Rock Island Argus., 1895-07-20
A CHEERFUL GIVER.
NOVELIST HowELLs DESCRIBES HIS
Tai6UlATIoNs.


sciences Unscstled-A Usually Calm Mind,
bus Compromiss Wa Arranged.
Mr.. W. d. Howells has written for
The Century two papers entitled "Trib-
ulations of Cheerful Giver," giving
his experiences with the begging frater-
nifty. The following is taken from the
first paper:
Solno months ago, rs I was passing
through down town street OH my way
to the elevated station, saw O man
sitting on the steps of q house. He
seemed to be resting his elbows on his
knees and holding out both his hands
AS came nearer perceived that he
had no hands. but only stumps, where
the fingers had been cut off close to the
palms, and that it was these stumps he
was holding out in the mute appeal
which was his form of begging. Other
wise he did not ask charity. When ap-
preached him lie did not look up, and
when / stopped in front of him he did
not speak thought this rather fine in
its way; except for his mutilation,
which the man really could not help,
there was nothing to offend the taste,
and his immobile silence was certainly
impressive.
decided at once to give him some
thing. for when l am in the presence Of
want or even the appearance of want,
there is something that says to me.
Give to him that asketh," and have
to give or else go away with q bad con-
sciencc-a thing hate. Of course do
not give much. for I wish to be a good
citizen as well rs good Christian, and
as soon as obey that voice which can
not dicobcy l hear another voice re-
preaching me for encouraging street
beggary. have been taught that street
beSsgary Is wrong, and when have to
unbutton two coats and go through three
or four pockets before I can reach the
small coin I mean to give in compli-
ance with that imperative voice, GER
tainly feel it to be wrong So cornpro-
mise, and am never able to make sure
that either of those voices is satisfied
with mo. l am not even satisfied with
myself, but am better satisfied than if
I gave nothing. That was the selfish
reason now had for deciding to yield
to my better nature and to obey the
voice which bade me "Give to him that
aSketh," for, Us said, / hate bad con
science, and of two bad consciences
always choose tho least, which, in o
case like this, is the one that incensed
political economy gives me.
I put my hand into my hip pocket,
where 1 keep my silver, and found moth
ing there but half dollar. This ut once
changed tie whole current of my feel
ings, and it was not chill penury that
repressed my noble rage, but chill afilu-
ence. 1t was manifestly wrong to give
half q dollar to man who had no
hands or to any sort of beSgar. Twas
willing to commit small act of Incl
vism, but had not the courage to fout
political economy to the extent of so
cents. and I felt that when was bid
den "Give to him that asketh" was
never meant to give so much as half
dollar, but a cent, or half dime, or at
the most quarter. wished had a
quarter. would gladly have given q
quarter, but there was nothing in my
pocket but that fatal, that incxorably
indivisible half dollar, the continent Of
two quarters, but not practically quar-
ter. would have asked anybody in
sight to change it for me, but there was
no one passing; it was quiet street of
brownstone dwellings, and not q
thronged thoroughfare at any time. At
that hour of the late afternoon it was
deserted, except for the beggirr and my
I hot Ir 1,al
business to be sitting there on the steps
of another mans house, or that had
the right to encourage his invasion 10y
giving him anything. For moment
did not know quite what to do. To be
sure, was not bound to tho man in
any way. He had not asked me for char
ity, and had barely paused before
him. could go on and ignore the i'll
cident I thought of doing this, but
then l thought Of tho bad conscience 1
should be certain to have, and could
not go Oh. l glanced across the street,
and near the corner saw decent look
ing restaurant, and "Wait q minute"
said to the man, as if he were likely to
go away, and / ran across to get my
half dollar changed at the restaurant.
was now quite resolved to give him
a quarter, and be done with it; the
thing was getting to be a bore. But
when entered the restaurant I saw 10
one there but young man Qnite at the
end of long room, and when he had
come all the way forward to find what
l wanted was ashamed to ask him to
change my half dollar, and pretended
that l wanted 4 package of Sweet Ca
poral cigarettes, which did not want.
and which it was pure waste for NE
to buy. since 1 do not smoke, though
doubtless it was better to buy them and
encourage commerce than to give tho
half dollar and encourage beggGry Al
any rate. I instinctively felt that had
political economy on my side i'll the
transaction, and made haste to go baci
to the man OH the steps and secure my
self with Christian charity too On tht