Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-02
ALTRulsM THAT o,Ea LEAPS.
ITSELF.

W SELF.
The enthusiasm of youth is SO
beautiful to look upon ~ Il rule that
even when 1t goes OF at q tangent we
are almost inclined TO approve of il,
giving it creS:t for It's good ,inten-
tons. and let bad results be charged
up TO the profit and loss account.
There are fields, though, into which
1t is harmful for this enthusiasm to
venture, when enthusiasm becomes
bnbbling exuberance. rs it so often
does in youth. The thought lis sug-
sested by the report that n pair of
vealy selons of prominent families in
New England have started out to
teach the gray old world and every
body IN 1t how life should really lie
lived along altruistc lines. That
they should be married seemed
eminenly 1T, but II they had
settled down To do their part In that
particular sphere in which they be-
longeL. the world would not have
taken any particular cognizance OF
them. They were altogether TO al
truistlc for anything OF that Sort
that would be so selfish, they
reasoned Both were rich. but
they put money aside and the man
donned jumper and ovoralls and got
him job at 50 n week upon which
to support himself ana wife. They
rented two rooms and set up house
Keeping ana no doubt imagined that
they were happy. MS they had gone
into altruism-into socialism as some
people put it--ln real earnest and not
in theory only, They did all this for
the purpose of studying the problem
Of the people. Sounds all very nice
doesn't It? but what will come of
all OF 1t?
In tho case of this young couple,
and others like them. We have fair
examples OF altruism that "o'er leaps
itself and falls ON the other side" AZ
10 contemplate. AS q means or
method OF doing good for the poor and
lowly. such acts are deusion and
Il snare. II may sound triile harsh
10 call them sound and fury. signify
Ing nothing" but what else are they?
Let us take practical--a worldly
view. IL You will-of the matter,
What can tho youth do. be he ever
so enthusiastic. with his SO u week
barely enough 10 support himself and
Wife III q NEST meager way? With
all his time taken with the duties oil
his position, and all hers occupied
with the drudgery of hous work.
what can either, or both of them. do
in tho way OF teaching others? How
much more sensible II would have
been If tho rich couple had gone
, among the people whose needs they
desired to relieve, with open purses
and with kindly words for the dis
! tressed; with ice In the hot weather,
and fuel when the freezing months
came along. BY relinQuishlng their
money they put It out of their power
to do the very good they pretended
to he so anxious to do. Besides that
when tho rich. young man accepted
that 80 week place he crowded out
somebody else who needed it.
II Is very well to talk about chart
ty breeding pauRerism hut too OFTEN
is such theoretical tommyrot utilized
as n bulwark for seltishness. 1t
sounds nice to talk about getting
down among the poor and lowly. and
by living among them. lift them up to
higher ideals, but 1t is not easy-nor
does much success come from ito
try teach ideals while there is hunger
and sickness. and the spectre OF gaunt
! poverty is the constant companion Of
those to be taught Altruism in books
is one thing, but 1t is easy to carry
| " 10 ridiculous extremes through Just
such misguided enthusiasm. Genuine
aitrulsm-the sort that is not the
growth of personal cnthusiasm-is
based on creature comforts. Feed
the hungry. and they will be much
more easily nplifted. Genuine al,ru-
ism is spelled with the three IS" of
tho Salvation Army Supper, Soap
and Salvation.
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a Sunday school teacher in New
York has been sent to state nrison