The Washington times., 1904-03-30
FED FOR A WEEK
ON ONE DOLLAR
Three Children BPaVely
Face Starvation.
MOTHER Is IN PENNSYLVANIA
Charity Finds Them Out, and All Are
Cared for Waiting Parents
Return.
MOTHER is IN PENNSYLVANIA

When Mrs. Louisa Murdoch, of the
visiting society of St Patrick's Catholic
Church. called at the home of Mrs.
Mary Smith. at 4l4 Albany Street, Eek
ington. yesterday. she found sad state
OF affairs.
The father, W J. *. Smith is in
South Africa, having left his family
more than "a year ago. The mother *
an invalid said to be suffering from
Brights disease. For some time she
has been a patient az the Homeopathic
Hospital. Her disease becoming chron-
&c. she was permanently discharged Is
fucurable on Tuesday, March %. Tho
same day she packed up "A small bum
die OF clothing. gave her Oldest son,
Robert, a STRIPPING OF seventeen, a dol
lar bin, and left for Columbia Pa.
where resided a physician whom she be
ueved had the skill requisite TO cure her
ailment
According 10 the story told by the
children. Mrs. Smith expected 10 return
in three OF four days
Waiting for the Mother.
The days came and went. however. and
Mrs. Smith did not return. The children
she had left 10 subsist as best they
might. were Robert. James. aged twelve,
and Veronica, a pretty little girl of nine
years. Prior TO leaving she had taken
the youngest two. EsteHe Give). and
''Friny four) and mad placed them with
tn Sisters Of St Vincents Asylum, tell.
ing them that she would arrange Tor
their board later.
The three children left in the home on
Albany Street had. in the meantime, es-
sayed TO make their dollar so as far as
might be. Robert did the cooking and
exercised a general supervision over the
TWO little tots. He Is reluctant To speak
OF these days, but little jam Is not 50
reg-ceut- asked what they had to eat,
he replied.
Mostly Bread"
Wen. mostly bread you know we
could get bread out there at > cents a
loaf Thea once we had some sausage,
and oatmeal once or twice
But III tell you what was bully one
of the neighbOrs hens lays eggs on our
porch SO We had an egg most every
day
But with the most rigid economy the
dollar could not be made 10 last forever.
On yesterday the last cent and the last
bite 10 eat was gone. Asked what were
his Intentions under these cilcums tances,
Robert. the careIaker and hOusekeeper,
replied that he intended 10 write 10 his
mother NO thought OF appealing TO the
neighbOrs or others for charity seems 70
have entered his mind.
These We're the circumstances dlscOV-
cred by Mrs. Murdoch She at once re-
ported the situation TO Sanitary Officer
John Frank. He in turn communicated
with Captain BOardman, who Or/red
that the little girl be turned over 10 the
Sisters of st iuCrnJs Asylum, where
her little sisters were, and the boys were
sent 10 the House OF Detention pending
their disposition by the Board Of Chill
dreu's Guardians II is understood that
an effort VIII be made TO have little
James admitted 10 ST Joseph 5 Asylum
The Mother peculiar
According TO information CLEANED
from the children and the neighbOrs
Mrs. Smith has always been regarded
as peculiar. An invalid for years
she has been in the habit OF going OF
extended visits to her people in Penn
sylvania 1t was during an absence OF
TWO and a half months that the hus
band and father, who bears an excel
lent reputation. and was then employed
as an electrician by the city anC
Suburban Railroad. took French leave
OF the family. He is now in South
Africa, employed by the De Beers Con
solidaJed Mining Company, as an cleo
mas. within the past year, sent hOmt
Sl15 in checks of 50, $40, and so, tht
last check arriving a few days before
the mother went away. It was IRON
this $50 that the mother took the 81 bill
she gave her three children 10 keel
them during her absence According
10 the n-iglbOrs, this money is no
sent direct 20 the mother. but 70 Ar
whom she is now staying. Wrightsvill'
being but mile and "a hui: from Co
lumDia-
Within the Smith Home.