Evening star., 1932-11-20
The Final Effort.

Some Star readers may remember the
"pound party" at which The Star was
host in February OF 1893. 1t has been
recalled by a Star reader In eonnec-
ton with the Community Chest CAM
paien. which, on this dag. enters the
final stretch in Its effort TO reach It's
quota in money, not pounds, for the
care of Washington's unfortunate. It
is interesting to recall the pound party
here again in that same connection
On Saturday, February IL. 1893. q
blizzard descended on Washington with
its usual Accomplishments OF raging. ICY
wind and the downfall Of dry snow.
Neither wind nor snow abated until
Monday evening and on Monday after
noon there were just two stories on
The Stars frst page. One described
the storm and the other invited Wash
ingtonians to be guests at pound
party" OF the pound party, 1t was
written t...- .
It might be o bushel party almost
rs we'll as a pound party--the need Is
so ereat---but II every one responds
whose eye catches this column and VINO
feels he is his brothers keeper, at least
to \the extent of saving enother's life,
then there will be pounds enough to
make the bushels and tons go around.
And there were not merely pounds, there
were tons of food and clothing contrib
uted by Washingtonians. The supplies
filled the temporary warehouse set aside
on Eleventh street for their reception,
and. later, for their distribution by the
city's charitable institutions to the poor
and the needy. There was nothing sur
prising in the response. The need was
SO obvious to every one. The storm and
the raging blizzard emphasized, to those
who possessed full larders and COM
Portable homes, the bitter anguish and
distress Of those who possessed neither.
The pound party" merely provided the
means for the expression Of human
sympathy felt on every hand. There
was something assuringly tangible in
the weight Of pound. carried through
the storm TO The star oface and given
10 help somebody else who lacked q
pound. s.,- .g, ~
A good many years have passed since
the days OF the pound party. and, with
them, q good many Washingtonians who
participated, The years have brought
new conceptions Of our responsibility IS
q community toward those who suffer
and who know want and distress. The
Community Chest is one expression Of
that broader ands more enlightened
conception. Its agencies do more than
supply pounds OF food and clothing or
fuel TO those in need and there is rs
much work for them to do in the balrny
days of Summer as in the biting days of
Winter. Their task is far greater and
more comprehensive than meeting such
an emergency as that which brought
about the pound party. And IL, today.
there is no raging blizzard to remind US
so foreefully Of suffering and distress,
most Of us must realize the blightfng
effects Of a major catastrophe that has
brought about condition more deyas-
tating and more lasting than any Win
ter storm.
The Community Chest campaign 10
tagging. It's end this week may be
reached short Of the goal that has been
set in dollars and cents This is due
to no lack Of effort on the part Of the
thousands Of WaShingtonians who have
labored with self sacrifice and devo-
tion TO make 1t success. 1t can be
due to no real lack OF money, for the
per capita contributions necessary ade-
quately to support the Chest are very
small. 1t can be due to no lack Of
human kindness and sympathy, for
these are always present elements in
human nature. II the Chest campaign
lass, it must be because Of general
failure to appreciate the need and TO
grasp the significance Of the appeal.
Those who enjoy the comforts Of
plentiful food and warmth; those who
have the blessings Of the chance to
work and the ability to work; those
who have been spared the cruel fates
that on every hand have left their
mark-these should need no urging to
join In Anal effort this week to make
the Chest campaign successful They
know their good fortune. One does not
have to suffer in q blizzard to know
what blizzard means to those who do
suffer.