The Washington times., 1907-01-16
Mrs. Grove, Deserted by
Husband. Cares for a
Brothers Household.
Two Adults, d-Ridden,
and Seven Children
Must Be Fed

Two destitute families. partially bed
ridden, dependent solely upon the efforts
OF one woman FOR fuel, food, and med
teal attention, is the scene presented at
s25 New Jersey avenue northwest. The
case is one that deserves the immediate
assistance OF the charitably inclined of
the city.
In this stricken tenement lives Mrs.
Lizzie Raffo. who for weeks has suffered
from sciItic rheumatism. Two feet
away lies her husband. a sufferer from
the same disease. Surrounding them
are seven small children, none OF them
Old enoughf 10 be OF assistance. Their
sole support is a sister OF the AFFLICTED
man, Mrs. Grove, who lives in an ad-
Joining room and does washing and
ironing 10 support the two families.
Mrs Crcvo says her husband deserted
her months aEo. leaving her 10 struggle
alone and maintain her two small chill
dren, one fourteen months old and the
other ten years. She says she did this
fairly wei, but now that her brother
and sister-in-laW are both bed-ridden
and she has theIr family of uve small
children 20 assist. she is not equal 10 the
task.
Conditions Are DeplOrable.
a Times reporter called al this home
and was invited inside the sick room
but 50 close and sitting was the air that
IL was impossible 10 venture nearer
IMAM the door In one corner Of the
room is smoking oil stove. together
with d kerosene lamp. The two adding
Their disagreeable odOr 10 the nauseat-
llis closeness. With not a breath of
PosslDle Tor one accustomed TO light and
ar and sunshine 10 conceive now a
human being can long live An such de-
pressing surroundings.
MIs. CroVO admitted that the woman
VINO Is the more desperately III OF ths
TWO. had received no medical atrenti6n
Tor several days because they were am
able 10 afford it, Yes. We did have a
doctor. Mrs. Grove said. but he dfdn't
seem 10 be doing much good and we
W, i-ot able TO pay him any longer.
NY slster-in-law screamed with pain
alI last night. but there was nothing
we could do for her"
Would Welcome Assistance.
Mrs. Grove said the family had al
ways made out some way in the mast
without appealing for help and charity.
but that If IL was offered now il would
be thankfully received. because she had
found that her meager earnings could
not keep the entire family in food, fuel
and medicine. Rano. the single male
support. has not been able TO DO any
work for some time and gives little
indication OF being able 10 do anything
In the near future.
While the family cannot be said To
De starving, the pathos OF the case be
comes most apparent when II is stated
That either food or medicine must go
lacking, and what is considered the
lesser Of the two evils is chosen. and
the woman allowed 10 suffer alone and
without one grain of physic 70 relieve
the horrible pain during the long dreary
hours. Every line OF her face shows
SUFFERING, sorrow and disease. and Vet
mere Is evident a f0rtitude born of
the resignation that comes with the
knowledge those ministeriag To her are
doing the best they can.
Altogether the scene is one that will
appeal TO the most hard rted and
bring tears to the eyes OF those who
love humanity. The charitablv inclined
viii mud here every OPPORTUNITY for re-
neVlng human want and suffering. for
II is here most pitifully IN evidence.