New-York tribune., 1900-03-26
SOME ADVICE TO CONSCIENCE"
HOW HE MAY GIVE HIS SERVICE AS WE'LL AS HIS
MONEY AND DO GOOD.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The communication Of your correspondent
Conscience which you publish and comment
upon editorially in your issue of the 18th inst.
has caused varied and interesting reflections
but has educed suggestion which will satisfy
him, unless he ponder well your apo
thegm that 'he who would do the most good
must with his gift give himself" 1t ought to
open to him wide horizon of possibilities and
dissipatc the moral depression from which it
seems evident that Conscience is suffering. 1t
seems clear that his cognomen reflects sensi-
tive nature and noble self-sacrfcing instincts
which can best find satisfactory expansion in
works of philanthropy, provided he will pay Of
his own person as we'll of his
What you say is certainly true that "in CIV
ing it is much easy to do harm than good"
but that is so only in vicarious instances, where
money given In the hope that it will do good
given indirectly ard with the idea that your
benefaction in way be misdirected and
injurious The writer Of this letter furnished
with ample means for the purpose, spends some
hours each day in works OF mercy. He does not
visit the pauper class which he thinks should
be left to organized societies and missions $
best fitted to cope with the peculiar difficulties
of such work; his work is among the laboring
cass-fames where the breadwinner is dead
or suffering from disease or incapacitated by
accident; where the husband son is thrown
out Of work without any fault of his wide the
closing of the big sugar refinery not to go far
away; among deserving women left with small
children, for whom days hard work Is not
sufficient to provide people who have become old
and worn out after life of toll and grinding
cares, who cannot, will not beg apply for
relief; 'pauvres honteux," whose moral suffer-
ing is even than the pangs of hunger,
who tremble with fear and apprehension at the
approaching footstep, lest it be the agent OF
the marshal with an order Of dispossess In
stances of this nature numerous and need
not be dwelt The writer could fill pam
phlet with such cases to which he carries COM
fort and gladness
1 suggest that Conscience" make a trial of
this mode of usefulness. Let him apply to the
Charity Organization Society for say dozen
names Of families whose needs and worthiness
unquestioned The society has no others
its books. Let him be unmindful of the
flights of stairs he may have to climb in tene-
ment houses-the poorer live top-of sticky
balustrades and doorknobs and OF unsavory
odors. sometimes suggesting disease. Let Con
science" thus pay Of his person-there is
virtue in pleasant work that involves neither
discomfort nor risk-and II his craving for use
fulness is deep and lasting he will bless and
never forget the day when he began his ad-
ministraton. His inexperience may cause him
to make mistakes. but there is no better school
for the study OF human nature than the Door
into whose homes the charitable is welcomed,
anu sum nc VIII iediH 10 distinguish the chaH
from the grain. He NAV early be carried away
by sentiment at the expense Of his reason but
his experience Will not be dearly bought
The poor can live on bread and water but the
rent must be paid. The house agent. not
hunger. is the real wolf. Then. there is sick
ness not hospital cases" that must be cared
for in the home.
Your work, Conscience" can be limited onIv
by your strength and your means for new cases
VIII arise in your wanderings, and ere long Won
will have the measure brimming full and Won
Will be glad Of occasional days of rest-sweet
est, most satisfying rest which will give Won
time to realize that you the best of terms
with yourself. the reward of well spent time
And If, later, you wished TO know me to confer
with on your missionary work Won cou1d
write to the Editor OF The Tribune, who has NV
name and references. v C.
New-York. March n. 1900.