New-York tribune., 1916-02-16
Woman Urged by Letters
and Visitors to Take
Uncle's Legacy.
GOOD DEEDS CALLED
TAINT CLEANSERS
Ministers and Charitable Work
ers Point Out Opportunity to
Help Needy.

II shall never change my mind hrm-
ly declared Miss Edith Kitching, OF "a
Bank Street. last night, as her NIT
tened hand once more waved aside the
$40 900 left 10 her by her uncle. Francis
F. Ripley, of Brooklyn.
II seemed rather a reckless state
ment for any woman to make, psrticu-
larly when you take into account the
fact that she has six months TO change
her mind In before the money reverts
TO her next Of kin, Mrs. Thomas II.
Robinson, of East Orange. Mrs. Robin
son yesterday refused 20 count her
checks before they are cashed, and
would make no statement as 10 whether
she will accept the money, In case II
comes 70 her.
81 need no six months 70 determine
a question that is merely a matter OK
morality" Miss Kitching repeated. $50
far as / sm concerned. It is settled for
all time now, as it was five minutes
after ] had learned that the money was
legally mine. No. shall not change
my mind
She was not at all affected by the fact
that she seems to be the only person
in all New York who is Of her opinion
concerning tainted money" Ministers
and social workers, as well az men Of
business, have been among those who
have counselled her TO accept the S4O,-
000 if only TO turn it 10 some good pur
pose. Dozens Of people yesterday
climbed the steep stairs to her tiny
room 10 ask help from the woman who
is living on 5000 year. Hundreds Of
letters of good advice have found their
way into her hands. Miss Kitohing has
talked with every one who has asked to
see her. and has read every plea that
has come to her through the mail, but
her opinion remains unchanged.
Il cannot agree with her" last night
said Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, ma
tionsl president Of the Woman Suffrage
Association.
III any person comes into the pos
session of money made by another who
had an entirely unquestioned legal
claim to it, wise thing TO do would
be to take the money and to make some
good use of Il, to right any moral
wrong that may have been done"
Money is neither moral or immoral,
She should have made herself the
stewardess for its proper use" said the
Rev. DR.. Newell Dwight Hills, of
Plymouth Church, in Brooklyn.
81 don't think the money ought to
be forced upon her." said Mrs. Henry
Bruere. at Is entirely a personal Is
sue, don't you think? But, for my
part, don't think / have ever known
any one who had tainted money"
"If Miss Kitching had turned the
$4,000 over 20 me, could have re-
moved the faint" said the Rev. J. NJ.
Farrar, pastor OF the First Reformed
Church OF Brooklyn. 81 think her at
titude has been very foolish"
Tainted money Nonsensel" cried
Mrs. j. Mines, OF Port Richmond.
Staten Island, Daughter Of the Brit
ish Empire of that place. 81 wish she'd
turned the $4,000 over TO me. I'd
send Il all 10 the poor Serbians and
trust them to remove the taint."
Mrs Belle de Brunner, superintend-
ent Of the Wsverley Home. declared
that, although she thoroughly admired
Miss Kitching's strength of will and
selfabnegation, her own knowledge Of
the suffering In the city that might be
relieved by $4,000 did not allow her
TO agree with any one who cried out
againt the tainted money" bugaboo.
Would | accept $4,000 tainted
money! incredulously repeated a
newsbOy, at Thlrty-third Street and
Fifth Avenue "Ssy-try me-"
Tinted, are you saying?" jovially
smiled Park Row policeman. "Yel-
lows the tint Of money I'm liking the
best"