86 EDWARD T. DEVINE 



ever, lies not against their use of money, but against their lack 

 of discrimination and common sense. Many of those to whom 

 grants of one thousand dollars and upwards were made in- 

 stantly became engaged in active industry and trade, and with- 

 in a few months, except for the loss of relatives, neighbors, and 

 friends, might have looked upon their experience as a night- 

 mare to be forgotten in the waking hours of renewed active 

 life. It is probable that so large a sum has never before been 

 poured into a community of equal size with so little damage 

 to the personal character of the citizens and so complete an 

 absence of any pauperizing or demoralizing influences. In the 

 opinion of good judges resident in the city both before and 

 after the flood, this is due in part to the fact that money was 

 given, and that those who received it were left free to decide 

 for themselves how it should be expended. 



Two other considerations may be suggested. Special 

 emergencies display in a high degree the need of local coopera- 

 tion. In meeting such distress as is caused in populous com- 

 munities by a tornado or a serious fire, there is a place for the 

 activity of the chamber of commerce or merchants' associa- 

 tion, or some other representative of the business interests of 

 the community. The task relative to the large sums of money 

 usually requisite can best be imdertaken by some such body. 

 Any appeal having their indorsement will be likely to meet 

 with generous and quick response. There is a place also for 

 the charity organization societv, or bureau of charities, or 

 provident association, or some other general agency whose 

 officers and agents are trained in investigation and in the ad- 

 ministration of funds. It may also be expedient, if no such 

 general agency is in existence, to call upon the churches or 

 upon such denominational bodies as the society of St. Vincent 

 de Paul and the Hebrew charities. There may also be a need 

 for children's aid societies or the representatives of orphan 

 asylums to care for children who are left without guardianship ; 

 and there is almost always an urgent demand for physicians, 

 for a temporary ambulance and hospital service, and for 

 trained nurses. Often the aid rendered by volunteer private 

 citizens is more valuable than that of any organized agency, 

 and often the absence of organized relief makes it imperative 



