Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-05-06
WHAT A DOLLAR WILL DO.
Rich Cynic Receives "a Lessen in
Charity

A H1ch Cyntc Receives a Lessen In
Charity.
One good woman, who has devoted
much other time for several years to the
relief of distress among the very roor
people of New York city, succeeded il
opening theeyes, and likewise the focll-
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 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 gullability."
IF | can induce starving creature
to chuckle / shall consider the time
and money well spent" replied the
woman, with a mild tinge of reproof.
"Oh, well, 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
relieve distress with dollar, I will
give it to you just as often as you can
demonstrate it's usefulness in that di-
rection."
"Will you come with me?' asked the
woman thus challenged. The rich man
assented, and accompanied his philan-
thropic caller to her coupe. Both en-
tered the conveyance and were driven to
the neighborhood of Eleventh avenue
and Fiftieth street.
The coupe stopped in front of an un-
slightly tenement. In silence the man
followed his companion up two or three
flights of stairs, and he was soon stand
ing In cherries room about IL feet
square. The floor and the walls were
absolutely barren, and there were not
more than four pieces of furniture in
sight. One was small stove, in which
scant fire was Turning. A middle
aged man lay helpless on cot and
kneeling by him were a 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 destitu
ton. The pathetic eagerness with
which the three emaciated occupants
of the room turned their chances upon
the visitors touched long-dormant
chord Of the rich mans heart. He vol
UNFAIRLY thrust his fingers into his vest
pocket, but his companion, laying a
restraining hand upon his arm, adj
vanced to the cot, and in a delicate and
sympathetic manner questioned the
sick man regarding himself and his
children. She explained that their
needs had been called to her attention
only a few hours before. She soon ascer-
tanned that there was urgent need of
nourishment, and, bidding her cynical
friend to accompany her, she FASTENED
to the nearest grocery. From long ex-
perience the good woman knew just
what to purchase for temporary re-
lief in case of this kind, and within a
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 comfort
ing heat, and by and by the grateful
odors of cooking were diffused. Then,
with the assurance of another visit and
more substantial aid, the dispenser of
good cheer left the poor family 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.
ayes, indeed, do" replied the man,
with suspicious tremor in his voice.
"Well, here is list of what bought,
together with the prices" continued
the woman handing bit of paper to her
companion. He took it and read: