The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-04-07
Doing Good.
BY Walt Mason.

IL / ndu ullllOn dollars, re-
marked the obese boarder, I'D do
lot of good in the world. Every win
ter I'd buy a thousand suits of
clothes for as many down-and-outers.
I'd like to be rich, because | could do
so much good"
IF you had a million dollars, 8"
said the star bOarder, you'd have
entirely different views concerning
such matters. You'd be pointing out
to anxious inquirerS that indiscrimi-
nate charity has a demoralizing eff
feet upon the people, and instead of
buying the thousand suits of clothes
you'd buy yourself a new motor car.
Most of US are fond of talking about
how munificent we'd be if we had
million dollars; but, in order to do
good, we don't need such a large
quantity of money. In this highly
respectable family boarding house
there are many second hand hats
and shoes and garments Of various
kinds which might go to the down
trodden and oppressed, just as well
as not. | have a stovepipe hat | have
not worn for twenty years. | bought
it once when l figured on being mar
ried. 1t was a part of perfectly
gorgeous regalia l purchased for that
occasion, but the bride didn't show
up at the appointed hour. She
changed her mind at the last mo-
ment, as it were, and eloped with
young man who had sold toilet soaps,
complexion powders and various ar
ticleS of a kindred nature
Il have never worn that hat since,
and it remains in my bed room,
melancholy souvenir. I'd gladly give
it to some worthy man if he would
come after it, but it's too much
trouble to carry it around the corner
to the relief office, and | can't afford
to advertise the fact that | have a
stOVepipe hat to give away. Some
unfortunate man, beaten and buffet
ed by a cruel world, might regain his
self-respect and enter upon a career
OF usefulness if he had that hat,
but it continues to hang around my
room.
There would be a great deal more
charitable work done if giving things
away were all there is to it. But we
all hate to go to any trouble about it,
and so we sit at the groaning board
and talk about what we'd do if we
had q million.
If rich man really wanted to do
good with his money he could find
plenty of opportunities, but they'd
call for some little personal effort,
and naturally he objects to that. If
millionaire went the rounds of the
cheap lodging houses on a cold win
ter night he could unload quite a
package of money to good advantage,
but it's a lot easier to send a large
check to a college, or establish a hos
pital or a public pool hall, and that
sort of thing would bring a better
grade of advertising, and it's adver
Using we are all after, Mrs. Jiggers.
IF | ever do gather up the old
hats and neckties and slippers in my
closet and take them to the relief de-
partment for the benefit of the poor
I'll try to charter a fife and drum
band for the occasion, and if the
event is pulled off in good shape and
makes a hit I'll announce myself as
a candidate for some office. People
who do good in a large handed, lib
eral way usually do run for office
while the fact is fresh in the public
mind.
And when a man runs for office
he always insists that his one ambi-
ton is to do good, to serve the people
and make the world happier and bet
ter. There are times when | feel that
I'd give fifty cents to meet man
willing to admit that he wants an Of
flee for what there is in it. If such
a man ever does appear, and makes
his position plain, the people will rail-
ly around him with enthusiasm and
he will be triumphantly elected. For
the people, my dear Mrs. Jiggers, are
tired of statesmen and others who
want to serve them in purple and
fine linen, while they wear hickory
shirts and blue jeans. They are in
the mood of that ancient voter who
threw the harpoon into Aristides be-
cause he was tired of hearing that
patriot referred to as the just
Doing good is a long distance
business. If we can do good by press
ing button while seated in a rock
ing chair before a comfortable fire
it is passing we'll; but if we are re-
quired to go out in the snow with
lantern in order to help our fellow
men we remember important engage
ments that can't be postponed. So
I'll trouble you for some of the toast,
Mrs. Jiggers.