The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-11-02

| NNN@-NN- N'A NAAN HlANl tI VI NAGN NNNt " NNV good for this vain world with It's "rrlv- olous diversIons. But where are the children of to-day who would sit down and read this solemn sermon through, or understand, without assistance, it's grave and suited periods?
 A CENT A YEAR.
 There is tradition, the origin of which is shrouded in the mists of an- tiquity, that woman, unless she be very young or very old, objects to being | asked her age, also that her account of the same can never be depended upon as exact. The most truthful of women, so the legend runs, will prevaricate, if she has not the courage to refuse to answer.
 | But is this sensitiveness on the sub- ject feminine attribute only? Are not men also "touchy" on this point? Put the question to the man of uncer- tain age and see if he does not resent it. He may not evade 1t, he may not | lie about it, but his look and manner say plainly, Confound your inquisitive- | ness!
 The reason for this is plain. It is not so much the question, as the spirit of it, that is offensive. Except in courts of law, and in regard to life insurance matters, it is usually asked out of mere curiosity. Whose business is it, except your own, as to how many years you have blessed this planet with your presence. There are thousand and one other questions which are annoying, not because one is ashamed to answer them, but because the querist trenches upon personal matters in an imperti- nent or prying manner. It is not in- terest, but mere inquistiveness, that leads to such inquiries, and that the annoyance of them is felt by women any more than by men is.very doubtful.
 This is apropos to the scheme for col lecting money for charitable purposes by asking for it at the rate of one cent a year, said amount to be placed in a little bag, and this bag to be deposited in a basket with perhaps two or three hundred other bags. This plan seems to be regarded as an ingenious scheme adapted by the prying, for finding out peoples ages. But this is wide of the
 mark There is no intrusiveness, nc
 meddling. Bags are not labeled with
 the contributors name, and there is
 rarely any means of identifying them
 The lady who furnishes the bag does
 not always know who fills it, or if she
 does, she is not the one to open 1t and count over its tell-tale contents. Hence
 as a means of satisfying curiosity as tc
 the donors age it is generally a failure | < r,rJ,n Fo., iriy h plan is a fairly good one. Certainly a
 good many worse things might have
 struck New Haven" If proceeds are not large they are nearly all clear gain
 Most men and women should consider | themselves worth at least a cent year
 to many a religious or charitable cause
 And if the maid of sixteen feels that
 sixteen cents is too small sum to offel
 in aid, for instance, of the little child widows of India, she is at liberty tc
 add sixteen more, or sixteen times six.
 teen, if she chooses.
 And if the maid or the matron of sixty
 feels like doubling the required sum fol the help of the afflicted, tortured Chris. tian women of Armenia, a,-should such
 an opportunity ever be offered-shall il be said that she did so because she merely wished to evade the confession of her years? The point Is that every
 one must contribute as many pennies as the number of their years; should any choose to add to this amount ever the number of their days, who shal object, or even criticize the motive? However, that such an increase tc the required amount may be made 1T order to prevent the diffusion of use. less knowledge" is not to be denied One such case of generosity is known to the writer. An elderly person ac. l cepted from young lady a. bag she
 herself had made. It was of a peculiar
 pattern and color, and easy of iden.
 tification, As this person could not at.
 tend the birthday party" at which the
 bags were to be gathered in, the lit. tie receptacle was returned to the maker : by the contributor. Finding it very : heavy with it's weight of small coin, she quired, Have you not made mis take?"
 Perhaps I have" was the reply, ant
 one cent was subtracted from tht amount and returned to the donor! pocket with the remark, 'ft is right now"
 The bag was afterward found to con tain just one hundred and one cents. ) But the donor was "a man person." And this brings us around again t : the question-Are not men just as sen l sitive as to the point of age as womel , are?
 The subject is open for discussion. HILARY.