CHARITY NOT APPRECIATED.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4574, 13 June 1923, Page 1

CHARITY NOT APPRECIATED.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The following will serve to indicate that all get-rich-quick stunts do not originate in America. A few days ago a charitably disposed gentleman of this town with commendable generosity gave away a lot of clothes to a working man whom he understood to be in poor circumstances. What was this working man’s object in asking for help 1 Did he really feel the pinch of poverty ’ The next scene in this comedy is this man. having an auction sale pf the clothing, he being his own auctioneer and his workmates the buyers. Like a true knight of the hammer, he held up each garment for inspection, loudly proclaiming its virtues, and in such a convincing manner as to cause a bystander to remark, “No doubt, you’ve missed your vocation.” Hpw it would have gladdened the hearts of our womenfplk to have been there. Shirts were sold for a shilling, hats for a shilling, and one man became the posesser of a slightly worn suit for the princely sum of five shillings. The sale over, the auctioneer showed himself greatly possessed of the gambling spirit. Approaching each buyer he offered to toss him double or quits, which meant that if a man had bought five shillings’ worth of goods and then lost, the toss he would have to pay ten shillings, and should he win, his purchases would cost him nothing. S'ome of the men did not agree to this too readily, but the enterprising auctioneer’s ’ eloquence eventually overcame all resistance and they agreed. But the old elofthes king’s star was not. in the ascendent, as he did not win one toss. His workmates got free clothes and free entertainment. Truly,, “the best laid plans of mice and men aft gang agley.” C.S. ASSOCIATION.