Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-06-18
Chdritu as She Is

sIfc~ ~
Speaking of dying" remarked a
white-haired, benevolent-appearing old
man, "a man actually came to my Of
flee to-day and told me unless | gave
him immediate aid, he would commit
suicide"
What colossal absurdity. exclaimed
Mrs. Heavyweight. surely you did
not let such an extravagant and dra-
matte threat caiole you into premature
ly extending alms?"
mo, indeed, indignant at such pre-
sumption of credulity on his part.
hotly replied the apparently benevo-
lent sire: recognizing that he used the
threat as means of .eXtOrtion. | sim
ply congratulated him on his good idea
and told him society would be i'm
mensely relieved from useless burdens
if more mendicants would follow his
good example"
This sally was greeted with decorous
laughter and applause, and, after SUI
perfiuous refreshments had been
served to the stated epicures, the COM
pany dispersed.
In another part of the great city diff
ferent scenes were being enacted. John
Hardy was out of employment. He
had labored faithfully from youth to
middle age in the service of the firm
of Clark. Davis q Co. The wage he
had received had never permitted of
any saving. 1t had been inadequate
for the simple needs of his mother and
himself, let alone saving anything for
the proverbial rainy day.
Doubtless. Clark. Davis q Co. could
not pay larger salaries. They said they
could not. and they were among the
Hubs most honorable men," They
were members of Boston's most fash
ionable church, were contributors to
all sorts of well-advertised charitable
projects, and possibly the crediting
of such large amounts to the Lord
forced them into the position of debt
ors to their employees. John and his
mother lived. existed as best they
could on half loaf, sometimes sharing
their scanty store with some umfor-
tunate who had no fraction of loaf.
All, We religionists, torn with doubts
Is To whether the whale swallowed
Jonah. or vice versa, splitting hairs
over wornout and decaying creeds,
vigorously disputing over theological
problems while society is falling TO
pieces around you. turn your attention
ere it be too late to the needs of these,
your suffering brethren. children, il
the religion We profess is true, equal
and all rs one of common Father,
and joint heirs of common kingdom.
Johns many years of faithful service,
knowledge of his dependent relative,
/ the fact that it was the middle of a
bitter cold season; all these pleas had
no influence, no lettering influence, in
the face of the fact that there were un-
| fortunates who would work cheaper
and who We're younger in years than
their old servant.
When an insufficient income wholly
ceases it is but q matter of few days
for the wolves of hunger and cold to
appear, for utter restitution to succeed
/ hidden poverty.
Work; OF course he would any
where and at any price. But there was
no work, All unemployed men know
the bitterness OF the quest for work.
4 Then came the thought Of asking aid
/ of the Good Samaritans, who are sup
posed to be always ready, professionals,
in fact, to bestow u helping hand on
every wayfarer who drops, weary with
| the march of life. by the wayside
I He made the attempt. Proudly sensi-
/ tive. the task vas hard one. 1t is Il
pity that self-respecting poverty will
cling so persistently to the rays of pre-
! iudice and decline to be rated as
paupers. If they would only be reason
able and forsake their individuality
and regard themselves as they are re-
garded by their social superiors, the
machinery of organized charities
would not need lubricating so often,
There was no food and no fire in the
Hardy domicile. The rent was over
due, and the landlord had threatened
election. But why go on. The story
is becoming stale; we relegate these
once startling occurrences to the OBJ
security OF few lines in some out OF
the way corner of our dailies; they have
ceased, more's the pity to shock US; We
are callous to the misery of such every
day proceedings.