New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
THE KINDLY CITY.

II is often thought Of as the heartless
CITY. In it neighbors may live side by
side for years and never know each
other. The stranger who sees the hur-
rying faces In the streets, each passer
intent on his own concerns. and who
finds all about him seemingly INDIFFERENT
to him In his lonely lodging, will miss the
friendly curiosity and ready hospitality
of a smaller town and may think human
ity here is case hardened by convention,
by selfshneSs and by the struggle for ex-
istence In the maelstrom. But these are
only the accidents Of metropolitan life,
springing from the vastness OF It's mass
and the diffusion Of its interests. They
are TO be found In all the great world
capitals: and If here more than In some
others the stranger finds 1t difficult 10
share in popular festivals 1t Is only be-
cause the American does not enter into
popular festivals with naive freedom any
more than he naturally dimes on the side
walk of the boulevard. But in essentials
the heart Of New York is as natural,
kindly and sympathetic as that of The
thousand villages which are the parents
Of a large part Of the New Workers.
Where it is not kindly it is generally be-
cause it does not know where and how
its kindliness Is needed.
1t is not q heartless city in which hun
dreds Of men and women have been busy
for weeks filling thousands of red Christ
mas stockings so that every boy and girl
whom the charity workers have discoy-
cred may receive visit from Santa
Claus. The long line of appeals from
Christmas organizations which the news
papers publish and for which money is
sent in response reveal warm hearts and
ready sympathieS in every quarter and
among all classes. The number OF fam
lilies whose thoughts Of merTymaking are
confined to their own members or their
own circle is vastly less than the cynical
philosopher will Imagine. Yet 1t Is not
Of charities or gifts or newsboy dinners
which we wish to speak, but Of the
abounding spirit Of personal relationship
which exists under that surface aspect
great city show 10 the stranger. And the
thought springs from an incident coming
under our eyes. A few days ago an Eng
llshman without acquaintance here wrote
to The Tribune asking its readers Tor
suggestions as to where in his loneliness
he might find q pleasant holiday. We
were flooded with letters Of advice to
him, some of which were published.
Among them, not published, were kindly
personal letters from quiet, well-to-do,
conservative homes seeking his acquaint-
ance, even asking him to join in that
most intimate Of family gatherings, the
Christmas dinner Among the letters
published was one signed "DOwncast,"
from a man evidently refined but out OF
employment giving his views on the day.
We have since forwarded to him several
letters asking to see him and offering him
II chance for work.
These are only Incidents, but they are
typical. More people are about with eyes
open and hearts warm. ready TO seize an
opportunity not merely 10 do good
but TO be friendly, than there are people
about with a grabbed. selfish spirit.
Among five millions. of whom only
handful can be known by any other
handful, there Is. OF course. much lOneli-
ness, poverty and suffering. which it is
the hard broblem Of civilization to miti-
gate-perhaps abolish. But we may take
comfort in the conviction that never
since the first Christmas were five mill
ions gathered together, jostling one an
yerSal spirit of kindliness and helpful
ness and determination to live out the
| idea Of the brotherhood Of man.