The Washington times., 1914-04-03
MAIL BAG
(F1Om The Times RedderS.)

To the Editor of THE TIMES:
Your recent publication of the letters
OF some of the ladies engaged in the
highly commendable work OF making
the world better has been Of very
cIoat value, and more especially, l
would say. in revealing the l;/ge num-
Der of philanthropists who aSe laboriES,
Trough societies and oy individual ef-
forts, to help in the work of uplifting
tn. masses and improving the condi-
ticns of living generally.
There was never a time in the his
tory of the world when the work Of such
phianthropists was more needed than
the present. But since ignorance is the
basis and underlying cause of the ills
which beset us, and since education is
its great antidote and cure, it will Re-
qrIrc no argument to have it accepted
that the remedy must be constantly and
vi remittlngly applied IN order to be
mos effective.
This has suggested TO me the pity
TIA; no adequate means has been pro-
vided for difrusing the stores Of use
fil knowledge our philanthropic work
erS stand ready to mpurt to all the
people. For this reason i would sug-
grst that a journal be established ana
maintained for the purpose OF filterins
to all the strata of society the lest
tho ught of the day as to the most eff
fective remedies and curves for our Ills
Such a journal maintained for the
purpose Of giving helpful Information
by which the condition OF all might be
benefited who are now struggling with
the greatest handicaps in the nome
would be a perpetual bulwark against
the devastating Influences of ignorance
and crime in our national life, and
could not but operate to arouse and d.
rect increased philanthropic efforts to
the cause Of our national uplift.
/ can conceive Of no philanthropy
which will have a more salutary and
enduring influence for the greatest good
to the greatest number, and which VIII
always yield the largest dividends In
the prime essentials for our national
perpetuation-the health and thrift OF
all the people-such a journal conduct
ed with the prime object of educating
the people as the best means for secur-
ing the highest degree OF health. happi-
ness and efficiency in life would prove
veritable university. extending its
beneficient influences from the highest
to the lowest. And 1t could not TAIL
to render more effective the admirable
work now being done through the vari-
Gus societies. But It would undoubted-
many others in sympathy with all the
ends and aims of this philanthropic
work, but who now take no active in
terest as they have never seen clearly
how their individual efforts could be
made to bear Fruit in satisfactory
way.
It would have the further Advantage
of keeping alive the agitation for re-
form in all the defects and faults in our
national life until the very best thought
of the time had been brought to bear
against the ills to be corrected.
| would. therefore, suggest that a ma
tional association be formed with nomi-
nal dues-say 81 annually-to commence
the agitation for starting such a publi-
cation which ] think could very APP
propriately be called the George Wash
ington Memorial Magazine. and which
would be by far the most useful me
mortal We could erect to the Father OF
His Country, who believed so firmly in
the education of the masses as the best
safeguard against the ills which our
many philanthropic societies are striv-
ing SO hard to cure.
But, "in a multitude of counselors
there is safety" and l believe more in
telIIGent and effective efforts can be
made to yield better results in some
instances.
DR.. GUSTAVUS WERBER.
Thirteenth and = streets.