The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-03

The members OF the poor board yes
terday afternoon heard the usual run
of hard luck stories, but one or two OF
these were a little bit more than usual
ly pathetic and caused more than one
OF the members to drum nervously on
his desk and look furtively around,
fearful that anyone might notice that
he was affected.
Anyone who labors under the delusion
that the Scranton poor board is q body
composed of naughty, arrogant, cold
blooded and hard-hearted officials, like
the workhouse board before which poor
little Oliver Twist was brought, after
he had dared to ask for a second
meagre helping of oatmeal, would do
well to drop around in the basement OF
the city hall on the first and third Fri
day afternoons of the month and have
this delusion dispelled from his mind.
The first case to come before the
board yesterday afternoon was that of
Mrs. Louisa Hines, of Capouse avenue.
She had an air of refinement about her
that was plainly dscernable to the
most casual observer, despite the shah
biness of her attire.
Her husband, herself and their little
child came here about six months ago,
she said, and after working for several
months, he suddenly gave up his job
and left her without a word.
well, why did he do it?" asked
Director Fuller. Did you have a quar-
rel?"
WHY HE LEFT HER.
NO, sir, not even a word. But I've
been sick" and as she said it the tense
lines around her mouth deepened and
two tiny tears crept into the corners of
her eyes. I've been sick and I've had
two operations performed, and l just
found out a little while ago that I'd
have to have third, and-and-I sup
pose he got tired of paying doctors. Id
like to go out to Findlay, Ohio with the
| little girl and take my furniture, but |
| haven't got a cent.
Il tried to sell my furniture"-and
here she had TO bite her upper lip to
keep back sob that was yelling up
| from her very heart--"but the second
hand furniture man wouldn't give me
more than 50 for it, There isn't very
much of it, but it's worth more than SO.
| I've got two beds and some chairs and
a table and some other little things.
and they're all | own. except my little
girl"
| Director Fuller, who was acting as
president. was fuesing with some papers
on the desk and was trying to look un-
| concerned, but he didn't succeed very
We'll Someone moved that Mrs. Hines
be admitted to the Hillside Home. and
the motion was carried unanimously. II
might be explained that though this
was an. exceptionally pathetic case, the
| board could not break its established
precedent of refusing TO send persons
on long railroad journeys.
| SPOKE OF BETTER DAYS.
| Mrs. Mulroy, an old woman with a
kindly face and attired in a costume
| that spoke eloquently of better DAYS ir
times gone by, was the next to tell her
story. She had several married chill.
dren, but they wouldn't support her
and the only one able to work ordinar.
lily was her l9year-Old son, who is now
sick, but who, she said, gave her yer,
little when he was well.
She wanted monthly relief, but the
board decided that she should be ad.
mitted TO the Hillside Home, and q
motion to that effect was passed.
"Oh, but ! won't go to the 200,
house" she said II wouldn't go ther,
at all. If / break up the little home
have now, God help me. I'll never have
another. I'm much obliged to you. bu
l won't go to the poor house" and she
hurried out to begin her struggle will
adversely again.
The directors thought of the beautifu
home on the top of the hill in the center
of one of the most glorious farm region.
in the state and, comparing it in theiI
minds eye with the proba BILE squalor O.
the old woman's surroundings, won
dered why some people have such aueeI
notions, forgetting that a dread of tn,
poor house is inbred in the very bon,
of the people from the little green isl,
| across the sea.