Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
THEY CAN'T BELIEVE
Hundreds Decline British Old
Age Pension.
OTHERS CAN'T PROVE AGE
Scenes Pathetic and Humorous at
Post Offices.
SICK ARE CARRIED THERE
Notwithstanding Skepticism, Thou
sands Over 70 Years of Age
Ask for $125 a Week.
SICK ARE CARRIED THERE
Special Cahlegram to The Star.

Special CahleGram to The Star.
LONDON. September 26.-Thousands of
eager applicants for old-age pensions
have f1ocked to the 25.OO0 post offices dur
ing the past week to obtain the forms on
which to enter the particulars of their
claims to receive benefits under the new
law, which bestows qualified persons
over the age of seventy the sum OF %
weekly from January I, 1909 until death.
September "a was the first day for pre-
senting claims, and the bulk of the sep
tuagenarians through the British Isles
seemed aware of the date.
Amid scenes sometimes humorous and
sometimes coldly businesslike. and often
pathetic. the post office officials to whom
the task of handling the pension business
in intrusted handed out the printed forms
and instructed the applicants how to COM
plete them.
Many brought their family Bibles 10
attest the day of their birth by means
of the time-faded entries. Comparatively
few were able to produce a birth certifi-
cate. Numbers expected the clerks to
accept their mere say so, and were in
dignant on learning that 1t could not be
accepted. 1t is expected that large num-
bers of the applicants will have the great
est difficulty in proving their age, and the
pension committees appointed to examine
in this respect.
Carried in Chairs.
In numerous instances children have
been sent to fetch the forms, and often
the timd child's request for "Granny's
pension" was as touching as the quaver-
ing application of the tottering grandam
in threadbare clothes or the paralyzed
applicant carried to the post office by
relatives or neig,tbors.
Some of the applicants were erect and
hale, but the majority were bent by long
years of labor and poverty. Very pathetic
were the numerous evidences of an at
tempt to make a good appearance on
such an important occasion. the best
clothes having been carefully donned
for the unaccuStomed visit to the post
office.
Every variety of human weakness that
could he called forth by the circumstances
was displayed. Some OF the applicants
were effusively self-import ant and refHs-tl
all advice: some We're hyperser sitive and
resented the questions of the clerk.
Some Are Bashful.
Others were secretive and went to a re-
mote corner of the office to fill up their
form; many were bashfuI hastily hid the
form and hurried away.
Some were suspicious of the whole buSi-
ness, and took the forms as if they did
not believe there was anything in it, but
they might as we'll try.
Most, however, were quiet, thankful ana
willing to receive the help of the clerks.
Inquiries in the poor districts of London
have revealed the fact that many needy
persons scorn the advice of their friends
TO apply for pension. They cannot dis
criminate between the pension scheme
and ordinary poor relief. They say they
never had parish relief or charity yet and
they won't start now.
Others are frankly skeptical of the gen.
uineness of the offer. They say they
never got something for nothing yet and
they don't expect to get it. Others, again.
though willing to avail themselves of the
law are unable to understand why they
should be the recipients of a Tree gift.
They say:
Don't Deserve 1t, They Say.
81 haven't done anything for it and
there must be a mist AXE
No reliable figures are obtainable as TO
the number of applicants. but some thou
sands have applied throughout the entire
country.