Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-30

almost every CEurch In JnlS city IS a close corporation, managed by se- lect coterie for social purposes. The family that can pay the most money into the church stands the highest. The children of the family are put forward in all Sunday school enter +ainments, regardless of their natural abilities. Of course, there are excep- tions to all rules. Nevertheless it is collective fact that the church es here are so organized and man. aged. They have no charitable or ganizations, and they do not organic ally cooperate with the charitable in- stitutions. They live unto them selves in select circles, regardless of the Scripture, which saith: "No man liveth unto himself"
 This lady investigator says that she called upon one of our most eminent preachers, man whose fame is world wide and whose sermons are printed in hundreds of newspapers, and when she asked him for charity, he replied: .'This is my home, and not place for aims giving. I have no time for such cases. You must go to the police and
 
 shown to the door in deliberate but
 dignified manner, and as she stepped into the vestibule, she said: "Inas- much as ye did it unto one of the least
 of these, ye did it unto Me" But the
 great expounder of the law of love calmly closed the door in her face and returned to his study" probably to
 frame eloquent-sentences for the de- lectation of his audience of admirers
 of the following Lords day. It is no wonder that the lady investigator says:
 s'Your charities need church cooper
 ation,'' after an experience of that
 kind.
 The secretary of the associated charities has been informed of the systematic begging which has been done by this investigator, and he says that impositions are made possible be- cause of the carelessness of the peo- pie. The board has thousands of cards printed for distribution, in order that families and individuals may hand those cards to beggars of every de- scription. Instead of giving money,
 the people should give these cards.
 Then, if they want to give food, cloth
 ing or money, they should send their contributions to the board.
 That is a good system, undoubtedly, but it will not work in everyday prac- tical life. People will not carry cards with them. and housewives will not distribute them. The lady investi- gator says. If they put cards in ev- cry house in the District of Columbia I could still make comfortable living by begging here, simply by going after the. department clerks on their pay days. The only way to prevent sue cessful imposturc is to have police men stationed about the departments on pay days. Beggars dread police men. Impostors will not. venture to beg if bluecoat is in sight"
 The secretary of the associated charities says: Ut is better, far bet ter, for people living in cozy, comfort
 able homes to turn beggars from their doors than to give them aid. It is better for the community and better for the beggar. These people should be sent to us or brought to us. Beg ging is unnecessary, and refusing to give discourages the beggar. Their tales are always pitiful, and usually heart-rending. The appearance of an unfortunate at one's door, particular ly at night, arouses sympathy; but it is misplaced sympathy. It is safe to assume that all such cases are un- worthy. This lady investigator has demonstrated that worthy people can
 always find relief by coming to us. All of tho worthy ones know this If is only the unworthy who impose upon people"
 It has been problem for the civil ization of all ages to properly and
 adequately provide for the sick, the poor, the halt, the maimed, the blind, deaf and dumb. The claim of the sec retary is but an expression of the sci ence and philosophy of philanthropy. The fact remains, as demonstrated, that a shrewd woman can make a bet ter living by begging than by work ing, at least in this city.
 The publication of these facts in a city very near to the national capital
 will undoubtedly excite newspaper controversy; and that may bring us
 more beggars. In that event the blue coats will be more. in evidence about the executive departments on pay
 days, and professional beggars will not long prosper. SMITH D. FRY.