Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-11-05
Karnival de Kommerce VS.. Human
Kumtux

While the STANDARD has nothing
but word- "i praise for the ladies COM
pri>ing the Relief Society and their
stcadiaSt cn,icavorS to make its work
effective, it reserves the right to COM
mcnt upon the means employed to ac-
compli>h its laudable object just as
upon any other topic. In fact it
would he dcrclict in duty did it not
point ont. to the best OF its ability,
any imposition which may be prac-
ticcd, whereby their holy cause is
made the means for advancing the
sor,lid schemes Of avarice.
About ten days ago, q couple of
smooth gentlemen, Messrs. Rockwell
& Barnes, of Chicago, appeared and
unfolded a project whereby it was held
prominently t. the front that the no.
BE cause OF Sweet Charity might be
advanced. The plan was, briefly out
lined, to enlist all our business men in
Il typical display of their respective
trades, by the instrumentality of young
ladies, dressed up IN some way to rep
resent the business of the exhibitor,
on the stage Of the theater, amid cal
cium lights and stage effects. The
cost for this privilege was So. The
voice of Charity never appeals to our
generous people in vain and the result
was that about fifty firms subscribed
$50, and the generous public gave
them two large audiences, notwith-
standing sixty per cent. OF net profits,
it was stipulated, should so into the
pockets of the Chicago gentlemen.
Everything in the way of service such
as the pay for music, or supplies, or
for rental OF the theater, it was under
stood should be at the lowest possible
figure, on Charity's appeal, despite the
fact that the major part of every dol
lar thus contributed went to swell the
profits of the originators of the scheme
from the Lake city. And when we
consider that Charity was represented
by beautiful women, what niggardly
heart could resist the appeal, even
though it might be surmised that the
primary controlling power was de-
sire to "ieather the nests" of the
smooth gentlemen from afar?
These "Sly Ephs" stipulated with
the ladies that while all expenses
should be settled on all equal percent
age-50 and 5O-that the dizzy should
stand GO per cent. for themselves and
40 per cent for the charity fund, and
the ladies not being experienced in
such matters, agreed to it. The BAN
ners which Messrs. Rockwell & Barnes
made from selisia and book-muslin,
embellished with letters bought at
trifle by the thousand in Chicago, were
rated by these gentlemen Mt Is cents
each, in their draft upon the gross
proceeds, while the actual cost to them
figured about one-ffth that amount,
including the Sunday afternoon they
devoted to making them. Then but
IA feet of gas was ordered for calcium
effects, which made possible saving
OF a couple of dollars to those gentle
men as their share in economy, al
though it deprived the public the Sec
ond night OF a promised embellish-
ment of the very pretty stage effects.
This, however, was in keeping with the
personal economic habits of those gen.
tlemen, for they hired a room and
patched" while in town to save the
cost of hotel and restaurant bills.
They carried away about 5000 for ten
day labor, while the cause of charity
must be content with $125 for like
period of far more arduous labor and
responsibility.
1t is hoped that when another ap-
peal is made for charitable contribu-
tions the major part will not be di.
verted from its true object by such a
palpable violation of proprieties.