ofduty,andamongothershavesacrificedthispleasurealso.TherearethosewhohaveusedalltheirartstopersuademetoundertakethesupportofsomepoorfamilyinthetownandifIhadnothingtodo,—forthedevilfindsemploymentfortheidle,—Imighttrymyhandatsomesuchpastimeasthat.However,whenIhavethoughttoindulgemyselfinthisrespect,andlaytheirHeavenunderanobligationbymaintainingcertainpoorpersonsinallrespectsascomfortablyasImaintainmyself,andhaveevenventuredsofarastomakethemtheoffer,theyhaveoneandallunhesitatinglypreferredtoremainpoor.Whilemytownsmenandwomenaredevotedinsomanywaystothegoodoftheirfellows,Itrustthatoneatleastmaybesparedtootherandlesshumanepursuits.Youmusthaveageniusforcharityaswellasforanythingelse.AsforDoing-good,thatisoneoftheprofessionswhicharefull.Moreover,Ihavetrieditfairly,and,strangeasitmayseem,amsatisfiedthatitdoesnotagreewithmyconstitution.ProbablyIshouldnotconsciouslyanddeliberatelyforsakemyparticularcallingtodothegoodwhichsocietydemandsofme,tosavetheuniversefromannihilationandIbelievethatalikebutinfinitelygreatersteadfastnesselsewhereisallthatnowpreservesit.ButIwouldnotstandbetweenanymanandhisgeniusandtohimwhodoesthiswork,whichIdecline,withhiswholeheartandsoulandlife,Iwouldsay,Persevere,eveniftheworldcallitdoingevil,asitismostlikelytheywill.
Iamfarfromsupposingthatmycaseisapeculiaronenodoubtmanyofmyreaderswouldmakeasimilardefence.Atdoingsomething,—Iwillnotengagethatmyneighborsshallpronounceitgood,—IdonothesitatetosaythatIshouldbeacapitalfellowtohirebutwhatthatis,itisformyemployertofindout.WhatgoodIdo,inthecommonsenseofthatword,mustbeasidefrommymainpath,andforthemostpartwhollyunintended.Mensay,practically,Beginwhereyouareandsuchasyouare,withoutaimingmainlytobecomeofmoreworth,andwithkindnessaforethoughtgoaboutdoinggood.IfIweretopreachatallinthisstrain,Ishouldsayrather,Setaboutbeinggood.Asifthesunshouldstopwhenhehadkindledhisfiresuptothesplendorofamoonorastarofthesixthmagnitude,andgoaboutlikeaRobinGoodfellow,peepinginateverycottagewindow,inspiringlunatics,andtaintingmeats,andmakingdarknessvisible,insteadofsteadilyincreasinghisgenialheatandbeneficencetillheisofsuchbrightnessthatnomortalcanlookhimintheface,andthen,andinthemeanwhiletoo,goingabouttheworldinhisownorbit,doingitgood,orrather,asatruerphilosophyhasdiscovered,theworldgoingabouthimgettinggood.WhenPhaeton,wishingtoprovehisheavenlybirthbyhisbeneficence,hadthesun’schariotbutoneday,anddroveoutofthebeatentrack,heburnedseveralblocksofhousesinthelowerstreetsofheaven,andscorchedthesurfaceoftheearth,anddriedupeveryspring,andmadethegreatdesertofSahara,tillatlengthJupiterhurledhimheadlongtotheearthwithathunderbolt,andthesun,throughgriefathisdeath,didnotshineforayear.
Thereisnoodorsobadasthatwhicharisesfromgoodnesstainted.Itishuman,itisdivine,carrion.IfIknewforacertaintythatamanwascomingtomyhousewiththeconsciousdesignofdoingmegood,Ishouldrunformylife,asfromthatdryandparchingwindoftheAfricandesertscalledthesimoom,whichfillsthemouthandnoseandearsandeyeswithdusttillyouaresuffocated,forfearthatIshouldgetsomeofhisgooddonetome,—someofitsvirusmingledwithmyblood.No,—inthiscaseIwouldrathersufferevilthenaturalway.AmanisnotagoodmantomebecausehewillfeedmeifIshouldbestarving,orwarmmeifIshouldbefreezing,orpullmeoutofaditchifIshouldeverfallintoone.IcanfindyouaNewfoundlanddogthatwilldoasmuch.Philanthropyisnotloveforone’sfellow-maninthebroadestsense.Howardwasnodoubtanexceedinglykindandworthymaninhisway,andhashisrewardbut,comparativelyspeaking,whatareahundredHowardstous,iftheirphilanthropydonothelpusinourbestestate,whenwearemostworthytobehelped?Ineverheardofaphilanthropicmeetinginwhichitwassincerelyproposedtodoanygoodtome,orthelikeofme.
