The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-19
C. p. sTAAB.



Old Charles p. Staab owned the house
and he left Il TO his widow when he
died. He was a wealthy dealer I'm artists
material. with n store in Greene street
and another In Park place. this city. The
widow Is well TO do In her own name, too,
for her father, the neighbors tell. was a
rich man.
But the old house looks more like a
deserted relic of days bygone than a
home where two human beings dwell, for
Washington staab. the widows son,
sleeps there at night.
Every window. front and rear, is tightly
scaled by solid wooden shutters that ef-
fectually shut out both light and air
Heavy shades are drawn over them 10
Htill further add TO the dungeon-like as
pect.
Door and window castings are fast fall
Sng into decay for lack OF paint and in
many places the painted red brick has
worn away. Even the front door knob
looks as IL human hand had not been
laid on IL in years.
No person is allowed TO enter except
The coal man in the winter time Butch
ers, grocers laundrymen, bakers are not
admitted. The son himself goes out for
his mothers meals and brings them to
her three times a day. Even the door
bell Is disconnected. In her sons absence
old Mrs. Stasb will not open the door for
any one
BIRDS NEST IN THE BLINDS.
The back yard consists chiefly OF a
hole in the ground where once cistern
had been. But IL caved in from lack OF
care several years ago, and i'm winter
time the son fills IL in with the ashes
from the fireplaces These have almost
reached the top.
The rear looks nnre desoiafa than fl,a
front. All the windows are closed and the
blinds drawn. Grass is growing on the
windowsills, and I'm one set OF blinds
there are three birds nests With three
sets OF vigorous youngsters growing up
in absolute security
When a reporter pulled the bell knob
yesterday afternoon there was no an
swering ring There was no wire at
tached. But feeble footsteps sounded
down the bare hall behind the barred
door. and trembling voice asked:
what is IL? What do you WANT"
II was the voice OF aged Mrs Sfaab
She was told that some of the neighbors
had been saying that the house had been
sealed UP too long.
See my SON." said the voice. "He will
be here soon with my dinner have
nothing to say. It's all right Please 60
away
Next door in a fine big house lives Cant.
Pertain and his wife. who have been
neighbors OF the house OF silence for
seven years.
I'VE haven't any complaints to make. -
said Capt. gertain. "The old lady Is mel
ench0ly. and she keeps the house sealed
up and never goes out. that's ALL"
II have lived here twelve years" said
Mrs Haffner, who lives around I'm Sec
ond street. and In all that time the old
lady has never gone out except TO her
husbands funeral The people before me
lived here fifteen years. and they told me
che never set foot outside. That makes
twenty-seven years IN all
i"Once i saw her for lust a tnoment
She had sad face and white hair. She
IS quite stout. Another time her son got
me 10 buy waist for her. but I didn't
see her She always sits near the closed
blinds OF the right hand window In the
rear OF the second floor and think she
knows pretty well what's going on in the
nefehborhood.
Washington Staab. the son. IL forty
three years old and makes his headauar-
ters at Schmidt's livery stable on Wash
fngton street. lie was quite indignant
when he heard what the neighbors were
saying
Ny mother Is not a prisoner" said he
she Gun 20 out any time N she wants.
but she doesn't care to Some wears AGO
she had trouble with her son Alfred. nv
brother. who lives I'm New York. and
since then she hasn't cared 10 20 ont Ha
comes on Wednesdays and SATURDAYS to
see her now. Ny Mother Is sevontv-fo,,
years old