306937 COPYRIGHT, 1904 BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Set up and electrotyped. Published December. 1904 THE MASON PRESS PREFACE Since the appearance in 1870 of the valuable work of Emminghaus on Poor-Relief in the Different Countries of Europe, we have no compendium which presents the essential features of public and private charity in the Western world, and important changes have occurred since that volume was published. A comparative treatment of this subject is desirable for students, practical workers and travelers who visit institutions and need to "orient" themselves in each land. The editor's experience as a university teacher, as a lecturer before mixed audiences and as an executive officer in a metropolitan society of charity organization has brought this need very vividly and constantly before his mind. Ignorance of what other people are doing means. blundering experiment, opinionated obstinacy in antiquated methods, and waste of energy and resources. Thoughtful actors in philanthropy are not seeking an atomic mass of isolated facts or personal tricks of benevolent invention, but general laws, rational results of experience and reflection which, like valuable merchandise, will bear transportation over sea. Gossip is for the idle hour and the winter fireside; science is the common theme of the republic of letters and the fraternity of competent leaders,-current as pure gold even when melted down and coined in different mints. Emerson, in his Representative Men, said: "I go to a convention of philanthropists. Do what I can, I cannot keep my eyes off the clock. But if there should appear in the company some gentle soul who knows little of persons or parties, of Carolina or Cuba, but who announces a law that disposes of these particulars, and so certifies me of the equity which checkmates every false player, bankrupts every self-seeker, and apprises me of my independence on any conditions of country, or time, or human body, that man liberates me; I forget the clock." The comparative method of dealing with isolated phenomena of the same class ieads by the most direct path to the discovery of the law, the principles of explanation and the principles of regulation and progress. "We know that science is the handful of ultimate principles gathered out of the tufted mass of facts; but what gropings to discover them! Centuries of research are often condensed into a principle that a line may state." The attempt has been made to present facts without bias, yet with careful selection of phenomena which seem to be really significant and decisive. In each chapter will be found, in very condensed form of statement, the facts relating to the extent of each kind of social need, the law governing state activity on behalf of the classes of dependents, the methods of public organization and administration, the coöperation of public and voluntary agencies, the provision made for defectives, helpless children and misguided youth, and the recent ministrant functions of governments which have a tendency to diminish appeals to charity. Quite as important are the facts relating to the judgments of experts in each country, and considerable space has been given to these. Popular opinions, sentiments and prejudices, even superstitions are often influential; as, for example, the crude religious feelings which maintain the custom of indiscriminate almsgiving and the survival of street mendicancy. When the opinions are those of persons with scientific education, modern ideals and long practical experience, they are facts of positive value. The recommendations of bodies of experts, made after protracted and repeated discussion, even if they have not yet been adopted in customs, regulations and laws, have a claim to be considered; they also are social facts. Naturally interest in such practical subjects culminates in the induction of a judgment called a "social imperative," because the ultimate object of the entire investigation is the foundation of principles and rules for the guidance of conduct. The reader has a right to ask at each step: What of it? How does all this array of facts teach us to make a more economical use of public and private gifts to the poor? Are there any guiding maxims which will help the benevolent visitor and administrator to mitigate suffering, relieve distress, restore lost self-respect and 1 Charles Wagner, The Simple Life, p. 19. |