The record-union., 1894-03-10
THE DISPOSITION TO SUSPECT.


rather trying experience as a child, now
makes talks" to school children in the
cities she visits. These "talks'' are so
sincere, so full of good advice, delivered
il just the way the child likes, and the
little woman's love for children is so deep
and motherly, that it is generally con-
ceded she does not visit the schools to ad-
vertise herself and her dramatic business.
In Kansas City the other day she spoke
to 1900 children, and held their close and
delighted attention for twenty minutes.
OF course plenty of people are found
who can conceive Of nothing unselfsh in
any human activity. They would chal-
lenge the motive of the Good Samaritan
if he bound up their wounds and aided
them, and would doubt the unselfshness
of the Savior of mankind. These people
charge Miss Marlowe with using her
abilities to engage the attention of chill
dren with the low intention Of advertising
her theatrical performances.
This kind of people are off of piece
with a very large group in a certain West
ern city many years ago, who managed to
cut their town out of a great benefit. A
business man of wealth who sincerely
desired to do something with his surplus
means for the benefit of his community,
proposed to set up institutions where the
homeless poor could receive assistance,
such as lodging and food, in return for
services rendered, and connected there
with he proposed to have technical schools
to instruct the children of the very poor
in industries that would make them self
helpful and tend to develop natural
ability and aptitude in industrial direc-
tIons.
But because this citizen attached certain
reasonable conditions to his proposition,
a portion of the community chartered
that what he proposed was for the pur-
pose of advancing and advertising his
business. Becoming disgusted at their
ungenerous criticism and the failure of
his people to rebuke it, the man with
drew his plans and means-in which he
proved himself to be weak; however, that
does not excuse the illiberality and low
selfishness of his critics. When he died
his wealth was given to good purposes
and wisely distributed, but none of it to
the town that failed to protest against the
unjust assault made upon him. 1t was
weak in him to revenge himself-but he
was human.
Doubtless every one can call to mind
one or more instances in which sincere
and praiseworthy public spirit and the
output of human sympathy has been as
unjustly criticised and an sax to grind'
suggested in efforts made by individuals
to benefit their fellows.
Julia Marlowe is entitled to be judged
by the good she does to the children whom
she addresses, utterly regardless of any
influence her work among tn EN- may
have upon her theatrical business. If be-
cause of her good work in wooing chill
dren away from error and implanting in
their hearts the ambitious resolve to grow
into useful and helpful maturity, adults
arein gratitude drawn to see her upon the
stage, what of it2
If all men and women who feel kindly
impulses, and honestly find ways in
which they believe they can help their
fellows and benefit their communities.
are to be suspected of selfish motives. be-
cause their acts or advice might tend TO
make better known the daily business of
their lives, then suspicion must fall upon
every one. For it is simply impossible
that one can engage in public good works
and not be better known and likewise his
business also.
If Julia Marlowe is doing good work
among children, teaching them the neces-
sity for authority, the wisdom Of obedi-
ence and discipline; if by her motherly
s'talks' she is making them more tract
ible. humane, gentle, courageous and help
ful. in heavens name let Julia continue
In her work without being reproached by
the suggestion that she is actuated by
low motive.
To DATE twelve of Tammany's tools
have been convicted of criminal tamper-
ino with the election machinery in and
about New York in 1898. Four of them