386
The Green Bag
to know if you will be one of twentyfive to give a certain large sum, generally about ten times what you would other wise have thought of giving, to some object which they unfold to you with great gravity and seriousness, to which they are going to give you the privi lege to subscribe; they merely wish to lay it before you, and of course if you do not wish to subscribe they will not press the matter in the least (the pressure comes in other ways than in their words) . It takes a very strong man to decline to do what is brought forward by men of that sort, and especially if his reason is that he cannot afford it; other people are pretty sure to take rose-colored views of your resources, especially if they want something, and one does not wish to be set down as meaner than his neighbors, nor does it do your credit any good if you are obliged to confess, or it is sus pected, that your refusal is due to a lack of means. To put a man in this position is not fair or proper. It may be a privilege to give, there is certainly a luxury in doing good, but it is neither a privilege nor a luxury to have anything dragged out of you. This is a comforting reflec tion, and it is also comforting to remem ber, when you feel inclined to say no yet have qualms of conscience about it, that your instinct is probably right, for it is certainly easier to say yes than no; it is easier to give than not, if you have the wherewithal. There is no doubt in every community a floating fund or surplus over and above what is applied to the every-day neces sities; this fund is in the hands of com paratively few persons, however. Aside from the ordinary investments in new enterprises, and savings, both of which are necessary things if there is to be any progress, it is largely employed for pleasure, as well as charity, and legi
timately so. So much of this fund as is not needed for necessary recreation, and which can by proper means be turned from useless luxury to useful benevolent purposes, should perhaps be so turned; but it will be generally acknowledged by those who have had the most expe rience that this fund is limited, and that when it has been largely drawn upon for some purpose which has appealed very strongly to the emotional feelings of the community, other objects more deserv ing, but perhaps having less immediate interest, suffer. For instance, the large and very general subscription all over the country to the sufferers by the San Francisco earthquake and fire largely decreased subscriptions for the support of hospitals, churches and other institu tions of the country regularly dependent upon the community for support. We must not, as President Roosevelt once well said, let largeness of heart degen erate into softness of head. It is very questionable whether it would not be better for the country if this floating fund were allowed to flow in its natural channels without being driven hither and thither by the forces of solicitation to the aid of such objects as may be able to secure the support of the most aggressive and influential men. Un doubtedly less would be given and less would be accomplished, but what was given would be applied to better pur poses and what was accomplished would be better worth accomplishing, since it would be the result of the sober sense of the community and not of undue pres sure. It would be more steady, even and reliable, and as the resources of the fund would not be continually pushed to the last limit there would be more in reserve for great emergencies, without diminishing the resources of more im portant things which need constant sup port.
