Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-27

An0tnef disadvantage oil country lie
which has To do With water. or the lack
OF water was brought home forcihly 70
me Tuesday evening-the almost utter alb
sence of fire protection With dozen
other men l stood heiplessly by and
watched neighhors house burn to the
ground. 1t wasn't much of a house. it
is true. hut it had sheltered A hard
working woman and he: three fatherless
children and represented about all they
had in the world. There was no insur-
ance and the five acres of poor land
would not justify loan sufficient for
the building of another home
The woman. Mrs. Jarvis, and her chill
dren Were half a mile away. picking
cherries when the fire started and by
the time it was discovered ii had gained
such Roadway there was little that could
be done. The well was on a porch by
the kitchen door The fire originated in
the kitchen and when the first men ar
rived the heat was SO great it was i'm
possible to get within rod of the only
water supply. We carried out a few
pieces of furniture from the front of the
house. but soon had to abandon even tina,
minor work of salvage.
Were | a master of brush and palette
l would paint a picture of Tragedy,
with my recollection of Mrs. Jarvis as a
model Her grief was beyond words, be.
yond tears. Dry-eyed and white of face
she saw vanish in the flames not only
her home. but the hope of future years
We did not know until later how great
| was the calamity we had witnessed
When she tried to get into the house anC
| up the stairs to the one room above, We
dragged her back. perhaps none toe
gently IN our Impotence at such folly
How were we to know that in an ole
chest up there was a horde of more thar
S''Uo the savings from hard toll and Ions
and rigorous thrift? The money was t
| have sent Will. the oldest of her tire.
boys, through manual training school
that he might be better equipped to hell
care for and educate his younger broth
/ ers. The saving of this fund had bee,
| the one great object of Mrs. Jarvis life
| Every penny contributed to it represent
| ed stern self-denial. While other boy;
were at play. Will. bright. manly chal
about fourteen years old, worked at hom.
| in the garden or at any odd jobs thu
! nelghbors had for him, earning a dime o.
quarter to be added to the "schoo
| fund" Even the little boys, eight ant
SIX. contributed the few pennies tina
| came to their hands. Next Septembe
| viii was to have entered the McKinle,
J school in Washington for a course il
/, electricity, and when it was completed
i the days of pinching poverty were to b,
| ended.
Mr.. Brown to the Rescue.
| Do you get tired of hearing of Mr.
Brown. my nearest neighbor? In
sorry If you do, for you are going t,
hear more of him now. and still more
no doubt. later on. He came over t
i my house the night after the fire witt
a paper containing a list of names
His name headed the list. and opposit
| it was written $50. Will Jarvis is go
| ing to have his course in manual train
| ing
| Nor is the Jarvis family going to b,
| homeless No one who knows he
would make, nor would Mrs. Jarvi.
accept. any tender of charity. Blu
any one who has studied credits know.
| there are times when the persona
| ity than tangible assets A professional
money lender might not be willing t.
take such risk, but neighbors car
afford to do SO. The Jarvis family i!
going to have new home, and there
will be no payments due until Will ha.
completed his course at Mckinley ant
| is earning money.
| Wouldn't you be willing to battle il
a laundry tub for the sake of living
| among such people as there are gu
| here in the country?
| In the meantime Mrs. Jarvis and tht
children had to be provided for Mrs
Jarvis and the two younger boys are
| at Mr.. Green's, down by the station
not paupers, but paying their way b.
the honest work they do. Mrs Greer
is almost an invalid, and was more
than glad to have Mrs. Jarvis help
Will is with US. but don't think / an
am going to board him and pay hin
| so cents day this summer, and IL
not lose a penny by it.