San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-02-14
A GOOD IDEA.
How Funds can be Readily Raised
to Support our Charities.


ave have several hospitals and
other charities" said well known
citizen to LIGHT man, "that are
doing good and that even in good
times are stultified for want OF the
necessary funds. In these hard
times this financial distress is all
the more harrassing. Now these
charities certainly deserve support
and l think know a way In which
their funds may be materially aug
mented without any material
pressure on the peoples purses.
The system speak of is not new. 1t
has the merit of being practically
tested and of bringing millions of
dollars to charity within the past
few years. 1t is this, in all the
principal cities OF England there is
an annual Charity committee con-
sisting of the leading citizens,
ladies and gentlemen, who or
ganize each year what is
known as "HOspital Saturday"and
"Hospital Sunday" After these
days have been named, which fol-
low each other, the committee go
to work. A few days before CLOS
pital Saturday" notices and sub
scription lists are left at every
store, factory, and other places,
inviting donations, and the en-
ployes are requested to contribute
according to their means, and the
great majority contribute from I'd
02c) to IS ($lOO. The list is gener-
ally with the party who pays sal
aries and is deducted. a few days
after one of the committee calls,
receipts for the money and turns it
over to the treasurer. The amount
thus collected, though Individual
ly small, amounts to thousands in
the aggregate. On this day tin
boxes are placed in many places
| in charge of ladies Of the commit
| tee and their voluntary assistants.
and much money is gained this
way. The theatres and variety
shows generally give good per-
| fOrmances, and the whole proceeds
of the night are given to the FUNDS.
The leading citizens, and those who
can afford to, send their checks on
that day to the committee, which
vary in amount from 5000 to
$1,000. There are other ways, too,
of increasing the funds. This is
how Hospital Saturday" is cele-
brated. Now, as to "HOspital Sun
day." next day: Special sermons
are preached in all churches and
chapels, and collections made,
which usually give rich harvest.
| Within a week collections are all
made, and a report formulated,
dividing the amount, pro rata,
among all hospitals, infirmaries
and dispensaries, according to the
| extent of their operation, without
respect to creed, and the funds OF
each receive a material addition
III know of what L speak,
for have acted upon such
committees. The expense is so
light because nearly all the aid is
voluntary and the newspapers and
printers, with their usual liberality
to charity, provide all advertising
and printing free. I give you this
example and would ask why can't
we have in San Antonio a "charity
Saturday" or charity Sunday" con-
Quoted upon the same, or improved
principles to collect funds, distrib'
uting such funds among all OuI
charities. 1t would only come once
year, would be light tax upon
the people and would give those
charities the wherewithal to carry
on their noble work for public
good. 1t can be done. 1t only needs
action, and l hope to see some Of
our charitable ladies and gentle