The Washington herald., 1921-10-19
FINANCIAL CHARITY
ALL WORLD KNOWS,
SAYS DOROTHY DIX
Declares People Have
Forgotten Higher Civ
ing of Jesus.
By DOROTHY DIX.

"hen We think of giving we
'hink OF it in terms of money. We
stamp the dollar mark on all charity.
Inc only people who rouse our pity
are the poverty stricken, and we
oniy feel IL a duty to help those to
nom We can donate food, and
eiothes. and shelter.
We dig down into our pockets
Mnen We want to help our fellow
creatures and hand out a few dimes
20 the poor wretches who are IN
physieal need. but IT never occurs
70 ois down into our hearts, and
I've or its treasures to the men and
linen WAC are starving for SYM
ps.ny' and companionship. and shiv-
IN the Icy blasts of loneliness.
ret Christ himself set us this ex-
ample of the higher charity. He
save love to the unloved. He gave
oSck the dead to those that mourned
tnem: He gave sympathy and UNDER
SANDING. He gave wine to make
wedding feast gayer. He gave
nealtn TO the SICK, but He never
gave any one money.
IS a great pity that we put the
PIlce tag on suffering and its alle-
Satlon because II keeps us fr IA
uoing SO much good that we might
"tnerwise do. Because we can't
oulld hospitals. or endow clinics, or
Iect model tenements. or pay the
nt OF needy widows with seven
h children, we feel that there is
notnlng we can do. And because we
uon Know anyone who is starving
70 oeath. or Is on the point of being
,c1ed from their homes by a cruel
hfrlr
really needs any assistance from us.
ana SO our philanthropic impulses
are strangled In the cradle.
we have not vision enough to
mat there are needs of the
spirit Just as there are needs of
the body. and that 1T is Just as
rue Charity to relieve the one as
me other. The poor rich" is no
iole phrase. Some of the most
needy people in the world are those
VINO have everything that money
can buy. There are men and women
VINO SIT down every day to feasts
VINO are so hungry for a little ap-
probation that they grab at a kind
WORD as a starving dog does at
zone There are men and women
rloins about in limousines and pay
ing Tor expensive seats at the the
aione IN a big city as Robinson
Irusoe was on his desert island.
1t is these calls upon our charity
mat we are too dull to perceive.
BECAUSE the rich and well-to-do
cont stand on a street corner and
rattle a tin cup. we do not realize
mat they are asking aims of us,
ana that they are ready to kiss
our feet in gratitude. and call down
all the blessings of the saints upon
US IL We hand them out a little
1rlendliness. IL we give them a lit
tie Of the gold of QUE time and at
tention.
Run over the list of your ac-
quaintances and you will see what
i mean There's Mrs. A. Lots of
money. fine social position, but she
set her heart upon a worthless hus-
oand who betrayed and deserted
her. She's never had the strength
and courage to put her sorrow be-
hind her and make the best of the
many good things that life left
her She's a never ceasing fountain
of woe, perpetual geyser of tears,
and most people avoid her as they
would the plague. but as meat Is to
the starving, SO IL Is to her to re-
count the story of her wrong.
Could any charity be greater, or
more direct than giving her al
happy hour or two by listening TO
her tale of woe. and handing her
out the pity she begs for?
There's B. As good and kind a
fellow as even lived. A man who
has been model son, and husband
and father. but the most tiresorne
creature who ever talked, with an
assortment Of stories and Jokes that
Adam and Eve must have told each
other in the Garden of Eden.
II B. were in financial troubles,
any OF his friends would see their
duty Of helping him by lending him
some money. .sn't it just as kind
an act. and as benevolent a one.
to lend him your ears when he start,
forth on his wearisome stories, and
to tide him over a bad place at a
dinner table by starting the laugh
at one of his ancient quips?
There's Miss O.. bitter and lonely