Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-23
YOU'RE NOT QUITE YOURSELF TODAY, ANDREW

with my experience could say that this
was not a charitable age. Why, l
nave offers nearly every day from all
sorts of people. and the offertories,
considering the class of my congrega-
ton, are enormous"
you've done a great work. Philip"
HarGrave acknowledged sympatheti-
callY. You've done what so few of
us accomplishment done great
work for others. 1t makes one
thoughtful, you know, to think of the
difference between your life and mine.
I haven't any unwholesome craving
10 make a bargain with the Almighty,
but | should like to feel ! had done
something that was worth while
given some poor devils lift, or some
thing of that sort, before l passed in
my checks
''If l were in your position, Har-
grave" Gorse advised gently, II don't
believe I'd worry so much about the
poor. The hospitals need help, of
course, but the very poor have never
been SO well cared for as today, and
I'm afraid, as Il practical Christian, l
must admit that those who remain
down and out do so more from lack of
character than absence of help. Ii I
were you, l should try the other class.
1t is more difficult. of course, because
they are more sensitive, but I've come
TO the conclusion that since the war
there's more real suffering among
what are called the lower middles,' the
shopgirls and shopmen, clerks and
people like that, who have d certain
position TO keep up. than the very
poor. They can't accept charity, and
who is there to help them?"
But how do you come across
them?" Hargraye demanded.
"A matter of chance, I suppose"
Gorse admitted. II have had one or
two cases among those who came to
ask my advice in the vestry. l have
no one on my list just now, thank
goodness. You'll find some one, If
you'll keep your eyes open. And
there's another thing, Hargrave, keep
ing your eyes open in such a quest is
in itself a good thing. 1t keeps a man
from becoming selfish and self-cen-
tered. Go about for the next few days
or weeks looking for some one who
seems unhappy. If you don't happen
to find any one with whom you can
get in touch, the very attitude Of mind
takes your thoughts off your own trou
bles and does you good"
Its all very we'll for you" Har-
grave pointed out. you've brought
yourself into such sympathy with your
fellow creatures that you can tell in
stihctively when they need help, and
you'd approach them also in such
way that no one could possibly resent
n question from you. | couldn't go up
TO an manufacturing young woman,
with a hole in her shoe and a shabby
frock, and take off my hat and say,
Madam, l fear YOU are in distress.
Can l be of any assistance? She'd
probably hand over to the nearest po-
liceman, if she was honest, or try to
march me down to Pimlico If she
wasn't"
"Hargrave, old chap" Philip said.
SCI am glad we've had this talk. I'm
not going to believe the worst part of
1t, and 1 wouldn't let my thoughts
dwell upon it myself, If I were you.
You can send me a moderate sized
check for my shelter scheme, II you
iike-not more than a hundred pounds
but keep your eyes open for the
other things, and something will come
along. Perhaps you'd better leave the
young ladies alone but sometimes one
comes across really human trouble in
the most unexpected places. And
listen" he Went on earnestly, ut isn't
always pounds, shillings and pence
that counts. It's the grayness of life
that's so horrible to some of these
people who have little imagination
and slender means.
There's nothing of the Calvinist
about me, you know. l believe IN
pleasure, ana believe people nave
right to it. You can do just as much
good in the world by bringing q little
brightness into the lives of people who
can't find il for themselves as you can
by supporting soup kitchens or any
other form of charity. There's real
human charity, for instance. in cinema
tickets for the young people who have
TO give up all their earnings to keep
the home going--one can always pre-
tend they are complime the
loan of q car for the day to man
who would give anything to take his
wife and family into the country and
can't. These little things will come
your way if you keep on looking out
for them"
Hargrave smiled little ruefully as
he walked down the hall and fingered
by the lift with his guest.
you've the gift OF finding these
people, Philip" he remarked.
Easily developed" the other as
sured him cheerfully. you often
don't need to give to complete stran-
gers either. Just keep your eyes open
among the people you meet casually
in one day and see for yourself who
there is missing the sunlight"
The lift came noiselessly up. Al
most for the first time there was a
note of real seriousness In Gorse's
tone as he clasped hands with his
friend.
Don't brood about that other mat.
ter, old fellow" he begged. 1T may
be right or it may be wrong. You
and I can't alter it. Get OF somewhere
T0syn II