The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-23
PSErDO-SCIEN TIFIC CHARITY.
Miss Richmond of Baltimore on Mistakes
of Organized Investigators and Iieformers.

Miss Richmond OF Baltimore on Mistakes
of Organized Investigators and Reformers.
Out ofthe wisdom Of hcr experience as Secre-
tary OF the Charity Organization Society Of Bal
timorc. Miss Mary T. Richmond spoke to the
Woman's Conference Of the Society for ethical
Culture at the Tuxedo yesterday. on Pseudo
Scientific Charity" She took as her text a re-
cent magazine article by Miss Jane Adams Of
Chicago.
Charity work must thrive on much criti-
cism." Miss Richmond said we have had all
sorts Of cures for poverty. from Gov. Pingree's
potato patches to the eating OF whole wheat by
the poor. all Of them warranted to eliminate
want once for all but they haven't succeeded
in doing il. One OF the most Intellectual
methods OF cure is charity organization. Al q
method to find a cure it is a good thing. but az
q cure II Is worthless. The settlement move
ment has shown us that personal shortcomings
Of the poor are not. in the great majority Of
eases. as was formerly believed. the cause OF
poverty. In her article Miss Adams says that
investigation is productive OF much harm TO
both parties to it. But Miss Adams is some
what in fuenced by her environment. Chicago
Is nothing but q great. overgrown village, and
it hasn't yet grown into being a big city in its
methods. II IL tar behind the times i'm its
methods Of charity. and only for a very few
years has scientific investigation been known
there. investigation which seeks not the ex-
act truth. but rather seeks TO prove something
favorable or. unfavorahlc. is dishonest and
always harmful
Miss Richmond gave instances of charitable
wurA, successful and unsuccessful. which had
come under her notice. some Of the con-
illusions that she drew are these:
There Is IA dreadful charitable drift toward
women and children. The man is becoming
extinct be- flies out at the back door when the
charity worker enters the front. We should
always. in charitable work, recognize the maj
a. the head Of ths family and confer with him
az such.
INADEQUATE Investigation is the curse of or.
gani2cd charity. It's n bad attitude OF mind 10
think that you have got to do something
quickly. for the sake Of doing something
What would We say Of a doctor who. not having
made a diagnosis of the Ca5e. proceeded TO act
on some theory without waiting 10 find out
what was the matter,
4 good investigator asks few questions.
You cant really, help people until you ilnh the
best sources Of help. To speak OF the worthy
and the unworthy poor Is an absolutely futile
distinction. They are all worthy Of something.
The only clH-slilcatlo on Ol any value an
the only one we have any right 20 make Is that
ut the people who can he helped and those
who cant. Look out tor The charitable fanatics
VINO ar" always discovering SUutleties where
they don exist. The rough ANA really stand
ard OF ~" nclghbo-- judgement is often wiser
than the wlrc.drawn conclusions Of the iuyes-
tgatOr.
ono of the things that are Keeping charities
IN the pS"niD--"lrutln state Is the attit uio If
the reiurmrr-. who want 10 do everything at
once. Tn charity workers are the chemists
would make the world gold ~ a stroke. We
must learn 10 deal with each problem iuiivi1u.
ally. ana 20 look AZ life through the eyes Il
those we strive 90 aid"