The Washington times., 1906-12-23
HUNDREDS SUFFER
IN CAPITAL HOMES.
CHRISTMAS GLOON
Happy Season F in d S
Many Persons Prac-
tically Starving.
ARMY POTS MEANT HELP
Times Reporter Finds Suf-
fering as Result of Dis
triCt Ban.

= 49, ~ - NtAN ~ ~
triCt Ban.
Three hundred families in WASH
ingtOn that have no prospect for a
Christmas dinner!
Hundreds of little children that
will not be visited by Santa Claus!
This is the pathOs behind the rev.
OcatiOn of the permit to place the
Salvation Army Christmas pots on
the streets.
In this prosperous capital of our
wealthy nation poverty does not faunt
itself before its citizens. but it exists
nevertheless. In the alley homes Of the
poor in certain sections of the South
west, where dwell the children Of harsh
circumstance and misfortune there is
misery and hunger bordering ON star
VatiOu
The Times. in order To investigate Uhis
Snid-winter want, To get IN touch with
the needy and the poor az ministered
10 by the Salvation Army Yesterday
sent Times woman out with the adiu-
tanj Dressed in the Salvation Army
garb, The Times reporter visited maGy
homes in these poorer sections of the
city Tor the purpose of seeing whether
or not the need for which they besought
help really existed
What Investigators Found.
Nearly every section OF the city was
visited and every degree of surering
found. Drink was the cause Of p0yertvi
in "a large number of cases. but in the
majority widows with young children
We're found, fighting for bare existence
some imposters were discovered and
tnese We're properly forgotten. but
where the need existed the Salvation
-Army's representatives, made provision
10 alleviate suffering and hunger
clothes and bedding accomplishing the
former while Christmas baskets Of food
viii end the latter.
The nrst address WIS on a little stree.
i1 ,h" southwest. The applicant prov, 4
To DE grandmother. seventy wears ~
age. the sole support of five orphan
grandchildren
This woman, who has lived the three
score-and-ten years allotted To each OF
us as natural life To support the five
little children. seWs. washes, AMI irons,
aud even goes along the railroad tracks
picking up coal. which she sells.
In another house in the same street.
a woman and four children We're found
IN u condition Of utter observation-disclosures
cent victims OF whiskey
DO you want TO see what the drink
does2" asked the mother, opening the
shirt Of one OF her boys. There on the
child's body were red marks and ugly
blisJeTs from Tie waist 10 the back of
the shoulders. His father did IT, said
the woman, threw the cofree poJ al
me becauseEI would not give him the
money for drink which I had earned 20
feed the children. 1t hit the child iu-
stead of me-
Poverty Trails Accident
An unlucky accident was the cause /
of Christmas poverty in the next place
visited, a little house in the Northeast
section Of the Capital Explaining their
plight, the mistress of this humble
home said: My man used 10 drink
real hard. but stopped and went To
work We were getting ont. of debt, but
he fell down and broke his leg. For
two menths he has been out of work
IN a little side street ia the North
Times representative found the saddest
case in their whole journey and one of
the most difficult 10 handle. The !
family in this case consisted OF a |
mother and two children. The woman /
had been of better station and when i'll I
luck came, she was not fitted To fight 1
"A winning battle. She has been beset /
with trouble steadily but was too proud /
10 ask for help. When the investigators /
found her. she and the children had [
had only a snack Of bread and jelly In /
tventy-fOuF hours. Even that was more /
than they had enjoyed for days pre- |
ceding Five dollars was given her by /
1he adjutant shoes promised for the chill |
dren and the family scheduled for a |
Christmas basket
A Sample Imposter.
One instance of misrepresentation ou /
the part of applicants for help is char :
aeteristic of the few encountered It |
was that of "a family residing in "a fairly /
good looking house in the northwest !
section of the city. They were down /
on the list for a Christmas basket Re |
ceiving no answer to the ring at the /
front door the adjutant and the reporter !
passed around 10 the back of the house 1
Here. in a cOzy kitchen. half a dozen |
persons were around a table enjOyiuS /
q comfortable MONDAY meal of beef
steak. celery, tomatoes and several /
other vegetables. A huge frosted cake
on the sideboard did not speak eIo-
uuently of poverty.
The woman invited the visitors into
her parlor.
IT am so glad you came she whined. II
'.YVe are in very hard luck and would II
like a Christmas basket. I have FIVE
children she added, The youngest of
these. she was forced 10 admit. was
boy of sixteen. a clerk in a grocery
store. The Times reporter noticed q
check book on the table and asked if /
she had any money in the bank
''Oh, yes; but only a hundred dollars" ."
replied the woman. Il don't want to
spend that-sOme one might die or my !
girls might want to get married"
II is said that this Is the frst time |
the salvation Army has ever been asked
To help people 10 save for a trousseau Il
-Dnu inVazffDa Was II