Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-09-07
Coming Events.
PRo-BoNo-PuBLICo.
A Practical Humanitarian
Plea.

14o6s
To the Editor OF tho Enterprise:
Have you thought how far We
yet are from being a civilized
people? Have you ever tried to
comprehend what We would do il
We were civilized? We can moi
fully comprehend such state be.
cause we are too ignorant. Yet
when We thouRhtfully consider
the question, when we try to grasp
the meaning Of civilization, we
must at least realize that we
would do much that we now do not
do. And with equal, perhaps
greater force. We will be impressed
with the fact that many acts which
now mark our daily progress
would not be performed. were we
civilized to but half the degree We
today hstter ourselves that We are.
I say "our daily progress" be-
cause all thoughtful, earnest labor
is progress. 1t is progress even
though its wage can provide but
the humblest dwelling. the SIM
plest food and the plainest raiment.
Yes! 1t is as truly progress as is
the work OF the greatest among
humans. And as we know more
Of life, we will the more nearly re-
alixe this truth.
We arc proud Of our high estate
and are wont to boast Of our su-
pcrior civilization. We cover up
our own plague spots aud with
Phnrisaic pity turn our thoughts
to the half clad barbnrinns Of the
desert and the forest. "They must
be saved" We cry aud proceed to
save them in true orthodox fash
ion-try to make them believe our
beliefs. No one eau justly dispar-
age the grand workers in such
fields and the great uphelping Of
mankind which has resulted from
their lnbors. But let us look moro
thoughtfully, more justly to our
own barbarism, or better, to our
own ignorance Of good living. Let
us know better our own faults,
that We may the more quickly
overcome them.
Is it not true TINT the more we
know about the truth of life, the
better lives we can live? The most
useful, helpful life is the best life.
Should we boast, when there il
not in nll this county Of Otero n
public place where n homeless hu-
man with little money, may live
well and die decently; when there
seemingly is no one with a kindly,
humane interest in tho wretched
ones among us. Should We boast
when a livery stable Office Is the
only place in our town where n
drunken, and seriously wounded
man may be taken to recover-or
to die? Should We CAN we boast
Of our civilization?
While many strides upward
have been taken, and are constant.
IL being taken, let us realize, that
We are very far from the summit;
that our present high estate, while
higher than the past, is not the
highest we may reach; that the
higher life is ever higher, with an
ever broadening field.
Is not it now time for US to take
another step or two upward? Or
must we suffer yet more before we
are prepared?
The need of hospital is great ;
il will be greater as the days come
and go. A hospital can be started
now on small scale, and gradual
" enlarged as need demands. The
county could build it, and. il nee
essary partly supportit. Will not
the majority of the workers in our
county who have families gladly
give fifty cents, or n dollar month
to support a hospital? Will not the
majority of the unmarried workers
give gladly one dollar, or two dol
lars month for the support of
such an institution?
The good of the individual is
the good of all. Whatever lifts up
the individual is to the uplifting
of the race. Let us not delay this
step upward. which will lead us to
more of wholesome climbing.
j. II. r.