The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-13
A STORY OF 500.
An Indianapolis Woman's Experience
In Philanthropy.

An indianapolis Woman's Experience
In Philanthropy.
While making a morning call recently,
woman visitor remarked: Il have never
lost cent of money by a woman" In con-
tinuing the conversation, she related an
interesting story of experience, or,
rather, succession of experiences of her
own. Once, while residing in the far West,
on a fruit ranch. which she had purchased,
she became acquainted with neighbor
family, which lived few miles from her.
In the family was husband and wife and
a younger sister of the wife, who, on ac-
count of failing health, had come to the
milder climate to seek health, if it were
possible to find it. The wife was accom-
plished woman and, before marrying and
coming to the West, she had been teach
er in one of the leading schools of Penn
sylvania. One day, just before the relator
of this story, Mrs. X, was to leave for a
visit East she remembered that her neigh
bors had little ready money. She had 800
for which she had no immediate use and,
in calling on the neighbours wife, said to
her: II have here 500 in gold which / am
not going to need. I want you to take it,
and if you need it, use it. If you will feel
and return it if you like. Should anything
happen to you to me- there is not a line
anywhere that will give any information
whereby the money could be collected"
The woman accepted the money as a
loan. 1t was afterwards returned. Then it
occurred to Mrs. x. that she would send
that money out on little excursion of the
same kind from time to time, and see If
she could not make it of some benefit to
one. 1t was not long before it was
called on to make a second journey. A few
houses away was the home of an old
captain, his wife and daughter The daugh-
ter was well educated and was preparing
herself to be teacher. One day the ship
which was their only possession, was
wrecked and the money which was to pay
for the tuition of the daughter had to be
appropriated for something else. Their
house was not paid for. A fruit crop was
coming on and it was hoped to make some
thing by it. One day Mrs. X met the wife
of the Captain and asked her what she was
going to do about her crop The wife said
she would have to sell it for what she could
get. as she had no money She was asked
how much she would want, and said she
thought that SIS would do. The amount was
Immediately offered. 1t happened, however
that the crop was sold for more than was
expected and the money was not borrowed.
For a later crop. however. the money was
asked for and by the use of it the wife
cleared $50 more than she would have done
If she had not had it. The money was re-
turned. $40 the first time and in smaller
amounts later. The Captains wife told
Mrs X that she would call her her mas
cot as their luck turned after she offered
the money the first time.
TT now haca me- a matter of much interest
to Mrs. *, and she was more vigilant than
before in her efforts to find some one who
needed the money. Several miles off in an
other direction dwelt a little French wom-
an-one of the most cheerful of individuals.
who was attractive in a dozen ways and
who was capable of doing many nice little
things whenever opportunity offered. She
had a husband who was a tailor, but he
was of very little account in keeping the
kettle boiling or in helping to pay for the
home, which the wife was trying to buy.
The woman had saved a little here and
little there until she was ready to make
the last payment on her house. The night
before the money was due every cent of it
was stolen. She was in great distress. Mrs.
X took an additional SIS. put it with the
$780, and gave it to the woman, who was
thus enabled to save her property. 1t was
a long time before the money came back
this time, and then it was in installments
of $40, SIS or $40. Each time the woman
came to bring any money she would add
a little offering of grapes, or some other
fruit, the incest that grew on her place.
After months of effort, the sum was again
repaid and was ready to make a fourth
little journey. This time it went to a wom-
an of an entirely different kind. 1t was a
Danish woman, who had sick husband.
He had been ill so long and there had been
so little money that the woman had been
obliged to borrow small sums from every
one she knew. Time went on and the credi-
tors became impatient. They wanted their
money. as creditors so often do. She was
greatly worried. Mrs. X. accidentally found
out her trouble and went to her. The Dam
ish woman thought that $50 would be
enough and she was loaned the amount.
She was relieved of her troubles, for the
payment of the $50 to Mrs. Y. was to be at
her pleasure and convenience. Part of the
amount was returned while Mrs, Y. was in
California and the last of it came by mail
since she has been in Indianapolis. The
lending of the money has become one of
the interesting features of Mrs. KS life,
and, until she needs the money for herself
which will probably never be, she is going
to see how many women she can tide over
an emergency Tor feaoy money one OF the
women she helped had borrowed some mon
ely and was paying per cent a month for
the use of it. In some cases Mrs. X has
taken per cent. interest for the loan and
at other times no interest at all. In some
instances she has made the recipient more
willing to accept the loan by attaching an
interest charge to ii.
The Seasick Test.
San Francisco Post.
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