Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-11-15
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PHILANTHROPY
FEMININE
BY CLAUDE PAMARES
Copyr;sh,, 1896. by W. r. Caldwell

y - :
wu,.luu : s.3'nster of that age cannot
b. cxpet / to Ga The most that can
!. eNrec,,.d is ,a;.; se will he kind
l.. g,ad AID has a desire to reform
tnr world and elevate the moral stand
ins Of hun Ianity generally.
iSs Shcf1in had that desire. In visit
in- New York city she had many, many
times observed hard up looking men
who wee seemingly drifting into
careers of wickedness because there
and hold ont helping hand. She had
often been tempted to address them,
bit her brother Ben happened to be
along or she had seen some policeman
watching lier or the hard up looking
man made sneak as she was about to
atop.
II was when Brother Ben went to
Europe Oh business that his sister de-
fermincd to carry out her long cher
shed plans. She had the time and the
money. and the steamer was hardly
clear of Fire island when she was In
the city with her trunk and Installed in
a boarding house where she had been
acquainted for number Of years. In
conf ,y,ce she told the landlady of the
object ct her visit. II was all very well
to dCn" te libraries and TO endow hos
pitals and colleges. but when a man
was w2lking the streets Of New York
with h,nger gnawing at his yitals and
hope gore out Of his heart, of what
use We're such institutions to him?
III jou cont make q fool of yourself
then don't know how to make hash" !"
replied the practical and level headed
of few hard up men of the scores that
had taken her IN for a few weeks
board nee she had been in the board
ing house business
But how can | make fool of my
self a. you term itg" was asked. IF
| speak kindly and encouragingly to
some hopeless and penniless man, if l
help him to situation; IL | give him
the opportunity 10 earn an honest liv-
Ing once more. where can you criti-
eise;''
Never ou mind. You've got money,
aud youve got heart. and I've moth
Ing further 10 say"
II sflc had had anything further to
say it would have done no good. 1t
wasn't two hours later that Miss Shelf
fin set ont on her quest. She hadn't
far TO look ANY one who is seeking
homeless. hopeless man from twenty
five 10 seventy years OF age can find
him III upper Broadway at any hour Of
the day or night He is there and look
Ing for Il good thing.
Miss Sheffiin found one leaning up
agali. { the railing in front of a drug
store. His face betrayed gloom and his
geier. attitude disconsolation. and as
he loo."d IN the bottles in the window
be seemed to be wondering which held
laudanum and which strychnine. She
was about to address him when plain
clothes detective came from the other
direction and said to the man:
Now, then. out of this or I'll run
you In
The hopeless man sighed aud moved
OH YEARLY He moved like one hurt
and Inundated. He moved down to-
ward the East river, as If he would
take q header off the dock and end it
all. Miss Sheflln followed after, and
at the corner she overlook him and
said:
You seem to be in trouble, sir. and
lf can assist you shall be glad to do
80"
He N.l :! man about thirty years old.
de hai IN horn gambler and free
lunch 'tten Ill over him. but the old
maid's eyes detected no sign He look
ed al her fJr Il minute and wondered
what sor; Of Il plant it was. Then
he became conscious that he had
struck one of those good things he
had read asou, and heard tell of-a
female ph.lantnropist Removing his
hat and Gcepening his hopeless look.
he replied
Miss. have Teen out OF work for
weeks AMI weeks. and. so help me
heaven. have had no food for two
days. was thinking OF throwing
myself under street car and ending
II all"
How wicked to think of taking your
own life"
But of what use TO live and walk
the streets pennlless and hungry
Didn't you just see detective drive
ne along like a dogT
II did. and | felt almost like shoot
ing him. Please follow me TO my
boarding house and tell me your story"
He followed. He winked at an ac-
quaintance as he followed, and his
wink was returned. He ran across the
Iandlady as he entered the house after
Miss Shefflin. and he heaved Il sigh OF
relief as lie found her face unfamiliar.
Al the same time, however, he real
lied that she was not a philanthropic
andlady-not one to be taken in by
any ordinary tale OF distress
Sitting In the parlor beside the old
maid and working up all the patLos he
could, the tin horn man told his tale.
IL was one that brought tears to her
eyes. He was honest enough to plead
guilty TO emDeZzllng $50 from his en-
ployer to bet on the races and penitent
enough to say that nothing on the face
Of the earth ever again should lead
him into crooked paths If he could get
q new start.
She had been the first and only one
TO speak kind word She had been
the first and only one not TO condemn
him too strongly and to lead him to
believe that his crime might be con-
donrd and new start made. He was
tola that he should have free room and
board until he could look around. Ad-
yertiSements should be put in the pa
pers TO AID him. Miss Sheffiin herself
would 20 70 various stores and Offices
and use her personal influence.
Il wish TOu JOY of him" said the
lanilaiy when the arrangements had