The Washington times., 1916-10-16
En1aciated Man Tells
Hon Friendship House
Saved Him and Family

Pale and emaciated from three years
constant suffering. seated in a bare and
unfurnished room. cheerless and IN
hested, q man sat with clenclyed hands.
a bitter smile on his face. and rcIo ted
to a Times reporter the story Of three
years continual suffering and bitter dis
appointments. frightened here and there
by little acts of kindness from Friend-
ship House. and at last his trials nearly
Three years ago." he said. II had
good Job: a happy home. and loving
family. Then, like a bolt from a clear
sky. got sick one day and had to be
stopped my work. and my pay ceased
automatically. ! was helpless. without
a friend. and with q dependent family
often think Of the thoughts that
passed through my mind during those
hospital. suffering physically. but far
more mentally.
Had Operation.
MY illness necessitated an operation.
and after the wound had healed was
discharged from the hospital. weak. dis
appointed and far from being n well
man. started back to work. but I
couldn't keep my Job.
1.-THE operation I had Just UNDER
gone didn't make me any better, and
soon had to go to the hospital again,
and 90 through another operation and
then another. This, of course. left
rely ms ~ on aid altogether from kind peoc
Pile who were Interested In helping
those who were in hard luck
My wife and her children were
living with relatives at this time, and
| or not they would have food enough
for another meal was taken off my
| mind for at least a while.
Il was given a lodging place. and
case fed me. / tried to get work, but
couldn't. One reason was that /
| was too sick to even ride on a street
car. much less walk. Many times,
walking along the street and without
moments warning / would faint,
| be carried into some drug store, and
when brought to- 1 couldn't move
for several hours.
Friendship House Aided.
TT was about this time somebody
told the people at Friendship House
about my case. They took an interest
| in me, they do In all, such cases, and
through them I obtained money from
time to time to pay for my meals and
| lodging two things couldn't pay for
TIT would take too>ions to tell all
| the misfoItunes which, have been fol-
lowing me for the last year. Ny wife's
people wouldn't help her along any
| more unless she promised to get a d.
| vorce from me. She wouldn't do It, and
| she was left In the lurch.
| Last spring 1t seemed that would
" on my feet again. / was given q
and children and myself. / attended
the furnace and had a job down town
Just as started In and things looked
bright for me, OF sick again. and Il
was the same OLD tory once more.
Friendship Ho, a took my wife and
children and sent them to Camp Good
Will. ] didn't have a single place &c
live. and had nothing to eat. Every
thing looked black And then Friend
ship House stepped in again. They
and told mo to come and live there.
moved into the tent and took my meals II
Friendship House. / couldn't work,
was too i'll, but as got stronger I be
ing dishes, and when did get strong
was able to attend to the furnace.
Remember this, I wasn't paying ,
thing. / owed them money for the aid
they had given me before, but thel
helped me get back my health.
"After a pretty hard night, hav
been able to get stronger. and / an
beginning to consider myself on m!
feet again. The mere telling Of thi
shin House has done for me; an
not gifted enough to really put Il
words what mean.
To-day I have this house, a small
pension, and my family Is living witt
me. / have a prospect OF Job to
day, and / am going to start all owe
again, thanks to Friendship House.
That Is only what one man has I
say about this institution down 4
Southeast Washington which IA
helped so many back on their fee
There are many stories of a simila
sort told by those friends of Friend