The Washington herald., 1908-01-25
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

A blind peanut vendor, at a summer re-
sort, has surprised his heirs by leaving
$4,000 10 haggle over. I presume they
know little about him beyond the fact
that they were not called upon 20 con-
tribute to his support IN the long years
allotted him. but | venture to say no.
body expected that he did more than
exc out an existence-many able-bodied
men cannot do that-yet he must have
passed as happy a life as circumstances
permitted. and his business sense must
have been cultivated in proportion 20
his blindness.
It is a merciful providence that COM
pels most of us 10 earn what we need to
live have no sympathy with the man
who tries to beat his way through life or
the human sponge in feminine form. I
refuse to believe in a lazy mlcrobe"
that robs healthy creatures Of the ability
To live a decent life, and I regard philan-
thropic movements To improve the con
dition Of the hobo as an insult 10 those
who are fighting a lifelong battle against
frightful adversities. 1t is a nice, easy
way In which to squander money that is
sorely needed in a multitude Of direc-
tions.
Natures laws have never been improved
upon. Birds and animals have to get
their own food or go hungry save in no
table cases OF illness and accident when
the pity OF their kind supplies their needs
Plants do their own struggling or die, as
the case may be. The acknowledged
noblest creation of a masterhand allows
himself To become an offense 10 society.
fOrgets what he owes hts body. his
BRAIN his Creator. and loafs through life.
sometimes harmless, always annoying,
and often dangerous.
When YOU hear a man who is able TO be
about complain because he has to work
hard, set him down as good for little.
Real men and women do not complain.
They do their tasks with the knowledge
that they are Just and with thankfulness
for the needed strength. They may meet
with reverses, but you may be sure that
they were unmerlted. Those are the be-
ings who ought 20 be helped and they are
the ones 20 whom it is impossible 70 offer
ordinary pecuniary assistance They mere
ly want a chance 20 pick up the raveled
stitches IN their own fashion.
None OF the clever men who has sue
ceeded in making way with the money
OF those who literally fed them would
relish a classification with the worthless
tramp, yet how far do they differ?
Neither class is content 10 earn the living
which the world is supposed 20 owe every
man, They want 10 make others pay for
their passage. the price varying with
the intellect In a summer roundup Of
tramps was found a young man whose
respectabiIity had never been questioned
even when be disappeared from home and
left a sorrowing mother 10 eat her heart
out tn anxiety for half a year
Was he ashamed 0f himseIf2 Not a bit
He boldly declared that he preferred a
free ifo"-fTee when hunger, d8mpuess.
foul clothing, and the shrinking from
honest eyes were the best be got in his
bad bargain How could idIeuess or
nature worship or anything else count
against that sCOre2 The problem Of the
hobo is the latest fancy Of those who can
afford such a luxury, though there is the
problem Of the cripple Of the blind, and
Of that larger class, the sick-braiued. yet
unsolved. Don't YOU think We might leave
lazy health 90 care for itself and give
our money, our time and our brain 20
tie sick In body and m'nd2
BETTY BRADEEN