Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/457

 THE JUMOR REPUBLIC

443

are utterly ungrateful ; you do not appreciate a particle of all

that is being done for you. You do not seem to realize that

everything you get here is given to you. You ought to show

some gratitude." " Is that so?"

said the girl, "Why, I thought

we were earning our living,"

and the cruel insistence on her

pauperism crushed the girl's

heart, and in tears she sought

consolation from Mr. George.

This is the noble distinction of

the Republic that it has no

place for that current charity

which makes of the recipients WHO ARE WE?

fawning paupers or dogged

criminals, and of the givers complacent philanthropists. It is

in truth a republic, and this is the secret of its manliness and

strong sense of mutual responsibility.

The spirit of the Republic is condensed in its slogan, com- posed by the boys, and yelled with fervor : "Sszz! Boom! Hear Ye This! !

Down with the boss ; down with the tramp;

Down with the pauper; down with the scamp.

Up with the freeman; up with the wise ;

Up with the thrifty; on to the prize.

Who are we? Why- We- are-the C1TI/KNS of the G. J. K.

We love our land and we would die

To keep Old Glory in the sky."

Though Mr. George is a devoted Christian and a Methodist with missionary x.eal, yet church and state are clearlv separated. The boys and girls themselves or^ani/ed a voluntary prayer meet- ing, and the funds eolleeted were devoted to the poor. When the evils of pauperism eame to l>e appreciated, this disposition was abandoned, and aeiti/en missionary was employed to en;.

in work among the others. The prayer meetings would MTVC as models for many churches. The e.mtrilmtioiis ioi religious \\oik