar-there need, of
course. be no limit on the amount. The
next three months will be months of hard
ship to the poor. 1t is hoped that the spring
will bring with It better times. But pro-
vision must be made for three months. So
let the members Of each household into
which The Star goes decide on the amount
they can give each month for three months
Let that amount be placed In an envelope
each month. marked for 1.-The Star Sub
scrfbers' Fund" and handed to the agent
OF The Star who calls monthly to make his
conection. The money received will be
turned over each month to the citizens re-
net comnittee. The Star proposes this plan
because 1t provides a sure means of coIIec-
ton, as the agents of The Star visit nearly
every home in the District during each
month; 1t affords as well an easy way OF
giving, for the thousands, who might think
these necessarily small contributions not
worth sending to a committee In the ag-
gregate, however, even the smallest con-
tr1outfons might make a sum greater than
tnat given by the rich, II the good people
OF washington will take up the suggestion.
Let every one who reads this put his hand
In his pocket this Christmas day, and ut
once put In an envelope the amount he will
give the first month. 1t may be only the
price OF cigar that will not be smoked, or
OF couple Of street car rides that will not
De taken, but let It be something, and the
act VIII bring benediction with f.