Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-21
AS ONE WOMAN SEES 1T
Matter Of Begging for Others Helps
cne to Realize the Plight Of Those
Forced by Circumstances to
Plead for Themselves
BY SARAH ID. LONyRIE


Each organization has made its budget
to cover the cost of last years running OK
pcnSes plus the expected increase due to its
enlarged work and the increasing demand
upon its services"
That is the way I've begun the onslaught,
but I've never finished it the same way twice.
Budget seems to be Il word that means a
different thing to every person.
One man swung round on his swivel chair
and drew his face into grimace that
seemed to be hung on a hook in the ceiling
for he never looked anywhere else.
How do | know" said he, that those
budgets are not double what they should
be-"
was prepared for him. 1.-THE committee
backing the federation has examined the
books of the institutions, sir, and has con-
vinced itself that the budgets are not unduly
large to cover the very apparent needs of
the case"
A MOTHER one of my "subiects"--a lady
"A this time--who gazed at me with kind
of smoldcring distrust, as though | had de-
signs upon her Parian marble statuary MS
well as upon her Tenth" said with some
asperity
You talk about budgets. 1t seems to me
it's pretty far ahead to ask me TO give
money TO these things'--she indicated the
list of hospitals, day nurseries, settlements,
ctc.-"that won't be spent till August,
some of it. How can they tell what they
will need in August of next year? Last
August was more expensive than any August
I've kept house. This August Of next sum-
mcr ought to be half as expensive. | don't
trust budgets. It's like paying rour bill
before you get it,.
| asked her if she knew what her ,ncomc
was likely to be for the next twelve months
In as soothing n voice as l possess, which
is not saying much. think she felt the
question was a decided liberty, but she
vouChsafed that she did know, and, she
added hn hnvOnU
1t. l then suggested to her that the budget
Of an institution was a hope for the future
based on n knowledge of the past that put
them In the same position financially that
she was when she counted on her income for
the coming year.
She said she would think 1t over.
T AM never cast down when people are
l. willing to talk on the subject Of my
rrrand, or when they dismiss me to think it
over or when they refuse to give anything
because they have Il personal grievance
against one of the committee or one Of the
institutions. / had to sit a half hour
through a bitter arragnmCnt against one of
the organizations | was asking aid for. Re-
ligion and society and lot Of things were
"'i"od up in tho fraCas. and | sympathizcd
very sincerely with the person, who was
.lgntPouSy indignant She did not promise
a cent to me--far from it-but we parted
very amiably and with warm consideration
y
other good influence moved her to ignore her
personal grievance and she made a most
liberal subscription.
ONE of the incest things that happened to
~ me was in the Office Of man of whom ]
had never heard but whom every one in the
building seemed to "kowtow' to as though
he were the boss Of all the bosses. had no
sooner shown my button and begun my
business when lie fired me as few book
agents even have been fired. He swung
round on his chair with an oath and said
to the clerk that had brought me in:
SHOW this person out. What you mean
by letting her in?'
The clerk was very polite and plucky
| about showing me out. lie even took me to
| the elevator and rang the bell for down. "
Il am very sorry" he said. very sorry.
! II isn't right to act so. But it can't be
helped" And then just as the elevator
pumped down that pale tired man reached
into his pocket and produced a dollar bill.
II would like to subscribe a little, II ]
| may" he said, thrustng it into my hand,
and waved the elevator down so that never
| even got his name.
That was one Of the incest things that
| has happened to me in my career as a
! bcggar.
And, indeed, for the most part very happy
! things have come my way during this week
| Of going about on the fcderation's business.
In the first place the public that could
| give mas Deen very well prepared by thc
| work Of the committee. And in the second
| place the persons that have had to do the
asking have been very we'll prepared, so that
there is good feeling all around, real en-
thuSiasm and keen sense OF duty.
T THINK the experience of approaching
| perfect strangers and asking them for
help, even though that help is not for one
~cIt but for an institution that is saving
life or conserving Iifc--l think the queer
| feeling that one has If one is rebuited or
even gently refused, and the grateful feeling
one has If one is successful, the hesitation
one has before one rings the bell at the
| strange door, and the lump IN ones throat
rs one begins to explain ones errand-all
| this is a very enlghtcning experience TO
many and many man or woman who has
urs"r teen up against the actual hardshipS
Of earning living or seeking a job or
n>NIug a stranger for help;
50 many of US live such protected, easy
nfI do, I,,f ",