Show x why we give to beggars by M K THOMSON ph D 1 l and ghang alms Is an ancient virtue it has been practiced ever since man first learned to share his food and shelter with his fellow man in want the most obvious motive for giving alms Is to relieve need and suffer ing no doubt human sympathy and fellow feeling play an important piatr those who are not very far removed from the poor beggar are more hyui pathetic and ghe alms while the rich man Is more likely to give to alons rather than to individuals his sympathy Is humanitarian rather than personal we also give alms for the satisfaction that comes from doing for somebody else unconsciously we are somewhat elated to find a person in less favorable circumstances and are glad to give him something for making us feel better than we did with some there Is the purely mer cenary motive of giving in order to get something in return as expressed in the saying that if you cast your bread on the waters it will return to you after many days reward in heaven if not on this airth is a strong motive for giving alms to those who think of heaven as a place of reward for good deeds to their fellows on the earth cut by i tar the strongest motive for giving alms although the least con adous one Is tint of giving in order to relieve ourselves ours elies of an emotionally situation the beggar lias made us suffer by a kind of physical ana sympathy and ip parent ly the only way to allay that feeling Is to ghe the poor devil something and go away satisfied that you have done your part otherwise your con science will trouble you those plead ing eyes or the crippled body will haunt you for this reason the beg gars usually appear pitiful enough to make 4 worth our while to give most generously 0 by mcclure newspaper |