Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-06
Practical Charity.

Gay WncTe tuey wiz -
Iany good, There are enough OF them'
I've have no doubt, to keep the worthy
moor of our city comfortably clothed
oil through the coming winter, If some
well-organized and systematic method
Icould be devised for collecting and dis
tributing them. 1t would surprise peo-
pie to know how many such things are
annually given away by Augusta peo-
ple. in indiscriminate charity, to I'M
deserving persons. Let this fact be
put down with emphasis. THE MAN
OR WOMAN WHO BEGS' FROM
DOOR TO DOOR is UNWORTHY OF
HELP. There are authorities. and
charitable organizations to look after
| lust such people, and the fact that
they do not see fit to apply to these
legitimate and proper sources of aid
| is the best possible proof of their bogus
character. Nine times out of ten the
beggars, is converted into cash, which,
in turn, is invested in strong drink. 1t
would probably amaze the good house
wife, with a heart throbbing with gen.
erous impulses. to know that in giving
the shivering tramp-with his soul
stirring tale of woe-a half worn gar
ment, she was simply rendering him
several drinks of rum! That is precise
ly what is meant, and if she could have
seen that tramp and his pal, they
generally travel in pairs working diff
ferent sections of the city at the same
time-shake their sides with merrl-
ment over her gulliblity as they pack
up their days plumber for sale at
second hand store, preparatory to an
evening raid upon the rum shops. how
her ears would Jingle and her eyes
flash with Indignation.
Not long ago great hulking able
bodied lout was going from house to
house in this city, and with protruding
toes to work up the proper amount OF
sympathy. begging old shoes and rub
bers. His tale of woe was of the most
excruciating character. He had evil
IDENTIFY put about all the real labor of
his life upon it, and it was really, from
a purely literary point of view. gem.
| There was a real Dickensonian strain
of pathos in it. and it would be difficult
| to estimate how many quarts of SYM
pathetic tears. or how many barrels of
! old shoes and rubbers, it eXtorted from
! the big hearted mothers of Augusta.
And yet ii is perhaps needless to say
that this fellow was the cheapest kind
of an imposter. and his woeful tale, a
fairy tale. From Augusta he went to
Bath where he was discovered selling
the plumber he had begged. to deserv-
| ing poor men of the city. in order to
supply himself with rum money.
Isn't it about time to turn down
these house to house imposters, some
of whom are spoilers for burglars, and
give whatever we have to give directly
| to those who will be in position to in
vestgate the merits of individual cases,
and distribute relief only to those who
are worthy of it, and where it will do
the most good. We believe that this
work of collection might well be in
charge of some active, energetic woman
| tn davnfp hpr antiro time n
and who by personal organization of
and acquaintance with the ladies of the
city would be able to make the work
| in the highest degree practical and eff
fective, and to relieve the city authori-
ties of considerable portion of the ex-
pense entaled in the assistance of peo-
| pie who are only partially self-sup-
porting. We are not a specially rich
; community, but we are enjoying the
blessings of a substantial prosperity,
and no worthy man or woman and no
child should be permitted to suffer the
pangs of cold and hunger within our
limits for single day This result
can be brought about without burden
ing any one. if proper methods of relief
are pursued. First of all let indis-
criminate charity be discontinued.
Then let us have central bureau of
collection and distribution with an es-
tablished office to which all cases may
be referred for investigation and for
relief if found necessary. This would
supplement the work of the poor de-
partment. to which many deserving
poor people, in their pride, will not ap-
ply for aid, even when they are in the
: greatest suffering and restitution.
This question of public charities is a
broad one. Imposters yearly absorb
thousands of dollars worth of food and
clothing every year that if properly APP
piled would go far to relieve the dis
tress of the worthy but unfortunate
people in the community. Benevolent
people give, with disproportionate gen.
crosby, of their means and of theif
time to the great work of relief for the
moor and the paady. blt yrbara crol