Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-22
49, N4NNN

they couldn't earn enough to keep
themselves"
Eyes, they try to get us all out to
work. Now, we can look for work our
selves. All this crowd of refugees in
this park was not gang of lazy loaf
ers before the fire and 1t isn't likely
that it's going to turn into one now. but
we are looking for permanent work."
insisted one vigorous matron. I'VE
want chance to find places we can
depend on, and that's what the people
sent out this money for-to give us that
chance"
Margaret Jennings Start
On Tuesday. having donned my dis
guising costume, had woman friend
take me to the associated charities
headquarters in the Hamilton school,
and there, introducing me as Margaret
Jennings, ask that | be admitted to one
of the relief camps. The girl at the desk
did not glance at shabby, apologize
me, but directed my well dressed friend
to take her charge to DR.. Ford's office
in the Jackson primary school, on oak
street, near Stanyan.
Arrived there, we found that Or.
Ford, the head of the relief camps, was
so busy with his duties on the rehabili-
tation committee that his hours at his
Oak street office were practically un-
known. Three waiting women assured
us that they had come more than
score of blocks several times to get
orders for goods from him, but had 50
far been unable to catch him in, and
that no one else at his office seemed
to feel empowered to execute orders for
him.
Il am staying at the camp near Va
lencia STREET explained one woman in
oh
the tears that would come to her eyes,
'and l am trying to get an order for
washtub and a stove. My mother has
been sick and I have doctors order
for a stove, but though l have twice
let slip chances to do housework for the
day in order to present my request to
DR.. Ford, l have not been able to see
him."
A man and two women were waiting
for permission to be transferred from
camps over the bay to a local station.
Il expect later to rent one of the houses
they promise to build" each explained.
To us all waiting patiently for some
one in authority (for the slip of a girl
at the desk seemed to know little more
than the rest of us), appeared Rev.
Christopher Ruess of the Red Cross,
very busy, very earnest and very anX
ious to help. Some he promised an in
terview with DR.. Ford the following day,
others he started on the road to what
might be the road to their desire. |
had dressed miserably, with show of
untidy poverty for it was part of
my design to appear utterly, common
placely uninteresting, yet the exceeding
good taste of my sponsors toilet came
near barring me from my desired goal,
for the young minister said earnestly
to her, The park is poor place for
a woman to stay and if there is any
other way you can arrange for this
young woman 1 should strongly advise
you to do so. Couldn't you possibly
rent a room for her outside? I might
get some financial help for you in such
a plan" Q, no, indeed! My bene-
factress haStened to declare that she
had done her share and could afford no
more. Had 1 not explained that she
was soon to get me a place across the
bay and that 1 just wanted to get into
the park as a temporary shelter he
would surely have insisted on my find
ing refuge elsewhere.
Well Meant Advice
This attitude was evidently the re-
suit of an unofficial opinion in regard
to the established camps as homes for
homeless women. The we'll meant in
tention of my new friend, Mr.. Ruess,
nearly cost me my opportunity to be-
come regulation refugee, for 1 was
obliged practically to force my way
against his inclination. But now prop
erly launched on my mission as Mar
garet jennings, refugee burned out at
Powell street, and since existing on the
kindness of friends, I declared 1 had
no place to lay my head that night,
Mr.. Ruess set off to find me a shelter
quarters near the conservatory 1 over
heard him say:
Il have here a woman who must
have place to sleep tonight. 1 can't
risk delay by going through red tape
and am going to try to rent her place
in tent with some other women for a
humanitarian fund that is at my dis
posal."
So forth we went from tent to tent
Don't you want to do a good deed and
take this woman in? I'll pay you for
it," he would plead. But at canvas
house after house we were met with the
answer that there was no room. In
some cases the truth of their claim
was evident. In others 1t was obviously
false. Homeless themselves but a
short time before, these objects of the
nations care had forgotten their aw-
full experience enough to feel no pity
for the humble woman who shrunk be-
hind the bustling preacher. Il wouldn't
take a woman in for a thousand dol
lars" vociferated an old, gray-haired
dame. I'm done with women. I don't
have anythin OF do with them. My
son bought this tint from a sojer and
no woman kin come into ut" "All
right, my good woman" conceded
my guide. We found one dame in
tent alone. She was possessed of a
fine iron bedstead, part of her rescued
effects who asserted that she was not
strong and was used to having a room
by herself. A strange man, comforting
with her in a low tone, spoke up to the
same effect, and my good Samaritan,
starting off, calculated "Well, If they
won't do it for pay, we'll see if we can't
make them do it for nothing"
So to the doctor in charge of the
tents we wended. why we can let
Mrs. jennings have tent to herself"
said DR.. Booth without hesitation, but
there is no bedding to be had" And
such was the case. For three days |
waited for bedding, and not a blanket,
let alone a mattress or cot, came into
the relief warehouse For all the
authorities knew to the contrary, a
homeless woman had come into the
park relief camp and for the night had
found a bare tent nothing to sleep on
but board floor and not a rag to pro-
tect her from the cold Two days later