The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-10
TRUE CHARITY.

In an address before the National Con-
ference of Charities and Corrections now
III session in Atlanta, Ga, Mr., William
II. Allen. general agent OF the New York
Mission for Improving the Condition of
the Poor. made this striking statement:
"One phase Of vacrancy nfects great
number of people and represents great
menace to social welfare. the source and
support Of the individual vagrant and
thu stronghold OF the disease. I refer to
the vagrnncy, that, tramp philosophy that
superficial samaritanism, that vagrant In
terest in ones fellowmen; which pur-
chases self-com placency. relief from an
noyance, reputation for generosity and
spurious mortgages on mansions, In the
sky, from vendors of hard luck. stories,
Inventors of mutilated limbs and exhibit
tors of moral and physical defcrmtt.es.
The real vagrancyi is the vagrnncy OF
intellect and sympathy. whether the gift
be a mite or milton which attempts
to obtain satisfaction entirely out OF pro-
portion to the thought and time expended
In giving: which confuses almost Justice
and relief
In conclusion, he said that It was the
giver; that 1t was almost as uncharl-
table and unr esponsible for an individual,
unlicensed citizen on the streets to pre-
scribe for vasrancy as for hydrophobia
or typhoid fever. "Our problem" he con-
tlnued, .is primarily to convince and corr
rect this ctizen-g5ver rather than to con-
vince ana reclaim the tramp..ASWe shall
never be giver rather than to convince
and reclaim the tramp. We shall never
be rid Of the man who would rather beg
than saw wood: we may hope to be rid
of the man who would rather give
nickel to beggar than send him to an
agency which can make him self-support-t
|. ms"
This may seem to the tender hearted
harsh and cruel view OF charity, but true
puts marrow In the bones. When q
drunkardT begs for money with which to
buy whiskey. every right-thinking man
will refuse to give It to him, knowing
that In complying with such request he
Is encouraging the drunkard in his dissl-
patton. Is It not, therefore, almost, II not
quite, as bad to give to a vagrant and
SO encourage him in his vagrancy? OF
course, we are not referring to real
objects OF charity. There are men and
women who are unable to work and sup
port themselves. and they must be taken
care Of But when an able bodied man or
woman chooses to tramp around and
beg for living It is scarcely less than
sinful to encourage such n person In such
life. 1t requires a great deal of good
sense and discretion. not to say great
deal of skill, 10 give the help that helps.
So many good and kind-hearted people
give with the right motive, and yet In
giving do the recipient more harm than
good. True charity Is not In giving aims.
Alms-sivlng Is frequently cheap. AMI
We sometimes give for the sake OF rid
ding ourselves OF an importunnte beg
| gar, II Is cheaper TO give than to With
hold. 1t Is cheaper to give money than to
give sympathy and words Of encourage
ment, and the help that helps, The best
help that We can give in any case Is to
help dependent to be independent, to
put q man upon his feet and to give him
! strength and courage to take care OF him
self.
But we are learning great deal These
Conferences of Charities and Corrections
| that are being held In the several States
from time to time are practical schools
in public charity. They are exerting a
powerful Influence, and they are teaching
that true charity Is love- and that love
| worketh no evil
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