The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1906-09-20
PHILANTHROPY
FEMININE
By CLAUDE PAMAREs
Copyright. 1906. by W. R. caldwell


1t could not be said of Miss Hattie
Sheff1in, spinster, that at the age of
thirty eight she was a good looking
woman. A spfnster of that age cannot
be expected to be. The most that can
be expected Is that she will lie kind
hearted and have desire to reform
the world and elevate the moral stand
ing of humanity generally.
Miss Sheffiin bad that desire In visit
ing New York city she had many, many
times observed hard up looking men
who were seemingly drifting into
careers of wickedness because there
was no one at hand to encourage them
and hold out helping hand. She had
often been tempted to address them.
but her brother Ben happened 70 be
along or she had seen some policeman
watching her or the hard up looking
man made a sneak as she was about to
stop.
1t was when Brother Ben went to
Europe on business that his sister de-
termined to carry ouEher long cher
ished 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
boarding house where she had been
acquainted for a number OF years. In
confidence she told the 1andlady OF the
object Of her visit. 1t was all very well
to donate libraries and to endow hos
pitfalls and colleges, but when man
was walking the streets Of New York
with hunger gnawing at his v1tals and
hope gone out Of his heart. Of what
use were such institutions to him?
eff you don't make fool Of yourself
then | don't know how to make hash.
replied the practical and level headed
landlady. as she remembered the names
of a few hard up men OF the scores that
had taken her in for few weeks
board since she had been in the board
Ing house business.
"But how can l make fool of my
self, as you term it?' was asked. IF
speak kindly and encouragingly to
some hopeless and penniless man, II
help him to situation; II l give him
the opportunity to earn an honest liv-
ing once more. where can you criti-
cisc.'
Never you mind. You've got money.
and you've got heart, and I've moth
ing further to say"
II she had had anything further to
say 1t would have done no good. 1t
wasn't two hours later that Miss Shelf
din set out on her quest She hadn't
far to look. Any one who is seeking a
homeless, hopeless man from twenty
fte to seventy years Of age can find
him in upper Broadway at any hour of
the day or night. He is there and look
ing for d good thing.
Miss ShefiIin found one leaning up
against the railing In front of a drug
store His face betrayed gloom and his
general attitude disconsolation, and as
he looked in the bottles in the window
he 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
Z you In
The hopeless man sighed and moved
on YEARLY. He moved like one hurt
and Inundated. He moved down to-
ward the East river, as If he would
! take header on the dock and end it
all Miss Shefiin followed after, and
4 at the corner she overlook him and
said:
you seem to be in trouble, sir, and
IL can assist you shall be glad to do
So"
1 He was man about thirty years old.
4 He had tin horn gambler and free
lunch written all over him, but the old
maids eyes detected no sign. He look
ed at>her for minute and wondered
what sort of plant it was. Then
he became conscious that he had
! struck one Of those good things" be
had read about and heard tell of-a
female philanthYopist. Removing bis
hat and deepening his hopeless look,
he replied:
Miss, l have been out Of work fod
! weeks and weeks, and, so help me
heaven, l have had no food for two
days. / was thinking Of throwing
myself under a street car and ending
it ALL"
How wicked to think OF taking your
own life."
But of what use to live and wall
the streets penniless and hungry
Didn't you just see detective drive
me along like a dogY'
Il did, and felt almost like shoot
ing him. Please follow noe to my
boarding house and tell me your story.
He followed. he winked at an ac
quaintance as he followed and n
wink was returned. He ran acrosA$Il
landlady as he entered the house q
I Miss Shefiin, and be heaved sIk1l
relief as he found her face unfamiiaR
At the same time, however. he real
lied that she was not philanthropy
landiady-not one to be taken In o!
any ordinary tale of distress.
Sitting in the parlor beside the OH
maid and working up all the pathos h
could. the tin horn man told his tale
II was one that brought tears to he