ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 476, 7 November 1877, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

THE INDIAN FAMINE FUND,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING MAIL.

Sir, —For some weeks past the town and district have been laid under contribution to raise a fund for relief of the faminestricken inhabitants of India, and for some hidden reason best known to the contributors, few indeed refused to subscribe. Did they for a moment reflect upon the nature of the object for which they so generously and humanely loosened their purse-strings I I troW not ; had they done so in a truly Christian spirit, they would assuredly have buttoned their pockets, as the thought struck them that they were devoting their hard-earnings to a lot of wretched heathen, who are outside the pale of Christianity. I say let them starve ; there will bo fewer enemies of our grand old religion left, and, therefore, I have a suggestion to make which, I have little doubt, will find an echo in many a Christian bosom, particularly as it concerns the welfare of that great, good, virtuous, patient, pious, persecuted Christian man, Dr. Barnardo. Who lias not heard of him, and the manifold blessings he has conferred upon mankind by his superhuman exertions on behalf of the poor, the ragged, the lame, the halt and the blind? Who has not heard of the truly Christian resignation with which he has for many years, and from many lands, received the dear innocent lamb-like sentimental Sunday School pennies ? But who has heard of the truly charitable and economical manner in which they were expended. My suggestion, Sir, is that the whole amount subscribed to the Indian famine relief fund should at once be forwarded to Dr. Barnardo as a small addendum to the Bweet little periodical remittance of Sunday School pence, forwarded to the humane Doctor from Oamaru by a tenderhearted correspondent of your morning contemporary. Then will many an honest brow have perspired not in vain—then will one of the greatest philanthropists of this, or any other, age be enabled to meet and overthrow his vile accusers, those prying persons who dare to inquire into his expenditure of the fund entrusted to his charge. His answer, Sir, is plain and warranted by Holy writ—" I never let my right hand know what my left hand doeth."

In conclusion, Sir, allow me to inform your slangy correspondent, "Anti-Hum-bug," that all your readers are not steeped in ignorance as he evidently is. Who is Barnardo ? Indeed it is certain " AntiHumbug " never attended a Sunday School. I venture to express the belief that you will lend the aid of your powerful pen in securing the adoption of the suggestion which I have taken the liberty of laying before your readers.—l am, &c, P—hilo B—UNKUM.