New Britain herald., 1917-04-12

should not be at all in the nature of private charity, but rather a public duty. Last summer we studied care- fully the splendid methods of the Canadian Patriotic Relief fluid in Montreal, conducting most pleasant correspondence with its leaders. If our local problem becomes large, we shall offer ourselves and our volun- teers for service in exactly the same manner as the Montreal workers. At present, while we might form a Char ity Organization Service league, or fly off at a dozen tangents. it seems
 better to wait quietly until we see what need develops
 The Seven League Boots of the old fairy tale have 8 modern and efficient substitute in the automobile. If there were any one thing which would
 help us most at this time, aside from the ever necessary funds for special cases, 1t would be an automobile committee composed of people who
 would be willing to loan their carl for an hour a. week or an hour a month. We have had just enough of
 this assistance to realize what may be accomplished through it. It is not
 that we wish to trundle grandly
 through the streets enjoying the air it is the saving of time in making visits, that we consider. The people we befriend are scattered all over town. usually off the cariines, where rents are cheaper. Oftentimes the families who need us most on a cer- tain day are at opposite ends of the oif INo O ir getting from one to another, and the greater the distance the more time is wasted which might go into actual service.
 Need a Runabout
 If we could only jump quickly from one home to another. we paid workers could give far more service in return for our wages. In some cities, especially in the vest charity organi- zation societies are given little runa- bout cars for this very reason. Such gifts are splendid for visiting nurses, l who are handicapped just as we are, in covering ground. But for paid charity workers to go about in an automobile, distributing charity. sa- vors too little of the example of St. Francis. It goes against the grain, both with contributors and with workers themselves, and for that req son it is often deemed advisable in other cities for societies to pay the salary of an extra worker, rather than for the purchase and upkeep of a car. just because of this criticism and consequent lessening of donations. This sentiment meets our feelings exactly, and yet the use of a car is ! tremendous help. It is just as es- sential to a charity visitor as to a doctor. Would it not be possible for people to phone the Charity Organ ization when they have a spare hour for their car, not at all with the mo- tion of saving shoe leather for the workers, but simply to make it pos sible to accomplish 9 maximum of service during that hour for people who are i'll and in need of immediate assistance.
 And right here we want to pay a we'll deserved tribute to our volun- teers. They come to us on certain days at certain hours, and go about 1 two by two rendering real service These young women were members of 1 class conducted last year by the ! agent, and they are better able to give intelligent service because of their l knowledge of the city's affairs.
 They arrange to take children to l doctors and specialists in this city and 1 out of town, they see to prescriptions escort youngsters whose eyes need ] testing. buy railroad tickets. notify | women of work we have found nego- l tiate in rent or insurance matters, pay l bills in restaurants and stores, take 1 messages and papers to other. offices verify records at the town clerks of.
 fec and do dozens of like errands. The volunteer office help consists mostly in telephoning notices to com.
 mittees. Aside from the help it give. 1 Us in the present work, it develops l also the type of young women who
 will be directors of this or that loca philanthropy in another decade or sc
 giving them a practical concrete ides of the makeup and the needs of thi.
 city.
 Young Women For Volunteer Service Another class of young women ha.
 been meeting regularly since the Is
 Of December on Saturday mornings a F the office, and before long they to<
 will graduate into volunteer service Not content to wait for this time tt arrive they have done some sewins
 for us, and have donated 8 fund o
 $15O to be used for babies. We hay.
 horror of the cut and dried parlanc,
 of charity offices which abounds if
 such terms as "cases'', records
 "Cross references, investigation
 and "co-operation." At a risk of be
 ing thought less erudite. your agen
 has carefully avoided the technica
 and mechanical side, which may hay,
 it's modest place under cover, like skeleton, but which should never b,
 dragged out and exposed. The poin
 we believe in emphasizing is the hu
 man side. If some clerical work be