The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-04-27

Her Principles to Accept it-Hecluse
Had No Love For Any One and Had
MAYER Extended Helping Hand.
In q boxlike little room In Greenwich
v,lage in the heart OF New York city,
Miss Edith Kitching is working away
cheerily. The apartment is her work.
sbop. living room and kitchen com
bined.
On the floor in one corner is pan
of apples. A trunk. bookcase and
few articles of furniture almost fill the
room. Against the wall are couch
Fashioned of rough pine boards and the
blankets which 20 with it to make u
bed.
The little woman's hair is streaked
with gray. She wears a simple poncho
of heavy gray material and sandals.
She must be forty or more. but her
freshly colored face is young.
And this is the woman who turned
down $4,000 left by recluse uncle
because it was tainted" She has abb
solutely and finally refused to touch
the money. preferring to live according
to her principles and within the limi-
tations of $500 u year income.
The second floor front" at No. "a
Bank street. where Miss Kitching lives.
is far from palatial. But Miss Kitch-
ing forgot her surroundings while she
told about her life work and why she
had to spurn the money which would
keep her In comfort
Uncle Died Last November.
The money was left to her by Fran
els F. Ripley. an uncle. who died Nov.
II at No. so State street. Brooklyn. 1t
was not left by WILL but by assign
ments The rest OF the refuses $780, |
900 fortune was left TO friends and
Brooklyn institutions.
There is nothing unusual about |
what have done" said Miss Kitchng. |
II could not take the money and pre-
serve my self respect. So ! have plac-
ed the whole estate in The hands of a |
trust company.
1T is a long story. My uncle was a |
coward and a miser. He lived by him
self. and never in his life did he ever |
show any love toward any human be-
ing. For forty years he worked as a
clerk in the Bank of New York and /
self all pleasures in order to save every
cent He was the worst type of miser
it is possible TO meet.
Three times in his life he was en-
gagged to be married. Each time the
engagement was broken. But the wo-
men kept their holds over him. and
that explains the assignments TO the
charitable institutions. He never cared
"a whit for any Of them. His life had
no charity in it. 1t consisted in grind
ing down every one with whom he
came in contact.
Tells of Her Life Work.
AS for me. all my life has been de-
voted to one work. the education of the
working classes. was a pupil OF
Thomas Davidson. the great educator.
] worked with him for eight years.
Since | was three years old | have
travelled over every continent of the
globe | just returned from Europe Il
few months ago
Could | reconcile my principles 10
this money under such dis
graceful conditions? | don't see how.
If the money had been wiled TO me |
would have used it 10 make reparation
for some of the wrong which my uncle
did. should have had it all for this
purpose.
He was too cowardly to do that.
He had no love for me or any one else.
am writing a book and $500 year
isn't much. but | much prefer that 10
MS money.
MY teacher. Thomas Davidson. IN
1ne of his books said, Do. not pursue
wealth. position or popularity am
OUT that dictum in my life.
hope some day To start real UNI
'erSity where working people can be
,ducated. The present colleges are not
they are aristocratic in eY-
Try sense.
That is my only thought. ! have
orgotten about the money don
are what becomes of it.
And Miss Kitching went back to her
writing in her boxlike room.
rtn- -, ..,4,rnr rnnT