NATIONAL PAUPERISM AND TAXATION 45 



people, while among the wealthier folk philanthropic 

 work, in its many ramifications, is a recognised form 

 of daily duty. 



Our own personal experience tells us that there is no 

 family, or one or more members of a family, who are not 

 engaged, directly or indirectly, in some form of chari- 

 table work. 



Hospitals, homes, asylums, and the m.ultitude of 

 charitable institutions, together with the numerous 

 bazaars, concerts, dramatic performances, street col- 

 lections and entertainments of various kinds, which are 

 in constant evidence, are but the outward and visible 

 sign of that deep current of public sympathy with 

 poverty, which flows on silently yet irresistibly, carry- 

 ing on its broad bosom a message of love and material 

 aid to those who, but for it, would be poor indeed. 



Charity so unostentatious, so unobtrusive and modest, The Mighty 

 so silent and yet so universal, is obviously difficult to Charky 

 discover, and more difficult to tabulate and chronicle, 

 yet it is a mighty power in the land, exercising a wide- 

 spread, powerful influence over those poor stricken ones 

 of this country who are in sore need of that material aid 

 from their fellow-creatures, without which their lives 

 would be but a living death. 



Wine, beef tea, jellies, soups, fruit, tea, coffee, and 

 other articles of diet innumerable, together with to- 

 bacco, coal, clothing and other material comforts, are 

 among the many gifts bestowed on the poor and needy, 

 daily and hourly; and as this form of assistance is 

 liberally supplemented by monetary aid from about 

 one half of the adult population of the country, the donors 



