The Washington herald., 1909-11-22
Money Squandered.

Elltdy The Washington Herald:
II IS stated that $4,000 has been raised
In Washington for tho establishment and
maintenance Of a home" for vagrant
dogs and cats. The occurrence Of such
deplorable folly IS worse than ordinary
wastefulness Of money. because 70 brings
peril for the public with II IN preserving
and propaEatiug dogs. q class Of cres-
lures that cause moro suffering and hor-
rlble deaths for human beings than all
the other beasts IN the world combined.
as their friEhtful record proves beyond
any question. The sentiment which
prompts such action IS uaudin sympathy
I'm its most extreme, senseless. dangerous,
and rCgrettable form.
No possible public benefit can come
from such a scheme. while there is the
absolute certainty that some Of the brutes
thus preserved and distributed among
misguided persons VIII cause calamitous
consequences Even il only one death OF
a human being should be the result. or
only one child should be mangled. as so
many are every year. and permanently
disfgured. that would be more lament
able than the destruction OF all the dogs
in washington. Where are the parents
who viii dispute this IN respect Of their
own child?
one might conclude from this exhibition
Of folly that there ar no opportunities
for the manifestation Of genuine human
lty iu the beautiful city which IS the
home Of the United States government;
that there are no hospitals there for
crippled children. no institutions for the
care ~ needy persons. aged and helpless.
and other dependents upon the charity OF
ldnd-hearted people whose gifts. however
bountiful, never equal the amount that
can be used discreetly How can any
one who realizes this ever contribute 60
the support Of such fanaticism I'm the
I face Of the fact that every dollar so ex-
/ pended means suffering and distress in
various ways for some poor victim Of
/ disease or other misfOrtune2 Hundreds Of
| boys are on the road 20 the penitentiary
or the gallOws who would grow into use
/ ful citizens. men Of worth and prOmi-
hence. ulung places OF public trust, IL
given the benefit Of the time. care. and
money squandered on n collection OF use
| less brutes that are a general nuisance
and a peril to the people Of every COM
munity.
In Chicago noble-hearted woman,
/ Mrs. Talcott. donated a fund. the interest
| on which provides every year a pair OF
shoes FOR the children in an orphan asy-
/ lum, who look forward with eager an
/ ucipauon 20 ,he annual gift. the brightest
/ day In the year Eor them and remember
/ their beuefactor with lasting gratitude
| for her practical philanthropy which is
eXtolled By all who hear it, far and near.
{ &c f4r.-
has kept five mongrel ours not worth a
dime, except for conversion into fertilizer.
| They are fed on what the children Of
! poor parents within a stones throw Of
her residence would consider a feast. The
money expended on them would bring
/ happiness and comfort where poverty now
causes suffering and distress. When such
/ women cross the bar one Is mourned
! by all, and her benefactions never for
gotten, while the distorted devotion Of
/ the other inspires only contempt. The
/ representatives of one class bring relief
/ and cheer to millions I'm adversely. but
( no one is benefited by the cratic course
/ OK the fanatics. These. unfortunately. are
/ too often the controlling influence in
/ humane and "anti-cruelty'' societies.
\ preventing efficient work IN "a feld where
there IS abundant opportunity for doing
/ good by well-directed service.
/ DR.. Il. G. Schroeder is widely known as
! the able superintendent of the govern
/ ment experiment station at Bethesda,
} Nd. He is lover of dogs. having owned
/ them all his life, but ne is not a "senti-
! mentalist Referring TO the sorrow and
suffering Of children IN large cities he
said: When hear of this cat shelters
and dog shelters and other similar man
/ iiestauons Of maudlin seLtimentalty i'm
/ press me like philanthropy that has gone
asuay under the probable guidance Of
/ the devil In the face Of this human
suherinS' not Of responsible ADULTS. but
or innocent children, whose presence
J among US Is regardless OF their own