Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1920-06-24

lOVCICOIuc tallu tiiCfI opportunities lOI
a better life becomes greatly increas-
ed, 0nd where they are educated and
cared for, many Of them may by some
occupation furnished them, become
independent.
The blind should be given educa-
tional and industrial training at some
institution. The blind are usually
gifted with many talents, and under
proper training may be taught useful
occupations by which they may put
these talents to use. Many thus be-
come self-supporting if employment
is provided them.
Education means far more to the
deaf than to others, because in youth
they receive permanent impressions
from observations, that have q deal
to do in the fashioning of their char
acters. IL uneducated. these people
become a loss or menace to society
for they are helpless to do anything
to aid themselves, and must be sup
ported by others. In an institution
they may be taught lip-reading and
finger-spelling, and by means of their
education become able to take some
position in life that will render them
independent.
The state has direct relation to or
phans, abandoned children, and chill
dren of vicious parents. These help
less children are worthy of relief. for
children are the greatest assets of the
nation. They are the ones who will
be the future citizens of the nation,
and in them is embodied all the pos
sibilities of progress of human So
ciety. Children, properly reared by
the state, will by their education and
power thus acquired, though depend
ent in the beginning, be able in later
years to crown the benevolent act of
the state toward them. by economic
success.
Warehouses are maintained for
destitute adults who have no homes,
but are able to work. Old folks, who
have no one upon whom to rely when
no longer able to work, and are in
distress, deserve relief, for most of
them have done their part to con-
tribute to the success of the coun-
try. The State maintains the Old
Folks Home for these.
These charitable organizations of
the State are superintended by a re-
liable state board of visitors, who in
spect the general conditions and the
appropriations asked for.
Often the state assumes relief work
for the great hordes of the unemploy-
ed. Among these there are many
worthy Of help-those who really
want to work to support themselves.
and those dependent upon them. These
are often given governmental work
to do, OF aided in securing employ
ment.
District nursing, advocated by the
Associated Charities, or private agen-
cies, has done much to relieve sick
ness and disease in districts where
the people are either ignorant as to
how to deal with disease, or unable to
secure medical attention. The dis
trict nurses are undertaking a worthy
cause for humanity when they at
tempt to relieve part of the sick
ness and disease of the country. Sick
ness is the chief occasion for poverty,
and poverty is the chief hindrance to
industrial progress.
4 he charity worker in the slums
and poor neighborhoods creates re-
generating spirit that holds the prom
Use of a new and better world. he
brings to the residents of these dark
places the fine and vital things that
they need to lift them to a higher
plane, and make them better citizens.
In dealing with needy families, care
must be taken to determine if they
are really as deserving as they seem.
Many depend on charity when they
could be self-supporting.
A story is told how the Superintend-
ent of Associated Charities in a GER
tain town met one morning a colored
!! man who had quite frequently ap-
piled to him for food and fuel. The
beneficiary was accompanied by his
wife and seven sturdy children.
"Going somewhere asked the
Superintendent.
"Yas, sar," was the the reply. "Wese
guine to de circus"
"Buut how did you get tickets p
he asked.
"Sold de heatin' stove and bought
EN-" was the unconcerned reply.
"Sold the stove" exclaimed amazed
Superintendent.
Il as, Sar-yOu See> we DON'T neeC
it during the summer and then by ano
by when it gets cold the people viii
give us things for to keep us warm
Anyhow, winters long ways off ane
de circus is right here now"
This family was unworthy Of char
ity. They depended upon winter
charity while they enjoyed summer
joys. If they could manage to go to
the circus, could they not also manage
to support themselves?
But there are many families really
worthy Of aid If family, through
misfortune or accident is forced to
resort to charity, they should be
given speedy and adequate relief in
such way as to preserve their self
respect and raise them to their for
mer standards of living.
We are not all financially able to
do much in the way of relieving dis
tress by gifts of money. but charity
is not alone that sentiment which
leads us to assist the poor with Pc
cuniary donations. It has a more
worthy, more noble and extensive APP
plication-one in which every one, no
matter what his position might be
can participate. We can all strive to
be slow to anger, and easy to forgive
our fellowmen, and treat them all
with kindness and brotherly love.
It is this brotherly love that St.
Paul seeks to portray in that beauti-