The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-06

my work. OF course, was powerless
alone. The wealthiest people in the
city held UP my hands"
Then the mans talents are two, l
see. He can work ardently, relentless
| ly; and he can marshal ranks to work
under his direction.
| "Who have been some of your help
ers?"
1T would take all day to name even
a small proportion. The Vanderbilts,
the Astors, Pierpont Morgan and Seth
| Low are names that are familiar to
you. They have given great aids as
great blessings have been theirs. But
there are other names that you would
not recognize and yet they stand writ
ten as proudly because they represent
the Widows mite"
1.-The late Mrs. William Vanderbilt
gave largely through you, did she
not?"
'She was a woman Of much charity,
and she put annually into my hands
100000 to be used, not for asylums and
charitable institutions, but to be be-
slowed personally. She wanted it used
not so much for the poor of the slums
as for the poor who had known the
/ better side of life-the saddest people
that the world holds. I found old peo-
pie sometimes for whom the money
would purchase an entrance to home,
and there are overworked clergymen
who have to thank Mrs. Wander
bilt for a breathing space in the coun-
| try. The money provided respecta-
BILE clothes for men who could not seek
employment looking like Migrants, and
it helped many a would-be teacher to
the necessary training. All but Mrs.
Vanderbilt was a thoughtful woman!"
The bishop fell to musing 1t oc-
i CURED to me that Mrs. Vanderbilt had
not done all her thinking for herself.
Who found out the old people and the
tired clergymen and the would-be
/ teachers? Who did the planning?
You have heard Of our loan bu-
reau?" he went on. ut has been an
odd experiment, some think, but it has
on a sure footing"
You mean the charitable pawn
shop"
The bishop apparently disliked the
name But he admitted that the loan
bureau is that
THE possibility of such thing oc-
CURED to me one day when a woman
] told me that she had nothing left but
I her husbands wedding gift, pair of
| earrings, and that she had tried to
| raise money on them to no avail
thought about the matter and the up
! shot was that I proposed my plan to
DR., Greer of St Bartholomew church.
The bureau has been established in
connection with that church's mission,
and it thrives. Good value is given,
small interest demanded, and where
articles are not redeemed sharp on time
they are held little longer to give the
owner a chance. So very few things are
ever sold. They are usually redeemed
| LOT h11t fIa ont
feel like an object of charity"
/ rs it true that you lived for three
months in the 'slums of New York;"
| Yes, hesitatingly.
| What was your object in so doing?
| l understand that you did not carry
/ tracts"
The bishop has a sense of humor. 1t
| squirms in the corners of his mouth and
makes merry in his light-gray eyes
mo did not carry tracts. AS for my
! object-one must live among people in
order to help them. went to a mission
! house where could find decent lodging
lit is situated in the midst of the. most
destitute quarter of the city. / could not
do much, the suffering is so great, but
l went among the homes and the sweat
shops and I was one of those people as
! far as possible-I made friends among
them and I learned their needs. When
went back among the fortunate ones
could tell them of the need and speak
as one having authority
Il have heard that your family were
| opposed to the experiment"
"Oh, they had a notion that / was get
ting old, at only sixty-three. I am
too old for pleasure, perhaps, but not
for work. And my days Of pleasure are
not all over. I enjoy sociable little din
ners today"