Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-20


The agent went to see her with the idea
of sending her to the hospital. The woman
became indignant at the mere suggestion.
Sure. and I'll not go at all Ny boy
can take care Of me all right. ] worked
in one of those places, and, indeed, I'd
never be sick in one
-
The agent talked pleasantly for half
an hour trying all that time to rid the
woman's mind of some foolish idea she
had In regard to hospitals. She was un-
able to change her opinion. the woman
boy in the world could take care of
her. The boy was known to the organiza-
ton as being worthless. He would not
work. and any food which they might
send his mother he woS.d be sure to get.
There was nothing to do but continue to
persuade the woman that her fear Of
hospitals was unfounded. 1t might be
done in one visit and it might take the
combined efforts of the agent and all the
womans neighb0rs for several days. 1t
was only one Of many cases In which the
agent had to help those needing aid yet
stubbornly fighting against II.
A case showing clearly the trials en-
countered by the agents In their effort
to raise families above their present sur
was 1OunQ. lHc mouse was
situated in a neighborhOOd in court.
surrounded by negroes and Italians. The
woman was intelligent looking and the
child was not only the embodiment Of
sunshine and life. but was unusually
pretty even among children Of a better
class. The house was almost bare, the
front room being without even chair
and the kitchen being furnished with a
broken-down stove and table. When
advised by the agent to move she admit
tod hot cho ra1s 1,n I,rtt or
but that rent was too much elsewhere.
and besides she had been living where
she was for ten years. and wasn't much
of a hand at moving" 1t developed that
they had been sent out to the country
twice. the husband being given employ
ment both times, but after few weeks
had returned to their little back-alley
house. The secret of the situation was
discovered when the woman admitted
that I'VE don't have to be prompt with
the rent, because the man will wait. We
might have to pay prompt If we moved
Once a week each Of the agents holds
a division conference at which the vol
unteer workers are present. and at which
the various cases are fully discussed
After having seen two or three homes. to
hear a case fully discussed is oftentimes
more enlightening than to visit the home
with the agent, where only part of the
tragedy becomes known.
When the agent is visiting in neigh
borhood where the poor predominant she is
more than apt to be sought out and made
the recipient of some mournful tale Of
woe, generally, 1t develops, made up as
the narrator goes. One such was the
case OF a negro girl.
do you know of any place where l
could have my child taken?' she in
quired.
'Is 1t yours?'
"Cmum," came the rejoinder. You
see. Use sick and I thought I'd like to
have her taken care Of
Weighing considerably and having a
look OF health even above the average of
her race her statement did not carry con-
viction with 1t.
"a woman when she has but one child
is supposed to take care OF it herself"
the agent told her. and by way OF dis
covery resumed. "Of course, IL you are
Ill enough to go to the hospital the child
could be taken care of for while"
With an ''Oh'' and another 'Umum"