TheJesuitswerequitebalkedbythoseIndianswho,beingburnedatthestake,suggestednewmodesoftorturetotheirtormentors.Beingsuperiortophysicalsuffering,itsometimeschancedthattheyweresuperiortoanyconsolationwhichthemissionariescouldofferandthelawtodoasyouwouldbedonebyfellwithlesspersuasivenessontheearsofthosewho,fortheirpart,didnotcarehowtheyweredoneby,wholovedtheirenemiesafteranewfashion,andcameverynearfreelyforgivingthemalltheydid.
Besurethatyougivethepoortheaidtheymostneed,thoughitbeyourexamplewhichleavesthemfarbehind.Ifyougivemoney,spendyourselfwithit,anddonotmerelyabandonittothem.Wemakecuriousmistakessometimes.Oftenthepoormanisnotsocoldandhungryasheisdirtyandraggedandgross.Itispartlyhistaste,andnotmerelyhismisfortune.Ifyougivehimmoney,hewillperhapsbuymoreragswithit.IwaswonttopitytheclumsyIrishlaborerswhocuticeonthepond,insuchmeanandraggedclothes,whileIshiveredinmymoretidyandsomewhatmorefashionablegarments,till,onebittercoldday,onewhohadslippedintothewatercametomyhousetowarmhim,andIsawhimstripoffthreepairsofpantsandtwopairsofstockingserehegotdowntotheskin,thoughtheyweredirtyandraggedenough,itistrue,andthathecouldaffordtorefusetheextragarmentswhichIofferedhim,hehadsomanyintraones.Thisduckingwastheverythingheneeded.ThenIbegantopitymyself,andIsawthatitwouldbeagreatercharitytobestowonmeaflannelshirtthanawholeslop-shoponhim.Thereareathousandhackingatthebranchesofeviltoonewhoisstrikingattheroot,anditmaybethathewhobestowsthelargestamountoftimeandmoneyontheneedyisdoingthemostbyhismodeoflifetoproducethatmiserywhichhestrivesinvaintorelieve.Itisthepiousslave-breederdevotingtheproceedsofeverytenthslavetobuyaSunday’slibertyfortherest.Someshowtheirkindnesstothepoorbyemployingthemintheirkitchens.Wouldtheynotbekinderiftheyemployedthemselvesthere?Youboastofspendingatenthpartofyourincomeincharitymaybeyoushouldspendtheninetenthsso,anddonewithit.Societyrecoversonlyatenthpartofthepropertythen.Isthisowingtothegenerosityofhiminwhosepossessionitisfound,ortotheremissnessoftheofficersofjustice?
Philanthropyisalmosttheonlyvirtuewhichissufficientlyappreciatedbymankind.Nay,itisgreatlyoverratedanditisourselfishnesswhichoverratesit.Arobustpoorman,onesunnydayhereinConcord,praisedafellow-townsmantome,because,ashesaid,hewaskindtothepoormeaninghimself.Thekindunclesandauntsoftheracearemoreesteemedthanitstruespiritualfathersandmothers.IonceheardareverendlectureronEngland,amanoflearningandintelligence,afterenumeratingherscientific,literary,andpoliticalworthies,Shakespeare,Bacon,Cromwell,Milton,Newton,andothers,speaknextofherChristianheroes,whom,asifhisprofessionrequireditofhim,heelevatedtoaplacefarabovealltherest,asthegreatestofthegreat.TheywerePenn,Howard,andMrs.Fry.Everyonemustfeelthefalsehoodandcantofthis.ThelastwerenotEngland’sbestmenandwomenonly,perhaps,herbestphilanthropists.
Iwouldnotsubtractanythingfromthepraisethatisduetophilanthropy,butmerelydemandjusticeforallwhobytheirlivesandworksareablessingtomankind.Idonotvaluechieflyaman’suprightnessandbenevolence,whichare,asitwere,hisstemandleaves.Thoseplantsofwhosegreennesswitheredwemakeherbteaforthesick,servebutahumbleuse,andaremostemployedbyquacks.Iwanttheflowerandfruitofamanthatsomefragrancebewaftedoverfromhimtome,andsomeripenessflavorourintercourse.Hisgoodnessmustnotbeapartialandtransitoryact,butaconstantsuperfluity,whichcostshimnothingandofwhichheisunconscious.Thisisacharitythathidesamultitudeofsins.Thephilanthropisttoooftensurroundsmankindwiththeremembranceofhisowncast-offgriefsasanatmosphere,andcallsitsympathy.Weshouldimpartourcourage,andnotourdespair,ourhealthandease,andnotourdisease,andtakecarethatthisdoesnotspreadbycontagion.Fromwhatsouthernplainscomesupthevoiceofwailing?Underwhatlatitudesresidetheheathentowhomwewouldsendlight?Whoisthatintemperateandbrutalmanwhomwewouldredeem?Ifanythingailaman,sothathedoesnotperformhisfunctions,ifhehaveapaininhisbowelseven,—forthatistheseatofsympathy,—heforthwithsetsaboutreforming—theworld.Beingamicrocosmhimself,hediscovers,anditisatruediscovery,andheisthemantomakeit,—thattheworldhasbeeneatinggreenapplestohiseyes,infact,theglobeitselfisagreatgreenapple,whichthereisdangerawfultothinkofthatthechildrenofmenwillnibblebeforeitisripeandstraightwayhisdrasticphilanthropyseeksouttheEsquimauxandthePatagonian,andembracesthepopulousIndianandChinesevillagesandthus,byafewyearsofphilanthropicactivity,thepowersinthemeanwhileusinghimfortheirownends,nodoubt,hecureshimselfofhisdyspepsia,theglobeacquiresafaintblushononeorbothofitscheeks,asifitwerebeginningtoberipe,andlifelosesitscrudityandisoncemoresweetandwholesometolive.IneverdreamedofanyenormitygreaterthanIhavecommitted.Ineverknew,andnevershallknow,aworsemanthanmyself.
