Evening star., 1901-09-19
Unworthy Enterprise.


In Wednesdays Star 1 read with great
satisfaction lin an article on THE Presi-
dents Church'D these words of the Rev.
DR.. Schick, pastor of the German Reformed
Church, replying to those who were urging
him to push the matter of enlarging the
building to accommodate the increased at
tendance assured by President Roosevelts s
choice of that church as a place Of wor-
ship: Il cannot take advantage Of the
death of President Mckinley to build up
my church The matter will have to take
it's regular course" What a noble reproof
to his solicitors. who, indeed but voiced
general disposition among men to seek
quick profit from occasions of disaster,
What a relief from the constant din Of
clamoring greed that has tortured our ears
ever since the wires first flashed the news
that President Mckinley was shot. The ut
terance deserves to be urged upon the sober
thought of all people. 1t is an expression
of a mind that is truly delicate. refined,
considerate, conscientious and noble 1t
puts to shame the conduct Of many who
during recent days of sorrow, have greed
lily grabbed at the opportunity to make
gain from the terrible circumstances Many
people are vulture-like in their readiness to
profit by public calamity or distress They
are quick to double or treble the usual
charges for service or accommodations e
g., hotels and traffic managers Indeed
some lines Of business, even ordinarily
thrive almost entirely upon the exgencies
or others miseries True, not much of the
best things may be expected of human ma
ture But In an age whose boast is of su-
perior attafnments In intelligence and re-
nnement, 1t is a positive pain to sensitive
minds to be compelled to note conditions
and conduct that would shame savagery
Hself-that are never known among saw
ages.
We should. therefore. rejoice that there
are some such men as DR.. Schick and that
the multitudes have appropriately mani
tested sincerest sorrow at the ira gic end
ing of the life of our SO greatly beloved
President Mckinley. We should also note
with satisfaction the generous conduct of
our leading business houses in closing on
the funeral days, not only out of personal
feeling, but to allow clerks and EMPLOYEES
opportunity to participate in the general
demonstration, even at great financial loss
to the establishments
1t would be impracticable here to detail
all the specific instances deserving reproof
on the other side. There are not a few in
dividual cases. Indeed, some of the little
things have been most Irritating, because
SO obtrusively presented. For example
standing at the corner of 9th street and
Pennsylvania avenue Monday night to ioin
the multitude in the sorrowful reception of
the lamented Presidents coffined BODY nv
thoughts, tender with feeling and wishing
for the stiffness due the occasion nv ea rs
We're continually tormented by the fiapping
of vultures' wings and their harsh cries
of Get a badge here" Souvenirs here
only five cents" Get a Mckinley mourn
ing badge" etc. This continued even while
the hearse was passing. There, too, was
the shrill whistle of the peanut roaster
too greedy to miss the opportunity to tor
ment the ears of a crowd even at such a
moment. And the vender, unmindful of
the funeral presence, but thinking only of
gain. distracted with opportunities to buy
"Frech roasted peanuts. five cents bag"
And surprisingly enough, some there were
whose responses showed their thoughts to
be in their palates more than upon the
passing event, with it's momentous historic
meaning.
Again. on Tuesday, while the funeral cor
tege was moving along the avenue not only
We're the badge peddlers plying their trade
but there came other vultures preying upon
peoples sympathies and curiosity by offer
ing illustrated papers with sensational pic
lures from an artists Imagination of the
deathbed and SO forth. Why too, should
the photograph purveyors be so very quick
to thrust everywhere before our eyes the
fact that they will sell us likenesses of
the dead President? We all want such but
why should not the traffic phase be re-
strained. at least until the dead be buried?
M. E. SLOANE.