The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-14
Everyday
Charity Is
Best OfAII
BY MARTHA LEE

The other day a group OF women
gathered in indianapolis for a
resume Of past work and plans for
future work Of their organization
which has, in a rather noticeable
fashion, brought beauty and an ap-
probation for beauty to a large
number Of people.
In the course Of the sessions, the
president Of a university addressed
them. This man has been pretty
badly maligned by a number OF
people. They call him a pacifist
and other names meant to signify
flabby manhood.
AS a matter of fact, the man is
one of the sanest thinkers and one
Of the most humane, charitable
persons who has offered ideas to
Indianapolis for a long time.
He is a promoter. A promoter
for human happiness and welfare.
A prompter for the uplift of man
kind, not in the acquisition OF
things, but in the enrichment OF
life. And he gave forth some
splendid ideas that must have made
the women sit up and take notice.
He hasn't much time for this
basket at Christmas idea OF
charity. And his suggestion that,
instead of sending a basket stuffed
with provisions at Thanksgiving,
Christmas and Easter, one Chart
ably inclined should send a bottle
of milk, every day during the
tire year, was perfectly ripping.
After all, those of us who need
charity, be it for our bodies or our
souls, do not need it just at special
times. It would be so much nicer
to get a little bit every day than
to get a whole bulging basket full
a couple Of times a year.
This stufing our stomachs every
once in a while is not nourishing to
our bodies. NO more is it good for
our souls and spirits to be COM
pletely stated at rare intervals. Ex-
tremes in any form whatsoever,
are bad for us, any way you want
to take it.
Don't wait until you see your
neighbors dropping off from star
walton before you lend a helping
hand. If they need charity Of soul,
don't wait until their spirits are
nearly dead from hunger for it be-
fore you give them aid. A little
kindness, a little charity every day,
each day in the year is worth a
hundred turkeys, at Christmas
time or a hundred gestures of kind
ness when one is completely sunk.
Here's the sort Of thing I mean.
Dear Miss Lee-When I was younger,
I made some terrible mistakes, I was
rather wild. I did many indiscreet things
that caused me to be talked about. I
was. for a time, outside the bounds of
convention.
But I saw my folly and changed my
way of living. I still am living in the
same town. married to the man with
whom I committed these indiscretions.
We had q child a few months after we
were married. We are fairly prosperous.
and happy but for one thing.
Our neighbors, and the townspeople
never have forgotten. They are nice
enough to my husband, but they totally
ignore my existence. Never since my
marriage have L Hone anything out of
the way. I am so miserable, not for
myself particularly. but because Of our
child.
That Is the worlds way Of max
ing you pay for your wrong doing
my dear. In spite of the fact that
we think we are tolerant and for
giving, we must take it upon Dur
selves to remind sinners, however
penitent, that they, after all are
sinners, and not one of us. Even
the example of Our Lord, who for
gives us all, does not make us rea-
lie that if we would be true
Christians we must, through neces-
sity, forgive.
The world has a way Of waiting
for those whom they consider out
side the pale. to do something des-
perate to bring their hunger for
kindness and consideration before
it's eyes. And then the world ruShes
forth with baskets of fruit and
books and flowers. When a kind
word, a smile, a little human ON
passion would have saved the whole
situation.
You and your husband, for the
sake Of your child, ought to leave
the town in which you are living.
In some other place, you may have
a chance Of happiness for all three
of you.
Isn't 1t strange that we talk so
much about honesty and frankness,
and yet those people who take our
hands and tell sad tales become out
casts as soon as they have been
honest and frank? We ask for con-
fldence and shudder and turn our
banks.
I.lose of you who feel urged to
charity do not need to wait for
holidays and civic drives and all the
rest. Stretch forth a sympathetic
hand to your neighbor and you will
have fulfilled the urge.