The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-01-14
WHAT A DOLLAR DID,
A RICH cYNIc RECEIVES AN OBJECT
LESSON IN CHARITY.


LESSON IN CHARITY.
He Saw For Himself Glow the Other
Half Lives. and Learned That AIlsWho
Ask For Help Are Not Humbugs-The
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, know
that you try to do good among these
poor people, but I 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 can induce starving creature
to chuckle, I shall consider the time
and money we'll SPENT, replied the
woman, with 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, "If 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 neigh borhood Of Eleventh avenue
and Fiftieth street. The coupe stopped
in front of On unsightly tenement. In
silence the man followed his companion
up two or three flights Of stairs, and he
soon was standing in a 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 a small stove,
in which scant fire was burning.
A middle aged man lay helpless on a
cot, and kneeling by him were boy
and a 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 chances upon the Wis.
itors touched long dormant chord of
the rich mans heart. He involuntarily
thrust his fingers into his vest pocket,
but his companion, laying 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-
planned that their needs had been called
to her attention only 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 a case of this kind,
and within quarter of an hour bulky
basket was borne up to the desolate
room by the srocer'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 well
bestowed?" asked the woman, as the
coupe bore them swiftly away from the
tenement district.
eyes, indeed, do, replied the man,
with suspicious tremor in his voice.
well, there is list of what I
bought, together with the prices" con-
tinued the woman, handing bit Of
paper to her companion. He took it and
read.