Ibelievethatwhatsosaddensthereformerisnothissympathywithhisfellowsindistress,but,thoughhebetheholiestsonofGod,ishisprivateail.Letthisberighted,letthespringcometohim,themorningriseoverhiscouch,andhewillforsakehisgenerouscompanionswithoutapology.Myexcusefornotlecturingagainsttheuseoftobaccois,thatInevercheweditthatisapenaltywhichreformedtobacco-chewershavetopaythoughtherearethingsenoughIhavechewed,whichIcouldlectureagainst.Ifyoushouldeverbebetrayedintoanyofthesephilanthropies,donotletyourlefthandknowwhatyourrighthanddoes,foritisnotworthknowing.Rescuethedrowningandtieyourshoe-strings.Takeyourtime,andsetaboutsomefreelabor.
Ourmannershavebeencorruptedbycommunicationwiththesaints.Ourhymn-booksresoundwithamelodiouscursingofGodandenduringhimforever.Onewouldsaythateventheprophetsandredeemershadratherconsoledthefearsthanconfirmedthehopesofman.Thereisnowhererecordedasimpleandirrepressiblesatisfactionwiththegiftoflife,anymemorablepraiseofGod.Allhealthandsuccessdoesmegood,howeverfaroffandwithdrawnitmayappearalldiseaseandfailurehelpstomakemesadanddoesmeevil,howevermuchsympathyitmayhavewithmeorIwithit.If,then,wewouldindeedrestoremankindbytrulyIndian,botanic,magnetic,ornaturalmeans,letusfirstbeassimpleandwellasNatureourselves,dispelthecloudswhichhangoverourownbrows,andtakeupalittlelifeintoourpores.Donotstaytobeanoverseerofthepoor,butendeavortobecomeoneoftheworthiesoftheworld.
IreadintheGulistan,orFlowerGarden,ofSheikSadiofShiraz,that“Theyaskedawiseman,sayingOfthemanycelebratedtreeswhichtheMostHighGodhascreatedloftyandumbrageous,theycallnoneazad,orfree,exceptingthecypress,whichbearsnofruitwhatmysteryisthereinthis?HerepliedEachhasitsappropriateproduce,andappointedseason,duringthecontinuanceofwhichitisfreshandblooming,andduringtheirabsencedryandwitheredtoneitherofwhichstatesisthecypressexposed,beingalwaysflourishingandofthisnaturearetheazads,orreligiousindependents.—FixnotthyheartonthatwhichistransitoryfortheDijlah,orTigris,willcontinuetoflowthroughBagdadaftertheraceofcaliphsisextinct:ifthyhandhasplenty,beliberalasthedatetreebutifitaffordsnothingtogiveaway,beanazad,orfreeman,likethecypress.”
COMPLEMENTALVERSES
ThePretensionsofPoverty
“Thoudostpresumetoomuch,poorneedywretch,
Toclaimastationinthefirmament
Becausethyhumblecottage,orthytub,
Nursessomelazyorpedanticvirtue
Inthecheapsunshineorbyshadysprings,
Withrootsandpot-herbswherethyrighthand,
Tearingthosehumanepassionsfromthemind,
Uponwhosestocksfairbloomingvirtuesflourish,
Degradethnature,andbenumbethsense,
And,Gorgon-like,turnsactivementostone.
Wenotrequirethedullsociety
Ofyournecessitatedtemperance,
Orthatunnaturalstupidity
Thatknowsnorjoynorsorrownoryourforc’d
Falselyexaltedpassivefortitude
Abovetheactive.Thislowabjectbrood,
Thatfixtheirseatsinmediocrity,
Becomeyourservilemindsbutweadvance
Suchvirtuesonlyasadmitexcess,
Brave,bounteousacts,regalmagnificence,
All-seeingprudence,magnanimity
Thatknowsnobound,andthatheroicvirtue
Forwhichantiquityhathleftnoname,
Butpatternsonly,suchasHercules,
Achilles,Theseus.Backtothyloath’dcell
Andwhenthouseestthenewenlightenedsphere,
Studytoknowbutwhatthoseworthieswere.”
T.CAREW