Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-05-06
That Missionary Need.

At intervals all winter pitifu and
revolving tales of poverty and desti-
tuition among the inhabitants of the
"bacltwoods" of Vermont have APP
peared in the state newspapers, each
followed dutifully by a series of edi-
work in our own communities rather
than among the distant heather. one
of the most narrowing of these tales
dealt with the condition of human
beings who rambled about in the
snow and cold of last winter naked
from the waist down and another
pictured a mother feeding her babe
raw meal and cold water, We have
looked in vain for publication of the
addresses of these unfortunate Great
ures that aid might be given them;
but their identity does not seem to
enter into the question of missionary
work at all. In the meantime the
attics of Vermont are overlooking
with half-worn clothing that the
spring housewife is only waiting for
chance to give away without hurt I
ing anybody's pride, and food enough I
to feed several families is wasted on
our tables every day--food that
would make a sumptuous feast COM
pared with meal and water why do
not the originators of such stories
furnish eager missionaries with
something tangible to work on?
Frankly, we do not believe these
narrowing tales They belong in the
category with the skunk paradise"
yarn and others with which magma
tive reporters have beguiled the city :
papers. There is an outline of UNI
pleasant truth--for which shlftless-
ness is mainly esponsible--about .
Them but the coloring is that of a
word manipulator's fancy and for
revenue only There is plenty of work
in Vermont for those who want to
earn an honest living; and for those
who are sick or otherwise incapable ).
there is provision made in every town
z.
of our people are averse to receiving
charity, but we do not believe such
pride would stand before the alterna
tive of going unclad from the waist '
down Neither do we believe that =
citizens in any Vermont town would u
fail to become aware of and relieve 81
such conditions before they had
reached such distressing point as
that related. u
Let us try to be sensible in orr &C. q
inmates of our fellow beings and in ~,
our conceptions of missionary work
Inc shiftless and weak and imnrovi- CT
dent among us do not need tracts and 'ii'
Bibles as much as they need guiding pa
INTO some path of suitable EMPLOY ~
ment; they do not need Sunday ""
schools, social intercourse and moral NV
Instruction &c ,,,,,oh 80 a. pan
rel OF clothing and little financial
BOOST into responsibility. After thew -.
ire able to realize that they are -
somebody" they will turn, if thew -,
- S"ii 'Hlii, W THOSE rennlQg and
piritual things, of their own free 80
will.
rh Bro
There is undoubtedly plenty of =.
'ork Tor our missionaries here AT
ONE and We believe they ought and
re ready and willing to give Aid
henever need is shown. But let rs
OF cast reproach upon them, orr -
ate and ourselves by the circulation
such exaggerated and improbable
les whose very vagueness and care
No. ~ S"i0 hand
ii1Wersonality makes them i'm
almo
lrt- breaking story of restitution :, -
m the cousin of man whose wife ,..
relatives in the town adjoining III.
who is therefore in a hosition H.
know the facts in the case let' him o,oo4
e his authority, along with the r.,s
", for publication.