88 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



Each one of us gives Something foe Charity's Sake 



That this is literally true may be proved by the test of 

 individual experience. What man or woman is there among 

 us who does not give even a trifle in charity ? We know that 

 practically every one of our friends does something for charity's 

 sake. 



" I can't do much, but, thank God, I can do something to 

 help," is a saying common even among really poor people, 

 wliile among the wealthier folk philanthropic work, in its 

 many ramifications, is a recognised form of daily duty. 



The writer's own personal experience tells him that there 

 is no family, or one or more members of a family, who are not 

 engaged, directly or indirectly, in some form of charitable 

 work. 



Hospitals, homes, asylums, and the multitude of charitable 

 institutions, together with the numerous bazaars, concerts, 

 dramatic performances, street collections and entertainments 

 of various kinds, which are in constant evidence, are but the 

 outward and visible sign of that deep current of public sym- 

 pathy with poverty, which flows on silently yet irresistibly, 

 carrying on its broad bosom a message of love and material 

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



The Mighty Power of Charity 



Charity so unostentatious, so unobtrusive and modest, so 

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

 and more difficult to tabulate and chronicle, yet it is a mighty 

 power in the land, exercising a widespread, 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. 



Twenty Millions of Donors 



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

 articles of diet innumerable, together with tobacco, coal, clothing 

 and other material comforts, are among the many gifts bestowed 

 on tlie poor and needy, daily and hourly ; and as this form of 

 assistance is liberally supplemented by monetary aid from about 

 one-half of the pojndation of the country, the donors probably 

 amount to upwards of twenty millions of people. 



Some of these are too })Oor to give more than a few pence 

 now and again, or a little food; others give more liberally, 



