The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-06-23
How the Widow
Was Initiated.
A Story Of Treatment Accorded the
Widow by the Powerful
Corporation.

At the time of the explosion at the
Lambeth Gas Works, Jack Donaldson
was one of the victims. Jack had
been in the service of this particular
gas light and coke company since
boyhood and at the time of his death
occupied the position of ganger
That is, he was given charge of
herd Of human beings with instruc-
tions to exact the greatest amount of
labor possible from them. Jack had
married short while previous to the
accident and left behind him wife
and child. Mrs. Donaldson wasa
Staffordshire lass, the daughter of
coalminer, W h o after digging fuel
industriously for forty years or more
in exchange for bread and dripping,
gave up the ghost and was buried
by the parish.
A great cry went u p following the
accident; demand for compensation
to the widows of the slain. This de-
mand the company met with the
promise that they would attend to
it, This they did in their own way.
That is, they forgot it. Mrs. Donald
son was simpleminded soul, with
peculiar notions concerning men and
the square deal, which in way pc
culiar to decent women she regarded
as synonymous. Naturally, she
thought these men who have plenty
will not begrudge mite to the wild
ow of a man whose life was spent in
their service. T at is what she
thought. But t he company, why,
they thought differently.
Mrs. Donaldson wrote letter to
| Mr.. Cassidy, the superintendent, ex-
planning her situation. Cassidy an
swered with an epic in praise Of the
deceased and promise to fix things
| up at the end of the month. The
month elapsed and Cassidy was de-
linquent. Mrs. Donaldson reminded
him and Cassidy answered with a
philippe in condemnation of his for
getfulness. III see to it," he said,
right away" This eased the heart
of the destitute widow and mother
whose faith in mans generosity was
tottering. But the days went by,
lengthening into weeks until at last
another month had flown, with Cas-
sidy's promise still in embryo.
The next letter the widow wrote
remained unanswered, SO she deter
mined on the bolder course of max
ing her appeal in person. Sraunch,
indeed, was this woman's faith, that
three months of mans perfidy had
not shaken. They are busy, Isup-
pose and forgot me as likely as not, :,
she said To the Office she went and
inquired for Superintendent Cassidy.
That's i'm, said afellow, jerking
his thumb in the direction Of a man
!, superintendingthe unloading ofsome
, boxcars. She went. There was a
little misgiving in her heart as she
viewed the Individual to whom her
/ appeal was to be addressed. Cassidy
: hail way of drawing his chin in on
| his breast and looking up from un-
, der his eyebrows, an attitude which
enhanced the shrewish expression OF
| his pinched, aquiline nose and thin,
, compressed lips.
t MFR. Cassidy" faltered t h e wid-
/ ow.
: "Wellr' snapped Cassidy. throw
, ing a quick glance in her direction.
I'm Mrs. Donaldson, the widow" ..
she went on, whom you promised
to-
"Promised?' barked Cassi d Y,
promised what? Donaldson? Niver
card the name before in my life
: Jack Donaldson" murmured the
widow, who was killed the time 0
the accident; I'm his wife and'' -
7 Ooh! / understand now," said
r Cassidy, with the expression of man
2 who has just solved difficult prob
/. lem. | see! But that's long while
ago. You're too late now. Y u
should have presented your claim the
month following the accident
But you promised, Mr.. Cassidy .
Tut-tut!'' answered Cassidy.
See, there is notices to that effect on
the wall over there, see?" And as the
(continned n. column t''s poge.)