The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-10
PROJECTS FOR CHARITY.
A Physician euggests Whore Rich Men
and tho state Can Benefit Society.

and tho state Can Benent Society.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: With
all due respect TO the sentiments expressed
by your woman correspondent In The Sun
Of Sunday last. II must be said that 1t 10
hardly reasonable to offer moro than hint
10 large givers to what We call charity.
Within the last twenty-five years probably
more has been given for educational pur-
poses than for any other single object. Is
this tendency to be traced to the conviction
Of the donors that by offering greater edu-
cational facilities our people will be elevated
to higher plane Of living, or Is 1t due to an
idiosyncrasy on their part engendered by the
meager facilities for self-lmprovement which
they have enjoyed In their youth?
1t would be interesting to know what
class Of books are taken from the libraries.
whether the reading done 10 such as to COM
plement a substantial beginning made at
the day and night schools. or whether such
reading is largely Of a character to kill time
and satisfy morbid curiosity. 1t would seem
that there Is little profit derived from promis-
cuous reading. that the value of q university
education. so called. is overestimated and the
whole thing OF founding colleges and "unt-
versties" by phllanthropists Is somewhat
overdone. when We consider the conditions
and necessities Of our social structure.
The fact that the rich have decided aver
sion against relieving physical distress d.
rectly. physical conditions crying for relief
Is probably due to their own experiences In
life and their being self-made men. In this
their instinct Is, no doubt. true and infallble
guide.
To relieve the misery which exists in our
society. however. the rich can do much with
out the least offending against the principle.
which seem to guide them In their charitable
donations.
Let the rich provide model tenement houses
In every congested block. as q business In.
vestment bearing a low rate Of interest
Let them buy more plots for parks In the
crowded districts.
Let them found moro Cooper Unions and
have them named after the founders. to keer
men out Of saloons and other more hurtfu
resorts.
In this way the rich can do much. but moi
everything. City and State must help.
Let the city condemn all rear tenementa
found unhealthy and unduly crowding the
population.
Let the State pass liquor laws to diminish
the trafIic by 90 per cent.
Let there be some provision by tho State
for voluntary insurance against old age. and
let the rich help with q good sized endow-
ment fund.
Let tho city In issuing new franchises OF
renewing old ones exact a penny fare or al
least a nominal fare from the surface and
ferry transportation companies. IN the early
morning and evening hours, to relieve the
congested districts.
BY working on the lines laid down here
other things being equal. many objection.
able conditions prevailing in our commu.
nifty will be relieved in one generation, and
charity may then again find its former normal
channels in which during many generations
1t has earned the approval and blessings OF
humanity. CARBON.
NEW YORK. Sept. 8,