The Washington times., 1914-08-03

Tho Georgetown Industrial Center
Is unique in that It dispenses aid and
not charity In the generally accepted
use Of the word. It gives work to
needy women who would otherwise
be unable to obtain It The class
reached are those who are willing
to work for what they receive.
though so unskilled are they that
the organisation was confronted
with a great problem in finding
something they were able to do.
The human leech. the one who
wants everything from every
source-a class So well known to
all charity workers, is entirely elm
mated from this work. An instance
VIII serve to prove this. A woman
came one day with a note from one
Of the officers Of the Association
given sewing. without waiting for
the note to be read, she volun-
teered the information that she did
not know how to sew. She was told
she would be instructed how to
hem tea towels, and she said she
was sure she could not learn.
Neither could she mend stockings,
though she was the mother OF FIVE
children.
Pathetic Eagerness For Work.
When 1t was reported to the office
from which she had been sent. the
report proved of great assistance,
as they had been endeavoring to
ascertain her willingness to help
herself. They had had the same
having applied numerous times for
assistance. both being equally un-
willing to do anything for them
selves. On the other hand, those
who are fortunate enough to be en-
rolled on the books of the George
town Industrial Center, accept with
pathetic eagerness the work that
when. on account of the demand the
amount given each one, Is small
Some OF them walk several miles to
get the sewing, returning it the
following week, when they are given
more. They are never deferred by
In rain, snow. or torrid heat II
detained. as they sometimes are,
by sickness. child or a neighbor
brings the work and asks for more
Work Inspected.
ms Work Is always carefully in
spected and suggestions made for
improvement 1t is not unusual to
see a chin CULVER as the anxious
question is asked, lis them button
holes any better?" or IT couldn't
make them corners look no better"
Just an instance to illustrate this
side Of the question: An old woman
VINO through her sewing, has been
able to keep herself and her paral-
lied husband out Of the aims house,
was told one day, that she could not
be given more work. as there was no
money with which to pay her. Her
eyes filled with tears and in her
trembling old voice she said, Honey,
don't take the work away from me-
When you amt got nothin' and ye
helps, tes to have something to do"
The spirit Of gratitude among these
women Is more than ample reward
for the time and thought given to
the work. by those in happier cir
cumstances. A woman came in one
bitter day last winter. Her husband
was in Jail for drunkenness and she
and the baby had been put out of
the house because she could not pay
the rent. When she was given sew
ing and told when that was finished
she would be given more. she broke
down and wept. ALI she could say
was God bless you, God bless you"
Another woman was asked II she had
had a happy Christmas, she said
with smile: II didn't have no
Christmas, but didn't have no sick
ness. thank God"
One source OF revenue OF the
Georgetown Industrial Center Is
cast-off clothing and household fur
nishings. Nothing is too old or too
worn to be used by this organiza-
ton, as is proved by the following
incident: One of the officers one
day asked a friend for the cast-ofr