the men had either used their savings
to live on or were deeply in debt, or both. They could hope for no
money until their July labor was paid for in August. In the latter
part of July came this armless stranger, who personally solicited these
big-hearted coal diggers, and received, without investigation on their
part, written subscriptions for various amounts, to be withheld next
pay-day from their wages. From the mines of one company alone the man
presented to the paymaster orders amounting to three hundred dollars;
and the superintendent believes that this one beggar during a short
stay in the Valley obtained fully a {27} thousand dollars, if not more.
Nor did the enterprising mendicant trouble himself to remain to collect
these sums in person. He gave a Chicago address to which checks for
the total amounts subscribed in each mine were sent; and he went away
to 'work' some other field." [3]

These facts stand side by side. The poor man is often able to do the
very best charitable work, acting, with a full knowledge of the
circumstances, with quick sympathy, and entire unselfishness. On the
other hand, when considerations of public welfare, or conditions
outside his personal experience complicate the situation, his charity
is sometimes reckless and harmful.

Another fact to bear in mind is that the ties of neighborliness and
mutual dependence among the poor can be weakened by a charity that
leaves such natural and healthful relations out of account. The poor
in rich neighborhoods, or in neighborhoods where alms are lavishly
given, are less kind to each other, and the whole tone of a
neighborhood can be lowered, {28} mistrust and jealousy being
substituted for neighborly helpfulness, by undiscriminating doles from
those whose kindly but condescending attitude has quite blinded them to
the everyday facts of the neighborhood life. There are some who think
it a pity that, out of their slender store, the poor should give to the
still poorer; they feel that the rich should relieve the poor of this
burden. But relief given without reference to friends and neighbors is
accompanied by moral loss; poor neighborhoods are doomed to grow poorer
and more sordid, whenever the natural ties of neighborliness are
weakened by our well-meant but unintelligent interference.

Turning to the breadwinner as an employee, we are confronted with the
gravest questions now occupying public attention: with the organization
of labor,