Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-21
SOME CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS
Some People With Money-others
 Only Looking On.

Only Looking On.
 Things looked like the Christmas 1eason about town to-day. Between shoppers, sightseers and traders the sidewalks were thronged at times and many found it difficult to remain long enough at show windows to See every lining, the rush in some instances be- Ing so great that folks who object to getting into tight places found it con- venient to keep on the move. It is surprising how suspicious some people are of their fellowmen. As soon as q stranger comes within arms length of them they immediately conclude that he is up to something. If it is not his intention to get hold of their ,pocketbooks or make off with their ljewelry, he is bound to step on their corns, which is almost as bad. Then there are other reasons. This morn ing a naughty appearing young wo- lman backed out of crowd that was admiring the display of Christmas goods in a show window and hurried of, shaking her dress and remarling as she went that one couldn't stop to look in through a window without be- ing insulted. Nobody could See why Vthe lady had thought of such q thing. There were about half dozen respect able appearing women in the crowd, three or four boys and one little girl. What's the matter with that one" inquired the woman who had the tot of girl in tow. ''Oh, don't know" replied one of the others, tbut I sus- pect she thought we should have pushed aside and given her the whole walk" Probably the old woman hit the nail on the head. although what she said was regarded as joke and her companions laughed at 1t. Many expect the same deference from people shey meet on the street that is yield cd to them by those in their employ, Snd not receiving it, which they rare " do, their dignity is wounded and they imagine folks mean to be rude towards them who may not have mo- ticed them at all.
 Are you looking around for some worthy poor on whom you may have an opportunity to bestow a little char ity this Christmas? If so, don't say that you have not been able to find anybody who needed a helping hand. The office of the board of charities is "a good place to get the names of such persons. Superintendent Doran knows every poor family in Waterbury and will be pleased to tell you where your offering will do the most good. The rity is doing something for the poor, but even so there is room for others to help outFwithout fear of anybody re- ceiving too much.
 But does MT Doran know all the poor of the city? It is certain that he is H.. 4I, L1 nf who are receiving town aid, but how much does Mir Doran know about struggling families who would almost starve rather than ask bread from their closest friends, let alone ap- plying to the town? Whether one de serves credit for being too proud to ac- cept public charity when he finds him. self and his family in the last ditch, is \ question this article is not dealing with, but there can be no doubt that many suffer for want of the necessaries of life especially during the winter months simply because they prefer to llet the wolf do lot of bowling at the door before making up their minds to trade at the town store, notwithstand- ing that the clerk, MT Atwood, is a charming gentleman and treats those who call upon his just the same as if they had the cash for what they want in their hands. How is this class of Gods creatures to be reached and made happy on Christmas day? The board of charities has no record of them and they are not known to the officers of the Salvation Army or the Boys club. Dou you wish to do some thing for such people? If so, perhaps you may be put on the right track by calling upon the pastors of the church es, Catholic and Protestant. It is no crime to be poor and nobody who finds himself or herself in need of something to eat or wear, as well as little fuel, should be backward in making known their wants to the department of chari ties, and while most people do, yet it Is q fact that many shrink from the cold hand of charity and in eonse- quenee there Is a broad field in Water bury for well disposed Christians to light up homes on Christmas morning which will be pretty dreary places un- less some one does little missionary worl. outside the regular channels. .