The times., 1899-01-06
And the least Of these is sarcasm.


this city contained an article in reference
to the case of Mrs. Jane Evans, the aged
woman who was discovered in a starving
condition by The Times, and who had been
refused aid by the Associated Charities
The article in question contained the sar-
castle Comment of Superintendent OF
Charities Herbert w. Lewis on this case.
Aside from the painful effort at sarcasm.
Superintendent Lewis stated that when he
called at the Evans household, on Wednes-
day morning, ne found that he had been
preceded by 4 dozen or more charitable
people. who had furnished Mrs. Evans with
needed aid in the way of provisions and
fuel. He then went on TO state that the
woman had something to eat, had coal
FIRE and was not barefooted, and therefore
the case was not as reported, and was one
OF fragrant imposition.
Relief Had Already Come.
Superintendent Lewis was careful TO
call after "a dozen or more charitable
persons had preceded him. who had left
packages containing groceries. fuel and
clothing for the relief of the supposed
suffering inmates. These are his own
words and he weakens his statement by
saying that the woman had clothing, fire
and provisions, and was, therefore, an i'm
postor. Had Superintendent Lewis called
when Mrs Evans made application 10 him
for aid he would have found no provisions
10 fuel. and the aged woman baref0oted
and thinly clad.
Against the sarcasm Of Superintendent
Lewis are arrayed the statements and &C
tons OF over l25 reputable citizens OF the
District who have investigated the case
for themselves, and whose regulations for
truth and veracity are as good as that OF
Mr.. Lewis. These people came. and, after
careful investigation. were so impressed
with the immediate need for aid and plenty
of aid. that, instead Of going out and tell
ing the world about it. they furnished sub
stantisl evidence OF their approval Of the
case.
One of these was Policeman Marshall
who has the beat which includes Mechan-
ic Place, and he. after personal investiga-
t.on, was impressed with the genuine
ness of the case that he ordered ton OF
coke to be sent to Mrs. Evans. II is in
deed possible that Officer Marshall knows
as much about imposition" as does ST.
perintendent Lewis. and the former has
eyes to see whether or no the woman
needed aid, and experience in such cases
which would sharpen his investigation.
Appreciated Her Needs.
The majority OF the good people who
have Investigated the case personally
made their charity the more blessed by re
fusing to give their names or addresses,
and only few, who, after giving some
thing were SO impressed with the case
that they left their addresses, telling Mrs.
Evans TO call upon them al any time in
the future when in need and they would
care for her.
Following are some Of these addresses;
r W Beall S04 T Street northwest; Willis
c. Haldeman 705 Fourteenth Strest north
west Mrs. Johns. wife of the pastor Of
Christ Church Mrs. c. E. Gilbert NJ. D..
455 Missouri Avenue northwest; Mrs. y. l.
Huntley. $40 Tenth Street northwest; Mrs.
L. Y Dickey. 1924 Bladensburg Road; So
cieiy Of the Kings Daughters; Mrs. Thurs
ton. 6o4 Ninth Street northwest; Mrs. Alice
addison &c Street northwest; Mrs. An
ME Parlin S25 Ninth Street northwest;
Harry Williams. Washington Brewing
COMPANY: lady from Eleventh and G
Streets southeast, and others.
The following letter il one Of the many
received at this Office relating 10 the merits
OF the case:
Washington. D. C., Jan. Z. $50.
To the Editor Of The Time:
After quite a search found the home Of Mrs
Evans. at No. 3l6 Mechanic Place southeast. tins
morning and I found Ihina,s a. represented
The Morning Times / furnished Mrs Evan, with
basket Of provisions, shoes, and a small quantity
Of iuel 20 tide her. over for few days. met
there TWO other ladies with baskets Of provisions
who. like myself, had heard OF this worthy case
through The Times
Too iauch credit cannot bee accorded your paper
for its zeal and perseverance in making the
wants Of the suffering poor known.
Had IL not been for Tie Times, TINS poor woman
would soon have been beyond help. May you 20
On in this good work. We all have loaf 10
spare. MRS WELSH,
1l2 Street northeast.
About dozen people called upon Mrs.
Evans yesterday and although she wore
dress, was not barefooted. had provisions
and coal fire. they all left some substan-
tlal evidence Of their faith In the case
more than was done by the Associated
Charities. In several cases Mrs. Evans
told her visitors that. while she had re-
ceiyed plenty through The kindness OF the
people Of Washington. a neighbor, Mrs.
Laura Scott. who lives al 323 Mechanic
Place. was in n~ed Of provisions. and the
visitors gave Mrs. Scott what they had
brought Mrs. Scott has a family OF four
small children, one less than a year old
and as her husband has been unemployed
for three months, she is practically desti-
tute Mrs. Scott states that the Associated
Charities gave her provisions and coal to
the amount of 81, and when she again ap-
piled they sent her away with a warning
not 10 apply again for aid.
Superintendent Lewis makes a mistake
in saying that the son who was Ie-
ported to be sick in bed was out some
where" The Times stated distinctly that
the son was sick in bed last Spring but
that for the past month he had been walk
ing the street day and night hunting for
employment.
4 FIimsy Excuse.
The excuse given by Superintendent
Lewis for his callous neglect Of this case
is that the woman had two strong sons,
believed TO be able 10 earn 4 living for
themselves and their mother" One of
these strong sons" is marine who has
been on the sick list at League Island
FOR two months since his return fInm
Cuba, where he served his country during
the war. This son formerly paid his
mothers rent out Of his SIG per month.
but for two months has been unable to
do anything. The ether strong son" has
been cut CT employment for nearly two
months and when he did work received
the magnificent sum Of 81 per week. upon
which he supported himself and his moth
or.
Mrs. Evans was profuse in her thanks
last night, and extends her gratitude to
everyone who has so kindly aided her.
Those who called upon her were bitter in
their criticisms OF Superintendent Lewis
aud the Associated Charities
The only thing that Mr.. Lewis seems
10 have done in the matter was 10 visit
the unfortunate woman after she had been
furnished with some necessities TO keen
her from starving and insult her by say
nearF CHI N-zaa1 ...I