Evening journal., 1897-01-21
WHAT A. -D0LLAR.DID.
A RICH cYNlc RECEIVES AN OBJECT
LESSON IN CHARITY.

Half Lives" and Learned That All Who
Ask For Help Are Not IIumbugs s--rhe
Experience Made New Man of Him.
One good woman, who has devoted
much of her time for several years to
the relief Of distress among the very
poor people Of this city, succeeded in
opening the eyes, and likewise the pock-
etbook, of a cynical rich man not many
days ago She solicited financial aid
from him, and doubtless would have
met with brusque rebuff had it not
been that her position in society COM
manded polite consideration. As it was,
the rich man essayed to be patronizing
and said: my dear madam, l know
that you try TO do good among these
poor people, but / can assure you that
your efforts are practically wasted
They take your money and such cloth
ing and food as you can give them and
then chuckle over your gullibility.
"If I can induce a starving creature
to chuckle, shall consider the time
and money we'll spent, replied the
woman, with mild tinge of reproof.
"Oh, we'll, suppose that you are
bound to keep on wasting your time,
retorted the rich cynic. After brief
pause he continued, IF you will dem
onstrate to me that you can actually re-
lieve distress with a dollar, will give
it to you just as often as you can dem
onstrate its usefulness in that direo-
ton -
"Will you come with me?" said the
woman thus challenged. The rich man
assented and accompanied his philan-
thropic caller to her coupe. Both enter
ed the conveyance and were driven to
| the neighborhood of Eleventh avenue
and Fiftieth street The coupe stopped
in front of an unsightly tenement. In
silence the man followed his companion
up two or three flights of stairs, and he
soon was standing in cherries room
about 10 feet square. The floor and the
walls were absolutely barren, and there
were not more than four pieces of furni-
ture in sight One was small stove,
in which a scant fire was burning.
A middle aged man lay helpless on a
cot, and kneeling by him were a hoy
and girl so raggedly clad that their
white skin was visible through more
than one rent. A few empty dishes and
cooking utensils lying on the floor near
the stove told their mute story of desti-
tuition.
The pathetic eagerness with which
the three emaciated occupants OF the
room turned their glanoes upon the Wis
itors touched long dormant chord OF
the rich mans heart. He Involuntary
thrust his fingers into his vest pocket,
but his companion, laying a restraining
hand upon his arm, advanced TO the
cot, and in delicate and sympathetic
manner questioned the sick man regard
, ing himself and his children. She ex
S planned that their needs had been calleC
. to her attention only few hours be
e fore. She soon ascertained that ther
was urgent need Of nourishment, and
bidding her cynical friend to accompa
ny her, she hastened to the nearest gro
Gerry. From long experience the goo,
e woman knew just what to purchase TO
e temporary relief in case of this kind
and within a quarter Of an hour bulk.
basket was borne up TO the desolat
room Dy the grocer pOy' Spetully III
fire in the little stove began to throw
: out comforting heat, and by and by tn
: grateful odors of cooking were diffused
e Then, with the assurance of anothe
k visit and more substantial aid, the dis
o pensers of good cheer left the poor fam
{ lily to their unexpected enjoyment.
"Do you think that charity was wei
bestowed?'' asked the woman, as th
4 coupe bore them swiftly away from tn
|. tenement district.
h eyes, indeed, do, replied the man
with a suspicious tremor in his voice.
"well, there is a list Of what
bought, together with the prices, " col
e tinued the woman, handing a bit &
: paper to her companion. He took it an
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