Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-04-21
The NAN WHO is FORGOTTEN.
INDIVIDUALS WHOSE CHARITIES
ARE NEVER EXPLOITED.
The Millions of Cheerful Givers of
Humble Means the Real Bone and
Sinew of Countless Admirably Sus-
tanned Beneficiaries.


Humble Means the Real Bone AND
Sinew of Countless Admirably Sus-
tanned Beneficiaries.
We refer to that individual whose
small contribution for charitable pur-
poses was never exploited in the news
papers, Mr. John A. Hobson, Oxford
man, lecturer on economies for the
Oxford University Extension Delagacy,
and the author of many books, recent
ly addressed the Society for Ethical
Culture in Philadelphia In the course
of that address Mr.. Hobson deplored
the fact that the money distributed
| by millionaires of colossal aggrega-
lions was obtained too often by cor
rupt bargains with office-holders, con-
troll of law courts and legislators. and
ruthless crushing of Independent deal
ers. He affirmed that ST. Paul's Church,
in London, gets its gold communion
plate from a 'plunger,1 and M. Hob
son then proceeds like Dr. Bascom TO
warn his hearers against the accept
ance of gifts from such tainted
sources.
No one can deny that there is some
measure of truth in such allegations.
Microscopic examination of great gifts
is not always conducive TO ethical in
ferences. The garment of Altruism,
like Joseph's coat, is woven of many
colors and some of the strands bear
the sweatshop imprint. But we are
not just now concerned with this as
pect of the case, which is always sus-
ceptible of oyerstatement. We are
more concerned with a common and
fundamental neglect of our time
which places the emphasis upon re-
while the consideration is overlooked
that the millions of cheerful givers of
humble means are the real bone and
sinew of countless admirably sustain
ed charities. + II the offerings of multi
millioaires were duplicated fifty-fold
this would not alter the fact that the
rivulets of twenty-seven millions of
Church members and many millions
more outside the Churches incredibly
surpass in volume the notable eontri-
buttons of the Lords of Industry and
the Wizards of Finance. The Forgot
ten Man is he who pinches to help
somebody else, and whose steady and
consistent, though relatively infinitesi-
NAL, contribution is the main reliance
of boards of managers.
Consult any list of contributors to
one of the myriad benevolent institu-
tions. Page after page will read five
dollars here, two dollars there, one dol
lar beyond, and so into thousands,
not few being from country ham,
lets TO help, say, city seaside mission.
A certain church raises fifteen hun
dred dollars year in penny contri-
buttons. Probably thousands of
churches equally rely on the wage.
earner's mite We know of the ample
dinners on Christmas Day for the
worthy poor" tables set by the boun-
ty of millionaires. But what about the
Salvation Army's pots and kettles on
every street corner? just before
Christmas Day We have noted that the
great majority of the people who put
their nickels and pennies into these
same pots and kettles, to the accom-
paniment of sounding cymhals and TN
inviting poke bonnet" looked as if
they themselves had long been strang
ers TO roast turkey! And yet the Sal
walton Army receipts reached for
midable total.
Suppose one undertakes collection
in a factory for any worthy cause. Let
a popular shopmate pass the hat
and it is astonishing how the dimes
and quarters clink. Where a church
is TO be built the rich miliowner will
give their share generously. But the
SHOP girls who bring boarded gold half
eagles earn scant wages, and the OPP
erativeS who have few hundreds in
savings banks not infrequently con-
tribute double eagles. We believe the
Chinese have gift box dedicated to
the Bright Sun God of Self-Re
straint" That Sun God shines
more UNANIMOUSLY in humble homes
than most people realize. The pathet-
&c attribute known as the human
touch" constitutes a vast network of
clasped hands from the Atlantic to the
Pacific and through its meshes slip
Incredible sums from the hard pressed
and at times ragged edge constitu-
ency with which to 5Iild the vast
dome of our national "Otherdom, as
some one has called the aItruistic i'm
pulse
We would not underrate the signifi-
canoe of gifts like the Slater or the
Peabody Fund We are not Indifferent
to the vast mlnificeIce of multi-mil-
liop2ifes We refrse to be drawn into
controversy respecting the methods of
certain ACQUISITIONS But with all the
gratitude showered upon the undenia-
bly, generous Money King, a gratitude
which is in danger of becoming
characteristic American extravaganza,
the Forgotten Man is entitled to. al
though he does not claim it. a tardy
recognition. Dry up the channels of
multitudinous offerings from those of
very moderate means and your multi
millionaire would stand aghast at the
Cndflldute RESPONSIBILITY thrust upon
him The Forgotten Man is stranger
TO automobiles and broiled live lob
sters at Delmonieo's; he never tool
ed" across the continent four-in-hand:
he will have no mausoleum OF tablet
erected to his memory. But the great
and ceaseless tides of charitable uplift
and blessing which touch every shore
of human need are perpetually en-
riched by his self-denial Splendid is
the example of him who POUNDS col
lege or endows a library. Heroic is
he who. unknown and unheralded,
draws from his slender purse the gift
for his fellow man which depletes
still further his own scanty income.
And the name of the Forgotten Man is
legion,-The Independent.