The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-03-18
"MUDDY" IS
STILL BUSY
Takes Up the Work She Left
Here in Ohio.
TAKES A WILD RIDE
On a Hose Wagon in Pasa-
dena, California.
"Mother" Thew Has Endeared Hei-
self to California Firemen as
Much as She Did to Buckeye Boys


known in Marion as just plain
Muddy" is not allowing any grass
to grow under her feet even In Cal
ifornia, where vegetation is so luxur-
liant, is shown in the following article
which appeared in a recent issue of
the Pasadena Daily News. The article
will be read with interest by all of
"Muddy's" friends in Marion, and that
includes everyone.
"Mother" Thew, the good angel Of
firemen all over the country was in
Pasadena yesterday paying visits to
the various departments of the city
| " Mother" Thew as she is affectionate-
T, ly known to all the boys who wear
the fremen's uniform, comes from
Marion, Ohio, where she has lived
for 60 years and is on a tour of the
West She says she is 76 years young
land growing younger every day.
After seeing her own ten children
settled in good homes of their own
she began the work which has long
been close to her heart-that Of Sc
curing better conditions for the fire
laddies, both as to salary and num-
Der of days off.
In Ohio she has secured raise
of salary and in Los Angeles she Sc
cured an extra day off each month
for her boys" as she calls them. She
proudly displays many badges and
emblems of various fire or police de-
partments, and each Christmas she Is
remembered with gifts. One of her
most highly priced remembrances IS
a chair presented to her last year by
the members of the police depart
ment of Marion. The chief and his
whole force filed down to her small
home to present it and quite filled
her sitting room, while the presenta-
tion took place.
Since coming to Los Angeles she
has been made member of the Los
Angeles Firemen's Relief association,
whose pin she wears.
Asked If her life was ever saved,
or property preserved by fremen, TO
make her especially grateful to them,
Mother They said "No, the desire to
work for them just fell upon me from
the skies, | guess. I've always loved
them, they are all my boys, everyone
Of them | mother the street car
boys, too"
Last week in Los Angeles, mother
Thew enjoyed a ride on the hos,
wagon of one of the departments.
which would have caused the hair of
much younger, but less brave wom-
an 20 have risen several inches. One
Of the department men asked the
white haired old lady If she would
enjoy a ride with him. She said there
was nothing in the world she would
like more.
Well climb up, Mother, and well
have it" said the stalwart fireman as
he assisted her to mount to the seat
beside him. And then, How fast
can you ride?" he Inquired with the
twinkle of smile at the corners OF
his mouth"
"Just as fast as you can drive"
calmly replied the venerable lady.
"go just as If you were going to a
fire."
whip her up, Bill' said the chief,
and the driver whipped her up"
Faster and faster flew the wheels till
you wouldn't have known they ever
had spokes. Bumpity-bump the wag-
ION went over stones and into hollows,
up hill and down hill. AS they
flashed beneath a big pepper there
was a jerk and a tug and Mother
Thew's- hat hung suspended from an
.overhanging limb while the hose wag-
on and its occupants were blocks
away.
"Oh we'll | don't care about my
hat. 1t was just an old one, any
way" said the owner Of 1t twisting
Iup her loosened locks of gray hair,
"as long as had the ride that's all
I want. II was fine" enthusiastically
added the lady, slight flush tinging
her withered cheeks as she was assist
ed from the seat while the lathered
horse stood painting with his exer-
tions.
Into whatever town she goes Moth
CT lHcN , III 81 utSllS ~ 10 othlNi out
the fire department houses and to Wis
it them and talk with her "boys. .
Yesterday she spent an hour with
the Dayton street boys and today was
the guest OF villa street laddies, all OF
whom showed her the Difference with
which she meets wherever she goes.
She is spending the winter with rela-
tlyes in southern California, but in
the spring will return home and soon,
she expects 20 visit New York where
she will endeayor to help her boys to
come into their own.
ut just breaks my heart to see fire.
mems children growing up without
hardly knowing their fathers be-
cause they see them so seldom" she
said with little catch in her voice.
1 II went TO see Mayor Harper about
II In Los Angeles and now the boys