The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-22
MIsDIRECTED CHARITY.

During the course of a recent interview
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie is quoted as having
said: MY opinion is that out of every
$1,000 bestowed on so-called charity. $3.50
had better been thrown into the sea"
The statement by so eminent an authority
on charity work-and Mr.. Carnegie is en-
titled to the distinction of being called
eminent in such work since he has given
away upwards of $12,OO0,OO0 to various
charitable institutions and objects-that
only per cent. of the contributions given
to charity do good. is almost sensational.
Ninety-ive cents out of every dollar. he
thinks, had better be thrown into the sea
than be bestowed as at present. That
means that in Mr.. Carneges opinion the
vast majority of charity contributions are
doing more harm than good.
That evil results should flow from 95
per cent of the good intentions of charity
givers, or rather the tangible proofs of
their good intentions, is an anomalous and
far from gratifying circumstances, if the
statement is correct. And is there anyone
who can say with authority that 1t is in
correct? Mr.. Carnegie has no doubt given
careful attention and deep study to charity
work, and based his expression upon
good grounds. 1t is very well known that
there are In all cities and in a great MANY
rural districts, persons who are able TO
work, but who are confirmed and profess
sional mendicants. They beg on the
streets, on the highways, at back doors
anywhere and everywhere, under all cir
cumstances. Many of them in the larger
cities derive considerable incomes from
their appeals to charity. 1t has become
not at all uncommon for the newspapers
to chronicle the death of some supposed
pauper whose life has been spent in beg
ging, but who after death was found 10
have been possessed of considerable prop
erty in real estate or ready cash. or both.
In New York not long ago a man who had
been a familiar figure as beggar. and
was supposed TO be penniless, was found
to be the owner of several fine houses and
to have bank accounts of many thousands
of dollars, most of which was the pro-
ceeds of his begging. There are hundreds
of persons who adopt begging as an easier
way to make a living than working
In some instances these persons have been
known TO burn their limbs or bodies with
acids, in order to arouse or stimulate SYM
pathy.
The average American is very charita-
Bile; is altogether too quickly moved 10
bestow charity Surface Representations
are nearly always accepted without cues
ton. The average American seldom waits
to investigate the worthiness of an apn,i-
cant for aims, but gives quickly: and that
is why the professional mendicants thrive.
and many Of them grow rich. our I'M
questioning liberahty leads fakirs TO vic
tmize us. BY giving blindly we encourage
beggary. We put a premium upon fraud
and help to build up the class which is a
permanent charge upon the community.
When we have dropped dime into the hat
of street beggar, or handed out a meal
TO the tramp at the back door, We feel
that we have done something which is
good, and which our conscience approves.
But in great many Instances the dona-
ton is rather an injury than benefit in
that it tends to more strongly confirm the
recipient in determination not TO become