The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-17
PAUPERs SELL GIFT.
Charitable People at Wichita Receive
a Rude Shock.

Wichita, Kan, May 17.-Mrs. L. B.
| Couch, secretary of the Associated
/ Charities. long has been convinced
that the associations way of dispens-
ing cahrity is much the best, and she
declares that she was confirmed in
that belief by an experience which she
had this week. In this instance she
had helped the family until they said
they were satisfied but the neighbors
continued to be good to them until
they had their shanty SO full of furni-
ture and clothing that they found it
necessary to hold a public auction to
get rid of the surplus That is what
Mrs. Couch calls OVERRIDING charity
The case is that of a family which
consisted of a man, his wife and four
children. They landed in Wichita the
day before the big wind and rain
storms of a couple of weeks ago and
took shelter in an old house. all but
one room of which had been burned
They had a team and wagon, but that
was all. The little room was bare,
when Mrs Couch was directed there
by kind hearted neighbors-
Tt was not the first time she had
met the same family. They had been
under her care in this city about two
years ago and from here had gone
to Kansas City. Thence they "treked"
back to Oklahoma City and from
there came to Wichita again. When
first they were here the head of the
house was sick and the wife made
hair switches and ornaments, by
which means she managed to keep the
family from starving. This time,
however, it was she who was sick.
She had suffered a slight attack of
paralysis, from which she had par
tally recovered, but not enough to
permit her to do any work She said
travel and that they were travelling
for her health"
After they had become settled in
Wichita Mrs. Couch saw to it that
- 4T-s
absolutely necessary from the store
that is kept in the Associated Chart
ties room, and neighbors contributed
a heating stove, a bedstead and other
articles that would add to their com
Now" said Mrs Couch to the wo-
man, you have everything you need,
have you not?"
Yes" was the reply. Everything
we need"
The man had hustled out as soon as
he got his family dumped into the
house, and has procured work for
himself and his team He said he
was making SO day
fThey will get along beautifully"
said Mrs. Couch, in speaking of the
case to a visitor, IF the neighbors, in
their efforts to be kind. don't overdo
the thing and give them too much.
That will spoil them, for it will take
away their self-reliance and 1 am
afraid they will make that woman
think she is too sick to do anything at
all. When I went down there today
found two or three neighbor women
there talking to her"
A visit yesterday showed that the
expected had happened So much
stuff had been given to them that they
had concluded that work was not to
their line. They found that they
could sell out and make money. a
public sale was held and all the stuff,
including that which had been loaned
a.. AGO. tod iaz
went under the hammer. The stove
and a mattress had been sold for SO
cents each. other articles brought
enough to run the total up to more
than $6-a rich sum for such people
and they loaded themselves into
their wagon and drifted away.