The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1916-04-27
The Vagaries of the Charitably Inclined.

tnlted States has been Hooded with c0urlerS
from every part of the war-stricken places
in the interests of those who were suffering
from the effects of the war
We have titled, distinguished, and just
plain folks, from Germany, Austria, France,
Belgium, and one from Ireland, all asking
aims for the men who were helpless, the
women who were penniless, and the children
who were homeless and parentless.
And light nobly did the people of this coun-
try respond. There is no data at hand by
which one could accurately compute the actual
amount of money given, nor the value OF the
provisions. clothing and various supplies sent
to Europe, by the charitably inclined.
That part reads very good; one feels flush
of pride as one realizes that this, one of the
youngest of nations, should be able to do 50
much for the stricken of other countries.
There are in New York City, a band Of
people who seek very little in the way of pub
licity for the work they are trying to do.
There are some splendid names on the list
as mana gers trustees, patrons and all the rest
of the titles which every well-meaning board
for the lettering or the uplift of our brother
in distress seem to regard as absolutely neces-
sary for the carrying on of the work, and
once in while there are phases of the diff
ficultes they have to overcome that makes one
wonder Just what motive actuates the average
charitably inclined person who will give SO
willingly and so freely to people whom they
do not know to whom they are not bound
by any ties of kinship, relation or sentiment,
and ignore so absolutely the claims of those
near home.
Two of the cases in point are these: for
some years there have been efforts made by
the Welfare Association of New York to pro-
l. HDo 1u
fault was their age, and their inability to
compete with younger men; some of these
men had been artisans of great skill, but they
were poor, homeless, proud, and anxious to
earn their living.
When the European War prevented the
usually heavy shipment of made-in-Germany
toys, some one suggested that the simpler
toys might be made in this country, and some
one else suggested training some of these old
men in jack-saw carving, painting and put
ting together the results of their efforts, and
making supply of toys of the simpler sort
that mi ght appeal to the sentiment, if nothing
more, of the people of New York.
Did it succeed?
1t did not There was no glamour about
so simple matter as helping some old men
to provide themselves with a home, and
save their pride; there was nothing to be
blaZOned III the newspapers, nOthlng Whlcn
would give the donors of any money niche
in the hall of newspaper fame. So after pull
ing through winter that was unusually hard,
these old men faced their old enemies, home
lessness and hunger. for the lack of interest
in the work they had been so glad to do.
The little Noah's arks. and the little wooden
animals. and the rose bush supporters and the
boo1-racEs. piled up in the rooms that had
seen them born and the old men were told
they would soon have to move, as the owner
of the building was going to rent it, or tear
it down.
so far thnro has hepn no note made of anv