TWO PICTURES.

Evening Star, Issue 21193, 29 August 1932, Page 11

TWO PICTURES.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir, —“ If I liad change I’d give you sixpence.” This remark (quoted in to-night’s ‘ Star ’), was made by a iady whose lost purse, containing £lO2, was returned to her by a carrier who found it. This skinflint proclivity set me thinking about another lady who advertised in the ‘ Star ’ the other night for a lost purse. She (amazingly generous soul) simply said: “Finder of purse, with £6, keep money and return purse with lock of hair (dead mother’s gift).” Perhaps in these distressful times the finder of the six notes may have had cause to bless his benefactor —that is, if he kept the notes; some would rather return them. But none could blame a struggling man "with a starving family for keeping what a kindly heart freely gave. The'contrast in the natures of the two ladies is strong indeed. The former has what might be called a “ saving ” grace; the latter has shown what she may nevei' have given a thought to—a superb bounty. The hoarding instinct of the laclv minus sixpence, but possessing £lO2, one note of which she could have changed, had she been liberal enough, reminds me of another very careful lady depicted by a cartoonist in a London humorous magazine. A tramp accosted the lady in the street and begged a coin for the relief of his hunger (no doubt secretly thinking in terms of good old Bass). The lady, having been “ deceived ” so often by tearful tramps, was disinclined to “part.” She said: “ One must be careful of one’s money. I have been so often fooled by such men as you that I vowed I would never give a cent in future.” The tramp implored, telling the mouldy tale about “ starving for a week.” The lady, being “touched” (in more ways than one), relented. She took from her handbag a penny and gave it to him. “ Now,’’said she, “ I’ll break my resolution this once because you have an honest face, and I don’t think you will misuse the money. Don’t waste.it; buy food.” The tramp, in apparently wistful gratefulness, turned the penny in Ins hand, hut his unspoken thoughts must have been rather rude. “ No, mum,” ho said, “ honest, 111 not squander the money. I’ll tell you what I’il do. I’ll go straight away, mum, and buy a roast of beef with it.” And thus assured, she of the Samaritan heart (though small the _ deed) must have prided herself on doing one good turn that day. The other lady wore no halo because, having no change, she could not give a whole sixpence, which was her limit as a reward for the recovery of £102! Well, well; in this life one gets more surprising shocks than one gets in a dentist’s chair. I am, etc-, Augus. August 27.