Evening star., 1923-01-21
Marshall Would Restore
Personal Touch i'm Charity

chins-like. am reminded Of the
urs - close the eyes Of n patient
who had died in the night. Her
defense was that her chart carried
no instruction to do SO. So COM
prehensive has become our present.
day methods Of science that only
the great middle class Of Amer
leans fail to receive proper treat
rich. by use Of their money. and
the unutterably poor. by reason Of
modern charity, are the beneficial
ries Of the most advanced knowl-
edge and highest skill.
Money for charity Is now OBJ
tanable everywhere, both by gov
ernment appropriation and private
fails to contributs state lesisla-
lures and the National Congress
draw on their treasures. The
trouble Is people give Of their
money alone, not OF their SYM
pathy. And whether we give
much or little, we are prone to
think we have done enough--all
fact, when we have made our do
nation. BY the work itself we
cannot be bothered. Hired help
can be obtained with the money
we give The hired help Is also
supposed to furnish whatever Of
personal touch Is required.
This Is the usual development:
Kind-hearted souls conceive some
new Institution to alleviate the
sorrows of mankind. They inter
est their friends and the public to
the extent of raising enough
money to get the project under
way. AS the days go by en-
thusiasm begins to flag, interest
to die. It is then suggested that
the city or the state or the gem
eral government can do the work
better, get greater results. In the
end. that which was started as a
private philanthropy becomes a
public enterprise.
We all can well remember when
most physicians were glad to give
part Of their time to free clinics.
When / was temporarily domiciled
in the city of Washington many Of
the leading medical men cheer
fully gave voluntary service in be-
half of sick infants whose parents
advice and treatment. To expand
the work beyond the point which
II could reach as a private bene-
faction, it's sponsors decided to
ask the Congress for a small ap-
propriation. The Congress com
piled by voting money. Soon the
voluntary service Of experts com
that doctors and surgeons must
now be paid for the services which
they previously were glad to do
nate. In many cities of America
the free clinic, save for the edu-
cation Of medical students and
internes, is a thing Of the past.
The workman is worthy of his
deplore that the personal touch
has disappeared.
X =
The reduction TO a scientific
basis of the discharge OF ueedful
duties to society has brought the
formation OF many societies, some
necessary for the Jurisdiction Of
worthy work. others which attempt
duplication and still others which
have no work to do and conse-
quently do none. Until personal
interest is restored generous per-
sons Of community will continue
to contribute to organizations
which have no real reason for ex-
istence. do not speak OF fake
organizations, established in the
name Of charity. but Of need
less and superfuous organizations
which are duplicating or initiating
the activities OF others.
We have not only scientific
methods Of treating the needs OF
our unfortunates, but of acquiring
needs to treat their needs. Pro-
fessional solicitors are engaged at
a certain percentage to canvass
for funds. These Christian charity
promoters no doubt are successful.
They get the money, part for
themselves and part for the cause.
Charity is not only charity, but
it has become a business.
I would hold tight to the scien-
tito standards Of today, but I
would take charity out Of govern
ment and out Of business and re-
store It as one OF the real Chris
tian virtues
(Copyr1sht 1923 BY Thomas R. MarshaIl)