Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-21


Last spring l spent an afternoon in the
alleys, taking lesson in practical sociol-
osy, under the guidance of Mr. Wilson
general secretary of the Associated Chart
ties AS We wendell our way from howell
10 novel, my pessimistic soul sank deeper
ana decper In despair of altering the con-
oltlons or Characters of the submerged
Grounded In poverty, and the filth that is
lnseparable from hunger, cold and naked
ness, the people we encountered appeared
TO me SO clearly final equation of utter
uselessness that when Mr.. Wilson spoke.
as he did, 10 several about trying to saw,
some money during the summer l was
positively ashamed of him. To talk to these
people OF saving money seemed to me
either brutal irony or simple idiocy, ami
did Lot hesitate to speak my convictions.
Naturally enough, therefore, when / me,
Mr.. Wilson one day last week and he in
formed me with a sort of maliciously tri-
umphant 1-told-you-so air that heiw.en
ninety and one hundred poor families who
last year at this time were receiving aid
from the District now have bark accounts
was curious to know how the miracle
hau been wrought. learned that an agent
from the Associated Charities makes, Inc
ROUNDS OF the alleys on certain DAYS every
week, and collects the savings of the peo-
pie, which, when they amount to a dollar
are deposited in bank, and the erstwhNe
pauper becomes that eminently respcctahln
and worthy person in community the
posseSsor OF 2 bank account. To know the
precise circumstances governing such
grand transformation. l accompanied one
OF the agents on her round of alleys in The
northeast. where some of the most desti-
tute ana depraVed people of the city reside.
Philosophy of Saving.
Do you understand the philosophy of saw
ing money? Mr.. Wilson has pointed out to
me that in enabling people in the alleys to
accumulate two three dollars TO their
credit in a bank the economy expressed in
dollars and cents is of minor importance as
compared with the investment in an i'm
proved character which this saving repre-
sents. AS these people get a little ahead"
says Mr.. Wilson, they develop a pride in
thelr possessions which engenders self-re-
spect. and fosters self-denial They can
not obtain help from us while they have
this money in the bank and rather than
dLaw on this amount, they will go without
"hat tney want, even to the point of suf-
1erlne. Now, suffering is what many of
these characters most need. Thus their
activities are stimulated: they thus be-
come more ambitious to serve their own
necessities and their powers of endurance
are strengthened against evil to the EXTENT
OF the capacity for suffering they have
This is a theory Of modern scientific
charity which is SO admirable as a theory
tnat when man as earnest in the exercise
or scientific charity as Mr.. Wilson gives
Voice to IT find 1t for the moment almost
convincing. However, my own view of
the matter involved is this:
Saving money Is means of elevating
character only the intention of the act
Is noble one. Saving money for selfish
ends cannot be more than a prudent meas
ure of economy. 1t involves not seif-denlal
but deferred self-indulgence, and the suf-
fering so entailed develops only such
mis-
While the activities of a person thus stimu-
lated by suffering, having no object but self
In view, seek not the best nor even a right
development, If circumstances chance %
| provide self-protection in any channel OF
wronsdoing that will serve the need ex-
perienced. That is to say a degenerate
whose pride In his bank account prompts
him to go hungry rather than draw check
Tor five cents to buy bread has no inspira-
ton but that which comes from his stom-
ach to shape his course. If to steal or if
any otner crime or vice inherent in him
SELF or his environment suggest an instant
means of putting bread in his mouth his
powers of endurance will develop lust far
enough to determine whether he is likely
to be caught. His suffering represents no
principle that supplies him an end of ac-
ton beyond himself, and for this reason his
character will remain the same though
his condition may improve. Scientific char
1ty thus may serve economic, but not moral
eE1s. 1t lacks the I.ogos of Christian char
ity, love-love of God and of ones neighbor
which established as an end of action de-
nnes principle OF conduct that in every
extremity, among all necessities, tends COW
Stantly to direct a mans efforts along the
line of his greatest possibilities Scientific
charity, therefore, while it may accomplish
much for a man, lacks the one thing neces-
sary to enable man TO do the most for
himself. In this lack it violates the es-
sential truth of charity, which is recogni-
ton that all men are equally the vehicles
of divine power. and though by its opera
lions is N no
nature of its theory, forever incapable of
rendering mendicants to the noblcst extent
men.
Scene of Poverty.
1t was with this belief in my heart that
1 set out with the agent of the Asso GATED
Charities, and after visiting fifteen or
twenty homes in the alleys where a bank
book divides the honor of the parlor man
telpiece with an Illuminated marriage Ger
tificate in frame, 1 learned nothing 10
alter my belief.
The first house we visited was one of n
dismal row. and in front of the door
nauseating filth discouraged an effort to
enter. Repeated raps evoking no response,
we tried the door, and overcoming slight
resistance on the other side, we came upon
as pitifuly comic a picture as l ever saw.
Dirt and disorder reigned over everything
the dark room contained, and clinging
close to one another were three children,
the eldest about five, the youngest, a baby,
less than a year. All were clad in the
oldest assortment of rags a garbage barrel
could furnish. The eldest, a little girl, sat
in low chair. mothering the other two.
Tho mother was out washing and boy
about seven years of age had been left In
charge of the family He had more i'm
portant business outside, however, pre-
eumably looking for the footprints of
brother still older, who has already arrived
at the reform school. 1t was lunch hour
for the poor, funny babies, and the little
mother was feeding them-on what do you
suppose? Dried beef and water. The two
yeeF-old baby was able to do his own
masticating, but in order to get the dried
beef in proper form for the other one the
little mother first chewed it herself ard
then fed the macerated mess to the two
toothed baby. The mother of this family
has saved $50. She keeps her bank book
at the Office of the Associated Charities,
because her husband, disappearing Of any
such plutocratic Indulgence as a bank ac-
count, tears up the book when he can lay
hands on 1t, and beats the VITO till she
draws q check for her wealth in his favor
The baby seems to have inherited the
mothers economical tendencies. I gave
him penny, and instead of going cut and
squandering 1t on candy, as his older
brothers did with q similar amount, he
promptly put IT up where 1t can't be SCENT
He swallowed It. I haven't heard whether
ne has since died. If he has. Of COURSE the
uhole matter will be written down in