The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-04
BEATS DOWN PRIDE
AND ASKS FOR AID
Aged Widow Of Civil War Veteran
III and in Financial Distress
Daughter Sick, Too.


the part OF a little. white-haired, quiet.
hammered old lady 10 come into The
Times editorial rooms late Thursday
afternoon. u make public appeal for
financial aid and TO lay bare per.
sonal story Of sickness and want and
hard struggle against unkind fate.
The little lady. dressed neatly In
black, her widows bonnet trimmed in
crepe. with silver hair that had once
been golden brushed carefully be.
meath II, told her pathetic story in
an even, low voice. and in words that
indicated good breeding and educa
ton.
1T seems a terrible thing TO me to
come 10 newspaper Office 10 adver'
tise my private affairs but for the
sake OF my sick daughter and my lit
tie grandchild put pride in my pocket
which is empty of anything else
and after a long struggle with myself
made up my mind there was nothing
else To do but TO appeal 10 the charit
able people of Detroit for help in my
present extremity said she simply
My name Is Maria Degraw and ]
live at No. 521 Grand River-ave. over
store. Ny husband, Charles De
graw. died three years ago He was
a civil war veteran--a seaman on the
United States gunboat Mound City.
He was honorably discharged in 90
and in the later years OF his life re-
ceived 4 government pension. For
many years owing 10 his advanced
age aud ill-health, he was unable TO
work and the pension r;as all We had
TO depend upon except what | could
earn as a family nurse. My son mar
ried and moved away. aud for over
two years | have heard nothing from
him. My daughter, who is widow.
her l3-year-old child and myself, have
| lived together Ella. my daughter,
has done her best 10 take care OF me
and her child. going out by the day
doing whatever work her strength
would permit. She is not strong and
two weeks ago was taken i'll. The city
physician. who called 10 attend 10 her
says she is suffering from nervous
breakdown due to Overwork.
Last May, was struck by the
automobile that killed poor old Capt
| Lawson, at Woodward-ave. and Eliza
! beth-st., and for weeks | was laid up
! The shock TO a woman OF my years
| | as 65--was great and | have been
unable &c do any work since. The
owner OF the machine, Mr. Gervaise
gave me $50 at the time OF the acct
dent. but that did not go far when my
| daughter had TO give up work to take
care of me. fear will net-be OF
much use ever again, for since the &C
cident a hard lump has been growing
| In my left side and | have spells oil
| dizziness and heart trouble that rem
der me speechless and unable to move
| No one wants a broken down old wo
man TO work for them.
MY daughter and myself have made
every possible sacrifice for our little
girl so that she could continue at
school for she is an exceptionally
bright child. | have always tried 70
avoid debt and the fact that | had 10
borrow the money 10 pay our last
months rent and. this months is due
this week with nothing In sight TO
meet II, has worried me very much.
see no way Of paying the rent or re-
turning the borrowed money. MY
daughter has been a noble girl and
half OF her sickness is due, | know.
10 the worry and care OF me. Now,
that she is i'll. feel that | must do
something 10 relieve her and provice
for our immediate needs.
THE city poor commission is giving
me one dollar a week, but what Is that
to keep body and soul together for two
sick women and a child? | have been
trying ever since my husbands death
To secure a widows pension but SO
far have not succeeded although sew
eral kind friends have taken up the
| case for me with the authorities IN
Washington. Four OF my brothers
were in the war. I was born near
Pittsburg and for over 20 years lvec
In Cleveland. where kept boarding
house. I have lived In Detroit the
past eight years belong to the Slmp
son NJ. z. church and have received
much kindness from the church peo
pie at different times. My daughter
goes 10 the first Baptist church Where
the little girl also goes TO SUNDAY
school II is very bitter TO me tC
Mace myself in the position OF seek
ar for charity, but the utter hopeless
ness OF our position at this time lef
no other course open to me. nope
that some one with an aged mother
mr. a sick daughter or sister Will learr
Of our need and in memory OF tnei'
own loved ones extend aid II theS
have II 10 give
uk