Hard Times, a Helping Hand

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/opinion/22gup.html?_r=1&th=&emc=th&pagewanted=a

By TED GUP
Published: December 22, 2008

IN the weeks just before Christmas of 1933 — 75 years ago — a mysterious offer appeared in The Repository, the daily newspaper here. It was addressed to all who were suffering in that other winter of discontent known as the Great Depression. The bleakest of holiday seasons was upon them, and the offer promised modest relief to those willing to write in and speak of their struggles. In return, the donor, a “Mr. B. Virdot,” pledged to provide a check to the neediest to tide them over the holidays.

Not surprisingly, hundreds of letters for Mr. B. Virdot poured into general delivery in Canton — even though there was no person of that name in the city of 105,000. A week later, checks, most for as little as $5, started to arrive at homes around Canton. They were signed by “B. Virdot.”

The gift made The Repository’s front page on Dec. 18, 1933. The headline read: “Man Who Felt Depression’s Sting to Help 75 Unfortunate Families: Anonymous Giver, Known Only as ‘B. Virdot,’ Posts $750 to Spread Christmas Cheer.” The story said the faceless donor was “a Canton man who was toppled from a large fortune to practically nothing” but who had returned to prosperity and now wanted to give a Christmas present to “75 deserving fellow townsmen.” The gifts were to go to men and women who might otherwise “hesitate to knock at charity’s door for aid.”

Whether the paper spoke to Mr. B. Virdot directly or through an intermediary or whether it received something in writing from him is not known.



the rest of the article is at the link above - it's a wonderful story ---

[BeFree]

1. $5

Back then that was almost a full week's wage.

What a great example B Virdot was of being a true Christian.

[shrike]

2. Almost made me cry

[acmavm]

3. So sad that the stories like this are soooo overshadowed by the bad

news coming out of anywhere.

Here's something weird. I, of course, when hearing things like this always first think that yes, there is truly the spirit of Christmas in the world. And in many different forms, not always Christian.

AND THEN, and this is the mentally ill part, I always marvel at the story telling prowess of the ancient Greeks. Their tale of Pandora. A 'fable' with a maxim as valid and truthful then as now. Because without 'hope', it truly would not be worth the struggle.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.