The times., 1899-01-08

There is a prevalent notion that be-
cause a thing is done on large scale it
is necessarily we'll done. The evils OF our
public school system are due mainly o
this idea which has led to the hsrdipg t.
gcther of children in numbers too ge
for proper supervision by any one teacher
And We are having an impressive object
lesson in another line OF work in the in
efficiency of our charity system.
The instance of neglect and mismanage-
ment which The Times brought TO light
last week is not exceptional. Other poor
folk have suffered iii very much the same
way from the determination of an agent
to consider all sufferers frauds unless
they can prove the contrary. The system
under which private individuals are praC-
tically prohibited from helping the poor
and the whole business of charity is turned
over to an organized bureau. has its good
points. especially on paper but in its
practical workings it has some very ba!
ones The number of professional beg
gars who strive 10 cheat the public may
be, aud undoubtedly is. very great. but
it would be better to feed and c,othe a
few such imposters than to let a helpless
and destitute person starve or freeze.
Nobody would object very seriously to a
mistake due to kindliness and benevo-
lence, even if it did cost something.
There would probably be fewer mistakes
of that sort made by an organized asso
citation in year than would be made in
a month by indiscriminate charity on the
nh
for establishing charity organization is
not only to save the public money which
might be squandered on unworthy or Grim
inal beggars, but to find deserving per-
sons who need that money. and see that
they get it. There are many poor people
in temporary need through no fault of
their own. who would rather starve than
go about from door to door begging for
aid, but who would gladly accept as a
loan. or repay by any sort of work. money
or food from charity bureau. The sym
pathetic and efficient agent is supposed to
help these people and 10 DO it. through
long experience, in way that Will not in
jure their seIf-respect. Many persons
shrink from trying To help the poor. fear
ing that they cannot do it in the right
way; that they viii either pauperize their
beneiciaries or humiliate them. The
agent of a charity bureau is supposed to
be person with sufficient experience and
knowledge of human nature to help the
worthy poor more tactfully and wisely
than the average person can. There are
people with this gift for philanthropy
and they are the people who should be
engaged in philanthropic work. Nobody
without special gifts has any business in
that calling. And especially important is
it that nobody should engage in such
work for the money there is in it. The
worst evil in our public school system
arises from the fact that so many young
women take up the business of teaching
without natural fitness for il and without
love for children simply because they can
find nothing else to do. The poor and ig-
norant are often very much like children.
except that they are far more difficult TO
deal with. Next to the duty of training
the coming generation, perhaps the most
important public work is that of caring
for the dependent classes. These are the
classes which, if neglected, will menace
the safety of the Republic. The rich and
strong. the educated and intelligent, can
take care of themselves The weak must
be taken care of in such way that they
Will not harm themselves or others.