Evening star., 1928-10-21
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Fifty years ago there was no COM
munity chest" system in Washington
o:, such as has just been
OAe""i0u adopted for the financing
Charities, of the various charity
agencies and enterprises
in this community. The following in
The Star of october Is, 1873, stresses
the need Of system in the maintenance
of these good works:
There will be abundant inducement
to continue during the approaching
Winter the systematic charity which
has already been in this city so fruitful
in good results. Money, provisions and
clothing have been sent southwark to
relieve, as far as possible, the sufferings
from the pestilence. But this is not suf-
ficient. The destitution that will fol-
low the death of the plague furnishes
a call for aid that will not cease to
sound in our ears for months. and the
sympathy aroused will no doubt find
practical expression in organized meas
ures Of relief. And in our charity
towards the afflicted among our more
distant neighborS we must not forget
those In our very midst who will freeze
and starve If Winter comes and finds
them entirely unaided.
There should be no Tagging in the
enthusiasm for good works Entertain
ments devoted to charity and private
subscriptions Of all kinds should and
Will furnish sufficient funds. Their prop
er application must be secured by con-
centrating them in the hands of a re-
sponsible organization for disburse-
ment. The greatest efficiency OF con-
tributions intended to be charitable
can be obtained only in this way.
Personal relief Of suffering is what
goes farthest towards arousing in giver
and recipient the emotions that make
benevolence an agent for moral i'm
provement to both; but it is only when
such labors are performed in conjunc-
ton with those of others, and in an or
ganized way, that the greatest actual
relief Of suffering is effected Discrimi-
nation between deserving and undeserv-
ing applicants for charity is necessary
in order that the aid intended for the
former shall not be diverted. and the
power to decide where relief is most
needed can only be possessed by an or
ganization- which covers the whole
ground. The persistent petitioners for
assistance who appeal most successfully
instances the most deserving
But there Is little need to point out
at length what every one comedies, the
benefits OF organization in measures of
relief. The societies of the Red Cross
exemplify them perfectly. A central
bureau Is established in each country
whose government Is enrolled under the
ensign. To 1t all charitable organiza-
tions In the nation are subordinate and
report. In time of peace training
schools for nurses are established and
organizations to make and gather sup
plies are fostered in every town. In
time OF war the government has the
oenent OF all the resources Of the So
ciety. It's gathered supplies, its thorough
knowledge OF the best methods Of ap-
plying its powers. and its complete or
ganizatton, which enables 1t TO carry
out every wise measure of relief. make
II valuable auxiliary. In the case OF
great fires such as those which have
devastated several of our cities, and in
the event Of peStilence, such as that
which Is now raging, the society with its
numberlesS branches becomes a re-
sponsible and efficient agent for the dis
ttribution Of the gifts Of the people, and
benefactors are guarded against the
misappropriation or misapplication OF
donated money and materials.
I'VE have no national Red Cross or
ganiZation, but we can reproduce 1t in
miniature in our city and profit by the
experienced advantages of such plans OF
relief In the Winter campaign against
deStitution In Washington, organization
Is as much needed as In warlike opera
tions of q less commendable character
In which the destruction and not the
saving of life is sought