Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-08
Feeding the Hungry Again.

The announce cement that the rescue
Mission Band il Offering free meals To the
poor of the city conveys the surprising
intelligence that there is n considerable
number of persons here who are in need
of such charity. II seems less than three
months ago that we, in common with All
other people of the country, wcro almost
on the topmost wave Of prosperity, spend
ing money as though the supply was IN
exhaustible, and nobody at That time
would have ventured the prediction that
within so short period there would be
people begging for bread.
After FIVE years OF almost entire freedom
from the grip of poverty, the declaration
that the poor are always with MS is aga'n
confirmed and this truth brings an un-
mistakable touch of sadness and regrt
that we cannot both eat the cake and
always have It. During those FIVE years
we recall the pleasure il afforded everyone
20 know that practically there was no
poverty in our land II wns. indeed, an
agreeable experience to understand that
everyone who had health had profitable
employment and weekly pay big enough
70 provide generously for his family, even
to indulge them in sone Of the smaller
extravagances. that seem dear to every
human heart. Fine feathers. pretty things
for the homo, frequent little outings, better
living conditions, everything that went
TO obliterate the gruesome ghost OF en-
forced self-denial and fear OF ultimate
rainy days. all made these wears memo
rable and happy so far rs material pos
sessions and the escape for time from the
nenoce Of tho gaupt wolf could bring
happiness
How comforting and assuring was that
sense Of plenty, that realization that 'here
is enough at hand for every ono, ana 70
spare. What n sense Of JOY comes from inc
knowledge that there is no ono oi our
fellow-rnen in want. that each has found
his work and wage that is bringing h'in
all Of tho comforts and good things OF iie
that he can wish for. II almost seemed
that the expected millennium had tiength
been reached. for fear Of want, the greatest
source Of worry. tho blacklist cloud OF our
civilization, bad been pierced by inc sun
shine Of happiness.
To realize that within a period ct three
months bread lines are reforming and soup
kitchens rcopening to- feed the huugerin"'
| brjnus back some vesti~e of the old Gloom
that has never failed 20 reappear y
seems 20 be always waiting IN the shad9"
for its opportunity to come unwelcoinF
| into the experience of the poor. People
naturally will ask themselves what has
become Of the ocean OF money the.
flowed se freely through our hands, and
/ in and out Of our pockets IN those days q
! great abundance, and perhaps the onlS
| answer is that Il is idle. that there ls no
| profitable work for IL 20 dc The buishR
bank vaults probably contain the most
| az il. and go long an il Is az rest go mucn
the harder il is ~ acquire that com
petency which spells plenty
One might here point the u toid-you'
SO" finger At the men and women Wh'
may answer the invitation Of the Rescue
Mission Rand 10 come all " who ar'
hungcrine and athirst but why accuse
them Of lacking prudence to lay up money
against the inevitable rainy dav? one car
hardly blame them il they found 1t DIM
cult "a resist the epidemic Of spending tha'
seemingly attacked every normal human
l.
person. for il probably was tho most de
Iightful and interesting experience theN
had ever encountered And perhaps the,
do not repent Of their, what may he re
garded as folly. even though Vt bring
them TO accept preferred aims
That we should descend from the peai
of hitherto unqualified prosperity to tp'
soup kitchen in three or four month";
illustrates the improvidenoe otta iars
portion of mankind. but not OF all. Tor IN
savings banks Of the country illustrate
that thrift still IS largely prse'iced amoni
the masses Of people, and that the doors O
thousands Of American homes have bce'
forever barred to the wolf that ma
. threatened them with invasion.
We commend the work Of the Rescu'
Mission Band in its timely recognition of
condition that csmo unawares to almos
all the rest Of the community. Nher
there is need it may always be foun'
ministering to the afflicted with the crus
Of bread and cup of water in the Master
name.