Evening star., 1931-12-25
Christmas Day-And After,

There are few, indeed, who will 60
hungry In Washington today. The
Christmas baskets are many and brin-
full of good things
There are few stockings, hung with
care" as we'll as hope and faith, that
did not have something In them this
morning, There are few appeals, on
this day, that do not find ready re-
sponse from cheerful, willing givers.
The atmosphere of Christmas time
stirs some of the finest emotions. and
their outpourings are expressed in
terms of heavy baskets Of food, bundles
of toys, gifts in money and in clothing
for distribution among those who need
them most. 1t is comforting and in
spring to think of all the good things
that are being done. The plight Of
some bereft or stricken family on this
gladdest day of ali the year, If gener-
ally known, would bring quick and gen.
erous response from literally hundreds
OF persons whose hearts were touched
mas comes but once a year, while the
realistic and prosaic business of caring
for the weak and the unfortunate is
always pressing. Unfortunately, the
enthusiastic spirit of Christmas CIV
ing" does not last much longer than a
Christmas basket
The obvious method of overcoming an
old handicap in the work Of organized
charity is the substitution of intelligent
giving for the giving that springs from
spontaneous emotions alone. And while
emotional giving is natural and COM
mon impulse, the development of intel
ligent giving depends upon long
drawn-out and sometimes tedious proc
ess Of education. 1t is not necessary
in fact it would be altogether deplora-
ble-to seek to dissociate organized CIV
ing by an intelligent community from
the spirit of sweet charity But it is
altogether necessary to change the
meaning of charity as it has for too
long been understood. Charity to some
one visited by calamity does not end
with the provision Of basket of food.
1t Is the provision of means with which
to overcome far more important def
icit than the lack of Christmas din
ner. It means the provision of essen
tials, but in addition the careful recon-
structton of what has been temporarily
disabled. In many cases the will to
survive and to regain self-dependence
are the things that have been weakened.
The administration of such work, in
turn, requires skill that is born of
knowledge and experience, tact, good
Judgment and patience that is part of
the job. One may gain immense salts
faction from personally visiting
family in distress and personally wit
messing the gratitude that rewards
good deed. But is one willing to do
this throughout the year? And if not,
is 1t not sign of social enlightenment
that more and more people every year
are willing and even insistent that the
administration of real charity be car
ried on by competent and experienced
persons, who have chosen this business
as the work of lifetime?
1t is. And one of the silver Innings
OF this cloud of depression has been the
demonstration, repeated in scores of
communities, of the progress now be-
ing written in organized giving and in
organized and efficient administration
OF charity. Public charity, as distinct
from political charity, has gained more
in the last few years than in any COM
parable period despite the resistance
encountered from we'll meaning theo-
rists who would sacrifice it on the
ground of failure to bring the mil
lenniun.
One hopes that there will always be
Christmas baskets, laden with good
things, and bundles of toys at Christ
mas time-these to be regarded as the
joyful trappings Of the season, and not
as the real expression of the COM
rnunitys responsibility to those who are
heavy laden.