The Washington times., 1908-08-31
FUND FOR LEPER
AROUSES PUBLIC
Appeal Made by The Times
Brings Forth Many
Contributions.
PRAISE FOR EARLY
AND VALIANT WIFE
Women Start Endless Chain" and
Men Work for Stricken Fam
lily in Business Districts.

| Seldom. II ever, ia the history Of the
city Of Washington has its peopie been
stirred TO such depth OF sympathy as
| by the shadow Of sorrow that has fallen
over John Early, the Ieper. and MS
young wife and baby
Inc appeal 10 aid IN relieving the con-
/ alQon OF the former soldier and 70 uro-
vide his destitute wife ard child with
| the means Of livelihood. made bv The
/ 3lnles. met with a response that was
remarkable III its promptness and gen-
/ erosity.
The breakfast dishes had hardly been
cleared from some homes. the morning
ehurch services not yet over. when ths
| nlst contributors appeared at The
Ilnes Office yesterday. Thev were
three little girls, ana they brought
win them the money they had been
saving Tor weeks to buy a birthday
present FOR their baby sister They
asked that il be given to the eleven
month old baby OF John Early.
Many Offer Aid.
! Men. women, and children poured fr-4
tne Crhee 70 give their contributions tr
the fund. All expressed the dee3est
sympathy for the stricken man an6 tf,e
faithful wife who stands ready to isolate
herself from the world ana share her
husoands s lot. All spoke with mingled
! admiration and reverence Of the fr8I
/ Il-tle woman who wants nothing more
tIian 70 help him carry mis- burden. ana
only words OF praise were heard for the
man IorJItUde in the face OF calamity
Which fails TO the lot Of few
Letters came with contributions v4-ffoh
gave substance 70 their words OF svns-
pdthy, letters expressing qualification at
s-rl-ls an opportunity 10 aid in such q
One Of the first letters was from Acting
HsaIJn Officer Harry clay Mclean who
: responsible for much that has already
Earl the leper-
Iise cause IS most just and rizhU-
eos one lie wrote, and should ap-
{ f'edl 10 every sympathetic heart 1
hope your cail for aid VIII be reIterateF
from every pulpit in this District Ii IS
I a soiden opportunity for Christians 10
show their true Christianity Win ex-
pTesslOns OF deepest sympathy i beg
you 10 accept my mite"
Touches All Hearts.
/ This was but one of many. The SAD
/ fate OF this man who is now living In a
4 little tent on the bank of the Eastern
/ Branch Of the Potomac has touched Ihs
hearts Of al.
1T would be q heart Of s-one that
would not respond TO the call TO aid
/ that man ard his wife and ba6y" said
one man as he gave his contribution.
/ who buried his identity Ia "A sym
/ pathizer."
the appeal was not twelve hours old
when little band Of sympaIhetic
women, headed by Miss Anna z Israel
/ OF ZlS5 2 street northwest. had put into
action an endless chain which is today
swinging around Washington and gath
eFlng IN thousands OF small cOntribu-
uons for the Early fund.
A committee is working among tina
/ business men and merchants of the city.
and although they have been al work
/ but few hours the manner In which
they are receiving responses would quiet
I the dismal vail OF the pessimist who has
/ lost faith in human nature.
Autos Gather Dollars.
Two automobiles, loaned By J. r.
Thomas, of Thomas & ToIman. are
whirling members of the committee
about the business district this after
noon gathering in dollars for the fund.
Expressions OF sympathy were given
on all sides. but the expressions were
supported IN most cases by practical
demonstrations.
Mrs Early shriuks from making the
appeal. Never before in her life, or in
1 the life Of the brave sufferer, have they
/ needed to depend on others. Adjutant
MlSeman, OF the Salvation Army, and his
WIFE The friends who stood by the W0-
man when she arrived. almost desti-
/ tUte, Ia Washington. are taking care OF
/ her for the present. Mrs Early has
asked for nothing. Her husband has
asked for nothing. And the RESPONSE
for funds to provide for her and the
/ child has been so prompt and generous
/ that she VIII have 20 make none.
Children Offer Mite.
1t was just before noon yesterday
morning when three little girls came in
to The Times Office, and, Offering a
handful OF change asked that It be
given to the baby whose father and
mother are so sorrow stricken They
were AIolne, aged twelve; Nellie, aged
nine, and Victoria, aged eicat. the
daughters Of W. =. C0wen. OF s. q
street northwest The three golden
haired little girls said they had been
saving for two weeks u Luy a birthday
present Tor their own baby sister bur
thought the leper's baby needed il rsore.
We want 10 90 something for thaI
little baby whose father is so sick" said
little Mollie, her blue eyes filled with
sympathy. Nellie and Victoria and /
have been saving our pennies for .
long time 10 buy something Cor cur
baby sister, but this morning when
mamma saw the paper. and IL told about
starting 10 get some money TO help the
baby ana its mother. she showed It 10
US.
Children Made Up = Dollar.
1--WE didn't have quite 81, but mamma
made up the rest of if for US, and we
brought It in. Our baby doesn't need il
so much as the baby who VIII have no
father 10 work for it now"
And hand in hand, happy in being able
to do something for the baby they trim
ped out Of the office. their golden hair
glistening in the sunshine OF the Sab
bath morning.
Then the others began 10 come in one
By one, all anxious to do their share
TO maze life more comfortable for the
brave woman and her child into whose
life such a sorrow has come But the
little children had led them.
All day a group OF girls have been
.working at the home of Miss IsraS IA
y street, where they have esta6lFS FSed
zleadquaTteTa % Weld togeLher Tie sAnks