Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-01-29
WHAT A DOLLAR DID.
A RICH cvNIc RECEIVES AN OBJECT
LESSON IN CHARITY.

A RICH CIVIC RECEIVES AN OBJECT
LESSON IN CHARITY.
He Saw For Himself "How h Other
Halt Lives" and Learned That All Who
Ask For Help Are Not Humbuss-Ths
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 peck.
etbook. of q cynical rich man not many
days ago. She solicited financial aid
from him. and doubtless would have
met with a brusque rebuff had it not
been that her position in society com.
manded polite consideration. As it was,
this rich man essayed to be patronizing
and said: my dear madam, I know
that you try to do good among these
poor people. but I can assure you that
your efforts arc practically wasted.
They take your money and such cloth
ing and food as you can give them and
then chuckle over your gullibility."
eff l Z can induce q starving creature
to chuckle, I shall consider the time
and money we'll SPENT" replied the
woman, with u mild tinge of reproof.
"Oh, we'll, I suppose that you are
bound to keep on wasting your time."
retorted the rich cynic. After "a brief
pause he continued, eff you will DEM
onstrate to ine that you can actually re-
lieve distress with u dollar, l will give
it to you just as often as you can DEM
onstrate its usefulness in that direc-
tion."
"Will you come with mc?'' said the
woman thus challenged. Tho 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 q cherries room
about IL feet square. The floor and the
walls We're absolutely barren, and there
were not more than four pieces of furni-
ture in sight. Ono was a small stove,
in which IL scant fire was burning.
A middle aged man lay helpless on a
cot, and Eneeling by him were u boy
and Il girl SO raggedly clad that their
white skin was visible through more
than IL 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 cmaciated occupants of the
room turned their glances upon the Wis.
itors touched IL long dormant chord of
the rich mans heart. He i%nvoluntarily
thrust his fingers into his vest pocket,
but his companion, laying IL restraining
hand upon his arm, advanced to tho
cot, ana Ill n delicate aud sympathetic
manner questioned the sick man regard
ing himself aud his children. She ex-
planned that their needs ha! been called
to her attention only "a few hours be-
fore. She soon asccrtained that there
WAS urgent need of nnurishment, and,
bidding her cynical friend to accompa-
ny her, she FASTENED to the nearest gro
Gerry. Tro.n long experience the good
woman knew just what to purchase for
temporary ,eliei in II case of this kind,
and within Il quarter of an hour IL bulky
basket was borne up to the dcsolate
room by tho Grocer's boy. Speedily the
fire i'll tho little stove began to throw
out comforting heat, and by and by the
grateful odors of cooking were ditfused.
Then, With the assurance of another
visit and more substantial aid, the dis
penscrs Of good cheer left the poor fam.
lily to their unexpected enjoyment.
"Do you think that charity was well
bestowed?" asked the woman, as the
coupe bore them swiftly away from tho
tenement district.
eyes, indeed, dc" replied the man,
with a suspicious tremor i'll his voice.
"Wcll, there is "a list of what I
bought, together with the prices" con-
tinued the woman, handing u bit of
paper to her companion. He took it and
read:
20 pounds Goa. 20
2Gundles kinIling. Ca
Half pound 10
: H'".es o''aa .OS
2 pounds oatmeal Us
2 pounds beef for stew. III
AA'sh l'SeA1o "uSAA .UO
Gallon kerosene oil 10
Measure .3
quart II .0l
Small bag .02
i box matches. .0l
Total .s!.OO
Without u word the rich man took a
dollar from his pocketbook and handed
it to the good woman Tho next day
she received from him q check for one