The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-06

but v imported coal, hence Gear
rying Goals to Newcastle" has come
to be used as descriptive of any piling
up OF a surplus where there was al
ready a plentiful supply. All commu-
mites must have fuel. but Newcastle
does not need coal, its need having
been supplied. The story is told Of
Ia group of benevolent ladies who
worked hard to I'LL a missionary box
for South Africa. The good mission
airy who received l was dismayed to
find that it contained nothing but
flannel petticoats. These articles Of
apparel were customary and necessary
in the New England city where they
were made. and because Of the char
acter Of the climate flannel was the
best and most comfortable material
Of which they could be made. The
donors had failed to realize that the
Hottentot sisters did not wear these
garments. and that IL they did. flannel
was not a suitable material to build
them Of. The needs Of the two COM
munities were different. Work is
necessary for all men. But one man
is a chronic idler. while another works
hard for sixteen hours a day at small
pay. The n man needs work. and
lots Of it. The other needs rest. One
man rises from a nine course dinner,
another has not had a square meal for
a week. Are their needs alike: The
one man needs food. the other does
not. for he is full Of it. The sweat
shop worker lives. eats. sleeps and
works with a dozen others in a dark.
cramped room where the germs are SO
thick they could be tossed out with a
pitchfork. Another follows q pillow all
day on a North Dakota prairie farm.
The sweat-shop victim needs fresh air.
Whatever the field worker may stand
in need Of lit is not fresh air. The
slum child never saw a blade Of grass,
never say a tree, neve heard a free
bird sing. never set his foot on the
fresh earth. never saw the sun shine
save down a narrow chasm flanked
by tall buildings. with its rays dimmed
by SCOT and smoke from belchine
chimneys. had his hair tossed
by a breeze OF clean air. The child
in h small city lives where one nun.
bred homes contain fewer souls than
Il single city tenement, and where
they occupy more space than in the
city is crowded with ten thousand,
where the houses are low and set with
ample average space. front. rear, and
sides. where green grass and shady
trees and singing birds and the soft
touch Of fresh earth IN bare feet are
commonplace. where the u shines
freely and the wind sweeps freely and
where ten minutes walk In any direc-
ton will bring him to the city limits
and the boundless freedom and illimi-
table eXpanse OF all outdoors. The
home in a great city 10 a cell in a great
prison Of brick and mortar. where no
man knows his neighbor. where men
spend a lifetime side by side as strang-
ers. where millions Of people are
crowding. hurying and jostling, their
activities restricted to two little spots.
the home and the working place. and
all other parts Of the vast area are
strange. The home in the small city
is so situated as to promote the growth
of neighborly habits. Neighbors run
in" on each other. They borrow and
lend. They swap yarns over the back
fence. They help each other with
chores. They take care Of each 9TH
er's children. Occasionally they quar-
rel. but usually they become econ
ciled. Altogether the conditions are
such that they tend toward the elm
nation Of differences. the growth Of
friendships. the discussion Of matters
Of common interest and the develop
ment Of a community spirit.
The moral Of all this is tina every
tub must stand on its " bottom;
that the needs Of person are not
the needs of another. and the needs
Of one community 2 not those of
another; that a practical consideration
Of the needs Of a class or an in
dividual, or a community involves not
merely an understanding Of human
needs as a general philosophy, but a
definite appreciation Of what things
are lacking in each particular case
viewed in the light, not only Of gen
eral needs, but of specific possessions.
Otherwise We will find ourselves car.
rying Goals to Newcastle, and sending
flannel petticoats to the Hottentots.