Judge, 1915-10-02 · page 18 of 30
Judge — October 2, 1915 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This fable-style story satirizes debates about welfare and charity in the Gilded Age. Mr. Squirrel represents the industrious, self-reliant worker who has saved for his family's needs. Mr. Crow embodies the improvident poor or undeserving applicant—first using deception (fake gun) to steal, then demanding handouts without effort or gratitude. The moral, attributed to R.J. Burdette, argues that true charity aids the genuinely unfortunate, but should never reward idleness or entitlement. The "make-believe" elements (false gun, wormy nut) emphasize that deception and manipulation characterize those seeking unearned aid. This reflects late 19th-century conservative rhetoric opposing expanded welfare, viewing poverty as often self-inflicted rather than structural. The anthropomorphic animals make the argument digestible for a general audience while delivering a pointed social message about who deserves assistance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHEN CHARITY CEASES TO BE A_ VIRTUR MR. SQUIRREL sat in the spring sunshine ona limb near his tree house, eating a nut. Suddenly a crow appeared with a gun under his wing and cried out to Mr. Squirrel, “Hands up! I've got you now drop that nut! | am fam- ished with hunger!” The squirrel, chattering with fear at the bold hold-up, let go the nut, and as it fell to the ground Mr. Crow seized it in his bill and flew away. Presently he returned and de- manded that Mr. Squirrel crack the nut for him. “T perceive,” said Mr. Squirrel, “that you are now un- armed. Did you lose your gun?” ‘Oh, ho!” laughed Mr. Crow, “that was a make-believe gun; | was only fooling you!” Mr. Squirrel, no longer in fear, sat up bristling with anger and said, “This is only a make-believe nut, as a worm has eaten up the meat within.” “Well,” replied the crow, “I want the worm.” “It is not my business to crack nuts for crows,” answered Mr. Squirrel, “and why do you come to me demanding of my store what | have put away for my family-you profligate bird? It is charity to divide with the unfortunate, but never with the improvident.”— x..1. Bullinerr