The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-02
An END OF CHARITY.

IN END OF III <1hAA
A few days ago a man was picked up
on the streets of New York in state
Of almost complete physical collapse. lie
asked to be taken to some public institu-
ton for medical treatment and care. He
had had recourse often before to such
aid He was apparently in the depths
of poverty, and his ailments were the re-
suit of lack of proper nourishment and
care. On search being made Of this
mans clothing $110 in money was found.
Subsequent investigation confirmed the
view of certain of the police officials,
who had before been in contact with
him, that he was miser whose Attic
ton had gained such hold on him that
he could no longer be induced to spend
enough money to sustain himself.
mon beggar on the streets of the metrop-
Oils He is wealthy man, and has been
for years past. His wealth is the product
Of his begging operations and of his
misery habits. He owns both real and
personal property, and his heirs and rep
resentatives on his death will acquire the
wealth which he has amassed by such
debased methods, and to which they can
not be regarded as having the slightest
moral title
According to the statements of the po-
+I1o
time he has been able through his indus
try as a common mendicant to possess
himself of more money daily than the av-
erage workingman can earn. This money
he secured from those well meaning but
thoughtless persons who are unwilling to
pass an outst- etched palm without de-
posting some money, however little, in
it. 1t is hard to find fault with this
disposition. It springs from human kind
liness and charity. 1t is creditable in a
certain sense to those who yield to it..
Yet it is utterly destructive in operation
of the best results of genuine charity.
The system of organized charity in
operation in large communities has been
subjected to much criticism. 1t has been
thoughtlessly said of it that it takes the
soul out of charitable giving. No state
ment could be farther from the truth
present condition of our social life no
person with a spark Of self-respect Will
stand on the public highway with out
stretched palm soliciting aims. 1t some
times happens that those who are en-
gagged in the dispensation of charitable
relief will consent to allow some person
ces are such as to warrant such action,
to ask public aims.
Such persons are entitled to the public
consideration, when it is known that they
have the sanction of charitable officials
or societies for their solicitation. But
every charitable person is justified in
treating every public mendicant as a
fraud and a vagrant. Their liberation is
a crime against society.
Some thoughtful person has said that
the first and most favorable impression
made upon the intelligent foreigner on
his arrival in this country is derived from
the notable absence of soldiers and beg
gars from American thoroughfares. Such
absence is credit to American society
and it speaks more loudly than tongues
can of the prosperity and freedom which
prevail here.
No worthy person will be found beg
ging on the street of an American city.
If the charitably disposed would drop
their coins which they can spare for
charitable bestowal into the poor boxes
in the churches or public places they
would be sure that they would not help
to cultivate drunkenness or crime, and
that their money would be worthily be-
slowed.