The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-01-18
> hat is True Charity.

",'lar,ty iegins at home" or that
shoaid hc the fountain head of true
CHARITY. One should dispense as lib
orally % his condition will afford, Tut
not wit hout the consideration of his
own home, Through every year, no
matter how prosperous or how bounti-
fully nature may have provided for
the labor OF the thrifty, The people
have many appeals for charity. These
are met as the giver may be inclined,
but rs a rule, the people Of this coun-
try, regardless of their own condi-
tons, are too liberal giving without
Judgment or consideration. This is,
however, matter for the individual
not be encouraging and cultivating
the spirit of dependence, unthrilt and
lazyness in the recipient Of his d0na-
tiOns. 1t concerns himself alone, but
when the County is appealed to, for
share of the taxpayers money for
sustenance of indigents and their
families, due caution should he eXer-
cised and the case carefully consider
ed. No family in actual want for the
necessaries of life, regardless OF how
they came to be in such condition, is
ever refused aid, nor should it he. But
where there is no sickness, and able
bodied men are part OF the family,
presumably partaking OF the County's
bounty, it seems wrong to supply such
families from the public treasury, and
q very bad policy to continue the do.
nations.
There are many large families about
the country, dependent upon the
labor of one man at small wages. The
men find something to do steadily
they have to in order to feed the
numerous mouths and clOthe the
backs at home Unless a more rigid
rule of bounty was adopted, generally,
these might be helped ont occasional
| ly. It would be possible to soon en-
courage a spirit OF dependence in most
anyone, that would cause that person
to see the futility OF hard labor,-and
thus enlarge The army OF seekers after
"soft snaps"
Again, the official that allows the
supplies, should make the order him
self, including nothing but the ueces-
saries Of life. Not, "a dollars worth
of Climax and ten cents worth Of
sugar." but flour, bacon, beans, and
such other commodities, not fancy,
perhaps, but that "stick to the ribs. "
IT'S a mighty poor specimen of hui
manity that can't rustic enough
tobacco to eat, If the rest OF his grub
is furnished. AS a general PROPOSE
tion the county can not afford to do
more than this. Ii the applicant for
charity has anything of value let him
do as others do in like circumstances
raise money upon it. Aud if he be
drunken or improvident he does not
deserve charity, although his sins
should not be visited upon his family.
Mason County is very fortunate in
this respect, having but few applica-
tions. still it makes quite an item in
a year. Occasionally complaint is
made to the JOURNAL about supplies
being allowed to certain persons
The Commissioner is not always iusti-
fed IN the expense OF personal in.
vestigation and must generally de-
depend on what he can learn by
inquiry. It might be we'll for the
County Commissioners to pass an
order notifying storekeepers about the
county, that bills for supplies in the
nature of luxuries will not be allowed
and defining "necessaries. This
would be a step toward legitimate
| charity.