Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-24
WHAT A DOLLAR DID.
A RICH cYNlc RECEIVES AN OBJECT
LESSON IN CHARITY.

Half Lives" and Learned That An Who
Ask TOR Help Are Not Humbuss-Ths
xxperience Made . New Nan Of Him.
One good woman. who has devoted
much Of her time for several years to
tho relief Of distress among the very
poor people Of this city, succeeded in
opening the eyes. and likewise the pock-
etbook. Of q 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, 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."
eff I can induce o starving creature
TO chuckle, shall consider the time
and money we'll SPENT" replied the
woman, with mild tinge Of reproof.
ooh, well. suppose that you are
bound to keep on wasting your time, ="
retorted the rich cynic. After brief
pause he continued, 'sIf you will DEM
onstrate to me that you can actually re-
lieve distress with dollar, will give
it to you just as often as you can dem
onstrate its usefulness in that direc-
tion."
"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 IL 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 a small stove,
in which scant fire was burning.
A middle aged man lay helpless on a
cot, and kneeling by him were q boy
and o 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 glances upon the Wis.
itors touched long dormant chord of
the rich mans heart. He involuntariIy
thrust his fingers into his vest pocket,
but his companion. laying restraining
hand upon his arm, advanced to the
cot, ana in delicate and sympathetic
manner questioned the sick man regard
ing himself and his children. She ex-
planned that their needs had been called
to her attention only q few hours be-
fore. She soon ascertained that there
was urgent need of nourishment, and,
bidding her cynical friend to accompa-
ny her. she FASTENED to the nearest gro-
Gerry. From long experience the good
woman knew just what to purchase for
temporary relief in case of this kind,
and within quarter of an hour bulky
basket was borne up to the desolate
room by the grocer's boy. Speedily the
fire in the little stove began to throw
out comforting heat, and by and by the
grateful odors of cooking were diffused-
Then, with the assurance of another
visit and more substantial aid, the dis
pensers of good cheer left the poor fam.
lily to their unexpected enjoyment.
DO you think that charity was we'll
bestowed?" asked the woman, as the
coupe bore them swiftly away from the
tenement district.
eyes, indeed, do, " replied TIE man,
with suspicious tremor in his voice.
well, there is list of what I
bought, together with the prices" coz
tinued the woman, handing q bit of
paper to her companion. He took it and