The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-02
AN INSTANCE.


We have before remarked on how fire.
quently the news columns of the soldier
hating papers, the departments which con-
tain hard, incontrovertible facts instead of
opinions, give the lie direct to their editorial
columns. Here is another illustration, found
last week in the local columns of the New
York Herald, and which tells story that
ream of editorials cannot explain away or
belittle:
Two pounds of oatmeal and pound of rice,
bought with weekly stipend of 20 cents, is not
calculated to sustain and keep in good spirits two
grown people for five days, yet when called yes
terday upon Col. and Mrs. William A. Siloway,
who have lived on that fare for the time named
found them quite cheerful
Mr.. Siloway is Il years old, and very well
educated Yermonter. His wife, who is Spaniard
by BIRTH is woman of good address and manners,
who has been well brought up. They live now at
No. 167 West Fourth street. in two modest rooms,
the rent of which has not been paid for four weeks
Sickness and want of work have been their por-
ton during the Winter and they tell story that
| is indeed sad.
"We had hard time of it during the Winter. I
wasreceived whenever applied for work, with the
| objection that too old and not spry enough.
Printers say they want young, lively men who can
| get around. 70 make myself look young cut of
my long gray beard but that hardly improves
matters.
! my last employment was at Isaac Liehenstein's
setting up catalog That was only temporary
place, for the book was soon finished, and left
| there the second week in March, have been
| troubled all this time with rheumatism and pneu-
monia Since left Lichenstens we have had no
money except such as has been given to us by our
| friends, who are all poor people, that which my
wife has earned atsewing, and a dollar that Imade
yesterday in printing office, but cannot get till
| pay day.
| Every Thursday my wife goes to the place of
| the New York Society to Assist Poor Women, and
Is allowed to work two hours for 20 cents worth Of
groceries. On Thursday last she got two pounds
| of oatmeal and a pound OF rice This, with little
| tea and molasses that she had earned on the pre-
| v1ous Thursday, and which we had left over, was
| all we had to live on until yesterday Tuesday,
| when lady gave q Decent loaf eight eggs, and
| 10 cents TO buy wood to cook the eggs with and a
slice of bacon We had that for supper last night,
breakfast this morning, and for dinner. 1t must
last US all day and for breakfast tomorrow. too.
| applied for help to the Society for Organizing
| Charity, on University Place, but they would do
| nothing because lived in furnished rooms. They
| regard those who don't own furniture as tramps
| and irresponsible people"
| Yes put in Mrs. Silloway, plump woman,
| who always has a smile on her face, even when
things are at their worst and had similar ex-
| perienee with the New York Society to Amelio-
rate the Condition of the Poor on Seventy fourth
street went there, and the lady at the desk said
| was laughing when l came in. said wasn't t.
She repeated that was. Iretorted that ought to
know, and that was sure didn't laugh. She said
that if wanted help must enter the place humbly
and solemnly. After l showed my willingness to
| he humble and solemn she said she couldn't help
US because L had no young children. Grown people,
| she said, could take care of themselves"
| Silloway served all through the war. He began
privatein the goth N. Y, and became, he says,
a Lieutenant-Colonel and BrevetCoonel. He was
then assigned to the 18th Engineer Corps special
| service and WAS subsequently an Assistant Engi-
neer in the Navy, serving on the ship Princess
Royal.
SilIoway says he is willing to do anything around
printing office or light porterage in any store All
| he wants is work.
Is it not an ineffable shame-a scandal to
all decent Government that man like this,
who gave the best years of his life to save
the country, should, with his poor old wife,
be starving in garrett in great city, which
teens with wealth, none of which would
have been possible but for the self-saerifce
of this man and those like him?
No better argument for the immediate
passage Of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE PEN
sion Bill can be made than is contained in
that simple, plain statement. There are just
such cases in every toxin and village in the
country. not ai