New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-29

tho life the more despotic the convention. lie
improyidence Is often the OutpOuring or love
and svmpathy n revolt OF human nature against
grinding conditions and a demand FOR neeneu
recreation. rather than the result OF VICIOUS ne-
sires All the questions Of child work ana early
marriage have to the poor an entirely different
ospect from that presented to the visitor Inc
minute she attempts to build up new set or
ldoas I'm place Of the old ones she finds herself
at sea She may unfit people for their sur
roundings. substitute calculation for generosity.
Miss Adams SAYS the poor will help their TEL
lows with n forgetfuness Of self that shames
their pntrons Here Is one OF several Illus
trations:
Another woman. whose husband was sent up
10 the city prison for the maximum term just
three months before the birth CT her chiid, nav
Ing gradually sold her supply OF household iuI
niture found herself penniless she souenl
refuge with a friend whom she supposed 70 pe
living in three rooms in another part OF uhe
town. When she arrived, however s sne " n,,,
covered that her friends husband had peeh OUT
OF work so long that they had been reduced 10
living I'm one room. The friend at once TOOK hel
In. and the friends husband was oDllgea 20
sleep upon a bench in the park every night TOT
a week which he did uncomplainingly' II no.
cheerfully Fortunately 1t was summer, anu
II only raned one night The writer couIu no
discover from the young mother that she n ~
any special claim upon the friend DeyOnd ine
fact thai they had formerly worked together in
the same factory. The husband she had never
seen until the night of her arrival, when ne at
once went forth in search OF a mldwlte, Whu
would consent to come upon his promise OF
future payment
Can that be duplicated among those VINO
contribute" to upft the masses! ls IL an!
wonder that organizations which measure
everything and investigate claims should not
seem friends to those who thus help one another
AZ any cost? Such questions. OF course, suggest
Christian Socialism rs the solution OF the prop
lem If the poor are to be reached the more
fortunate must give up themselves ana ihe'
,,oseessions wholly TO those in need Charity
founded on industralsm will not suftlce frehd-
" visitors from outside are inadequate 1t
would seem as II the old indlscrlmlnate giving
of money plus the giving Of ones self was 'he
thing But the free hand only encourages the
innumerable company Of impostors anu iiiaAes
matters worse instead Of better. 80 we are
driven back TO first sense of unsatisfactory!
conditions and realize that no theory can meet
human needs. 4 system of social conduct
founded on stern policy Is little better than the
penny carelessly thrown TO the beggar ana no
substitute system offers much Improvement
We conclude that there Is no such thlng aS
perfection by formula. and that seems 10 De
what Miss Adams would teach us. she mas
found that the problem Of charity is not one 10
be solved by human understanding. but to ne
worked over, mot even in peace OF mlnd' Win
never a theory to trust in. That Is. 1t Is part
of the problem Of human life itself. Inc poor
are always with us. 10 be striven over ana
agonized over like disease and death not 10 De
abolished by philosophy or formula Such
conclusion may be the beginning of WISDOM FOR
work Is by no means hopeless because OF the
loss Of self-satisfactlon, and rich harvests are
not impossible because the reaper cannot see an
end to the need Of labor.