tly
if he can, that is, by persevering importunity, but frequently by
false representations, and other more disreputable means, of which the
law takes no immediate cognizance.

_We_ continually see the state to which this reduces him, but HE feels
not the degradation to which he has become familiar, habit reconciling
and making attractive his course of life, whatever may have been his
feelings at the commencement of it. The persons who condemn are those
who have driven him to this base means of existence; the facility with
which money is obtained from those who give (through the habit of
doing so from having seen their parents do it, or because they believe
the distressed is a poor Jew and has _no recognised_ refuge), induces
an opinion that this is the proper and legitimate mode of Jewish
charity: but no really laudable feeling enters the mind of either; nor
does the giver always think he is conferring a benefit: he treats the
applicant for relief generally as "a fugitive and vagabond on the
earth," forgetting entirely that the debasement of this mind, the
ignorance of this man, the slur that is cast upon the Jews by this
individual, is entirely their own act. They, the wealthy, the honored,
the enlightened, the pride of the people, are the culprits--not the
poor, the ignorant, the destitute. Cheerfully might these be induced
to regard the means of supporting themselves by their own industry.
How gladly would they avail themselves of a reputable institution to
receive them,--a house to shelter them--a supervision to protect, an
asylum to support them! But have the leaders attended to this?

It is true, and honourable, and worthy of the highest praise, that
many sources of relief exist, founded by the thoughtful, supported by
the charitable, governed by the indefatigable; but many of these even,
it is reported, have been commenced by those who are but little
elevated above poverty in the neighbourhood where the distress has
been most evident, and maintained subsequently by the personal
interference of individuals, and the stringent appeals of private
friends, which could not have been refused if wished, which dared not
be neglected. An exception, the Jews' Hospital, was the emanation of a
noble mind, and, backed by disinterested perseverance, induced all to
contribute to so bold an undertaking, commencing from the highest: its
sphere of benefit is, however, very limited. Unfortunately, few among
us investigate whether