The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-01-23
WHAT A DOLLAR DID.
A RICH cYNic RECEIVES AN OBJECT
LESSON IN CHARITY.

he Saw For Himself How the other
Half Lives" and Learned That All Who
Ask For Help Are Not Hunrbus. -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 likew ise>th pock.
| etbook, of a cynical rich man not many
| DAYS ago. She solicited financial aiH]
met with q 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 l can induce q starving creature
to chuckle, l shall consider the time
and money we'll SPENT replied the
woman. with a mild tinge Of reproof.
"Oh, we'll. I suppose that you are
bound to keep O n 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 q dollar, / will give
it to you Just as often as you car dem
onstrate it's usefulness in that diroc-
ton"
"Will you come with me!' said tho
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 n%eighborhood Of Eleventh e
and Fiftieth street. The coupe stopped
in front Of an unsightly tenement. In
silence the man followed his companion
I'D two or three flights Of stairs, and he
soon was standing in a 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 q small stove,
in which "a scant fire was burning.
A middle aged man lay helpless on a
cot, and kneeling by him were q boy
and q 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
2 the stove told their mute story Of destl-
! tuition.
The pathetic eagerness with which
the three emaciated occupants OF the
room turned their glances upon the Wis
: itors touched a long dormant chord OF
the rich mans heart He Involuntary
thrust his fingers into bis vest pocket.
but his companion, laying q restraining
hand upon his arn, advanced to the
cot, and in q 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 O few hours be
Q fore. She eoon ascertained that Their
was urgent need of nourishment, and
bidding her cynical friend to accompa
ny her, she FASTENED to the nearest gro
3 Gerry. From long experience the goot
woman knew just what to purchase TO
temporary relief in a case Of this kind
and within O quarter Of an hour a bulk.
: basket was borne up to the desolat
" room by the grocer's boy. Speedily tn
fire in the little stove began to throw
d out comforting heat, and by and BY tn
q grateful odors of cooking were diffused
Then, with the assurance Of anothe
Is visit and more substantial aid, the dis
pensers of good cheer left the poor fam
y lily to their unexpected enjoyment.
d do you think that charity was wei
ls bestowed?" asked the woman, as tn
n coupe bore them swiftly away from tn
IL tenement district. -I
10 Eyes, indeed. 1 do, replied the mat
r. with a suspicious tremor in his voice.
J. well, there is a list Of what
Of bought, together with the prices" COZ
o. tinued the woman, handing a bit
ut paper to her companion. He took it an
read:
rs pounds coal. .