The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-22
En- ening Chat
Charity a Right.
BY RUTH CAMERON.

The question as to whether it is in
any way lowering to accept charity
came up the other day. The concrete
example who started the discussion
was a dear old lady who can. not fbf4sa'
the idea of going into an old folks
home because it is partially supported
/ by charitable contributions.
She thinks it will be degrading to
accept that measure of charity.
There can be no worse blot on the
name of charity than this feeling.
Anyone who by giving in a spirit of
patronage or superiority helps to
create that sense of resentment and
degradation has much to answer for.
A doctor told me the other day that
it is the small salaried lower middle
class Ct always use such terms in their
financial sense), and not the very poor
who suffer most from the need of
medical attendance.
I'VE doctors are always ready to
give our services where there is need"
he said, land the very poor accept
the gift frankly and turn to US for
help. It's the small salaried middle
class on whom sickness falls the heav-
lest. It's almost impossible for them
to put aside a margin for doctors
bills and when they are sick they are
in a tight place. Som etimeS they go
without medical advice when they
need it badly, and sometimes they
starve themselves afterwards to pay
the bills. All because it seems degrad-
ing TO them to ask for charity. Too
bad charity has such a bad name.
1t is indeed
To my mind charity is the right of
everyone who needs it (if he has done
his best not to need it, and should be
accepted with dignity as right, not
privilege.
I believe that the world owes every
man and woman in it a living, provid-
ed that man or woman does all in his
power to earn that living.
1t may be that i'll health or indus
trial conditions or other circumstances
for which the individual is not to
blame prevent him from earning a
decent living or from being able to
give his children an education or from
saving for sickness or old age.
Why should anyone In such posi-
ton be ashamed to accept help from
those whose better fortune lays an
obligation upon them to give it to
him?
1t is as if some one who has been
playing a game squarely and to the
best of his ability should feel ashamed
that the cards had run against him
There are only two classes of people
who have any reason for shame in
this connection-they are the people
who have been too lazy and shiftless
to deserve charity and those who have
given in such a spirit as to make
charity a synonym for degradation.
And so queer a thing is human life,
it is these people who seldom are
ashamed.
Question: am a man hater- What
is the remedy for such a case?
Answer=You have rather an I'M
usual disease for a woman (Which I
take it you are.) 1 can't tell you how
to cure the disease without knowing
what caused it. Your experience with
men has probably been unfortunate.
You need to meet some worthwhile
men,
I do wish people who write me for
advice would give me correct names
and sufficient addresses. A very
touching letter came to me the other
day from a man who wanted to know
whether his duty was to his parents
or to his fiancee, who had been taken
ill and sent to another climate L sat
down directly Gin the middle of a busy
morning) and wrote him a long per-
sonal letter. The address was insult
ficient and the letter came back a few
days ago. If he will send me his full
address 1 will send it back to him. L /
will never betray your trust and L
wish you wouldn't distrust me
protected by the Adams Newspaper
Service.] J