Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-08

| buviny ~ an article that he needs Simply
J because he coula not get II on a certain
| dav Go n great many losses exist only III
| th, figures Of these statistical cranks.
Financially Richmond sustained a tem
porary loss. There were Individual loser'
| who deserve our sympathy. for II Is MARI
for one who has given to his usine th'
host efforts OF his hand and brain to nave
ii smashed. =.
nut I'm the long run Richmond will be
financially, socially. and morally pene'
flied by this storm.
Man Is a creature OF sentiments ane
| emotions, but continued prosperity makes
machines Of us all. We necessarily stcF
TO our business, the sordid passion grow
| on rs and outside OF our business rela'
| tons all the rest Of our ~neighbors pecoh'
az much estranged from us as II they
lived in the Antipodes. Society splits NJ
into cliaues. the gulf between the GU
forent classes widens and deepens, indif'
ference breeds hatred. and hatred riot enc
| bloodshed. II is like sowing dragons
teeth. that all spring up armed men,. =.
Rut there comes a great calamity
as naople call II, a 80 snow-storm, ina
closes all places of business wheh II .,
not a holiday, breaks up the rallroau "nu
steamboat schedules. gives the motormdn
and everybody a day or two OF, anu lays
all our resolutions on the table.
Then the busy man stops 10 thlnh d
moment. He hears the cry or distress
his sympathies are aroused, ana one
more he feels the blessedness of worKihs
for and giving TO his poor n~eighbor; once
more his poor n%eighbor feels gratltuue lol
n cheerful gift timely bestowed. ana the
two feel nearer TO each other ever &ller'
The well-to-do man who was cauSh'
out OF coal found out, for the hrst tIme'
that he had a big-hearted, generous
neighbor on the same block. VINO was
willing to divide his coal, II dld u hAe
an old-fashioned Virginlan Ito the man
ner born" Then he regrets hat he has
not known this man before, and they a.
friends after the snow.
The poor of the city feel the grateful
contact of the organized charities OF the
weIl-to-do, and find that they are remem-
bered i'm this time Of need, and a COM
munitv of feeling is fOstered. which Will
rebound to the good of anu
which cannot be calculated in dollars ana
cents. >,
81 was a looker-on here in Vienna
I loved Richmond before. because l mad
suffered and bled in defence OF her. l
know she will, like ancient Troy, stdhu
out on the page OF the Worlu ; h'9,oiy -
a gem, on account of deeds Oh 'diot uohS
by her brave defenders.
But I love Richmond more to-day. But
for this storm / should never nave seen
the heroic efforts Of individuals ana Of
the benevolent organizations for the re-
lief of the suffering poor; / should never
have seen the prosperous businessman
doing labor for his less fortunate neigh
bor. and | should never have beheld the
genteel little miss carrying, with her own
hands. a basket of coal to some destitute
and feeble old lady. ,
II Richmond is not proud of her record
in this crisis, she ought 70 be. she mas
lost in dollars and cents, but If the respect
and admiration Of her neighoors ana oI
strangers within her gates Is worth any
thing, then she has gained.
1.-THE purest treasure mortal times alloIu
Is spotless reputation. that away
Men are but guided loan or painted cay
March /. 1893.