South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-25
Lend q Hand
In Good Works
Aquaint Yours elf With
Some Problems of the Day
And Help to Solve Them

Half the indifference-or apparent
indiference-Of many good folk is
that they cannot believe that condi-
tions existing are as evil as they are
represented.
1T can't be true!" is not an argu-
ment. but is a mental soporinc that
lulls many a conscience to sleep
Many people do not believe what
they do not see. They may not be
from Missouri but they have all the
ear marks. even unto the long ears of
Missouris great staple. the mule. If
we never took the word of another
we might perhaps with some degree
of consistency refuse in the instance
of the moral refOrmer. But we must
perforce take much in the world of art
and letters-of religion and reform
upon the word of someone who has
taken time TO investigate the subject.
III is a day of specialists. Even in
reform and settlement work 1t is the
right of the enthusiast, who works
among the people, to tell the rest of
us, who merely theOriZe, as TO the true
conditions existing.
We must understand that these peo-
pie are giving thought, and Love, and
L
lines in which we feel that we can
speak with authority, but it is not
right for us 10 take the scraps of items
which we throw upon the junk heap
which represents the average brain
and pretend that we speak with au-
thority.
Some one said that working people
must be making good wages for every
thing has gone up in price-due, they
fnndl-- hone increase of wages hut
the person who works among the
wage earners will tell you that wages
have no. increased in proportion TO
the cost of living. In many instances
there is no increase in wages and yet
a great increase in prices. Somewhere
there is a fault in our economic sys-
tenn. 1t is for the specialist in this
line Of domestic economy to find out
where the trouble lies and the remedy
to apply. But we must help the per-
son who tries to help US by an intell-
gent interest and thoughtful consider
alton of the facts presented.
We must not dismiss subjects
brought to us with an attempt TO dis
credit the statements without study
research back of us.
1T can't be true" is no argument.
1t has contributed no facts to the con-
troversy in any case. There is but one
place where it is a valuable sentence.
That place is where the character of
some fellow man is impugned. Then
we may join the army of doubling
Thomases with honor and with right
Almost anything good may be true.
/ Much that is evil is also true. Not all
the binding of eyes can make that less
a truth. Then come into the open and
say "let me help" or tell me what
| to do"
! 1t is a great thing to lend a hand in
Iany good work. 1t is a fine thing to
give your enthusiasm TO help it on.
The dull quiet audiences that greet
! lecturers may he due TO studious
thought but a little effervescing enthu-
siasm would help the speaker amaz-
ingly.
! Don't be afraid 10 cheer on the good
work. People may laugh at your en-
! thusiasm but the enthusiast is the
man or woman who makes good.
| Bring your enthusiasm into your own
work and let it spill over generously
on that of your neighbor. If you
can't do a good work yourself then
cheer the person who is doing ii.