New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-01
One of The Militia OF Mercy Automobiles
Starting on a Round OF Visits from
Headquarters, 4 West 18Th Street

ity, they were merely doing their duty with all
the love and understanding in the world
1T is not charity" they told me again and
again. eve are only trying to repay very
small part Of the debt which we owe to the men
who have gone somewhere out there to fight
for US. The government cannot afford 70 pay
them what is necessary for the support OF
their families and we are only too grateful for
the opportunity to do it,
THE PESSIuSTIC MRS. CARNEY
Our first call was on Mrs Carney, who lived
in a decent tenement in the suburbs. She had
two children and was expecting
am sorry 70 have you see Ms. Carney
first" said Mrs. Douglas Campbell the spokes-
man of our unit, because she is the only I'M
grateful case we have
We climbed three pairs Of stairs and entered
the kitchen where Mrs. Carney, sloyenly
woman with a most disagreeable expression
greeted US sullenly.
"Good morning, Mrs. Carney" said Mrs
Campbell. you are looking much better than
when last saw you. We have brought you
present that think will please you, COM
nate outfit for the little stranger and she
opened big box in which were all sorts OF
dainty baby garments, dresses and nlghtgowns;
feecy little knitted jackets ard socks, all so
tastefully arranged and tied with pink ribbons
Il was layette that would have gladdened
the heart of even a Fifth Avenue mother, but
not Mrs. Carney! She gave it cursory
glance,-iust that!-grunted that she hoped
they'd fit, but they looked awful big" and con-
tinued the long story of her hardships.
could have wrung her neck cheerfully. But
the women of the visiting committee ignored
her lac, of appreciation, gave her S. to meet
her current needs, took her landlords address
80 that the rent could be paid; ordered S. worth
Of supplies from the corner grocery and htted
mt the two little children with summer dresses.
What an inhuman mother" l exclaimed
when we were out Of hearing. She never even
said thank you for that beautiful layette.
How can you have the heart to help her? 1t
would serve her jolly right if she starved TO
DEATH"
Mrs. Campbell smiled sereney 1--WE are
doing it for the man at the 'front.' she replied.
"She is his obligation and ours,-and the chill
dren are so sweet
THE PRIDE OF MRS. THORPE
Mrs. Thorpe lived in much more preten-
tous quarters, albeit her parlor was devoid OF
furniture save for the upright piano. Mrs.
Thorpe was in IAN awful state" as Antoinette,
her pretty daughter, explained when she
opened the door.
Fathers on the Granite State" she said,
"and he had shore leave last night and he
didn't come home. Mothers had an awful bad
spell over it.
Mothers dad spell" was evident when she
appeared very red about the eyes and very
frowsy about the head. Her face was hard
and unforgiving. One could imagine that
Thorpe's welcome would be anything but cord
ial when he visited his home on his next shore
leave. Indeed. one could even let her magma
ton 20 further and realize that to some men
going to war might not be so great hardship.
Il was the first visit Of the Militia Of Mercy
TO the Thorpe household, so Mrs. Campbell ex-
plained our coming and how we proposed 70
help
At this Mrs Thorpe rose in her might. She
had never been an object Of charity; Thorpe
had earned S35 week, and she had owned
drygoods shop and carried on a fourishing bus
mess before she married.-and she was going
to get some kind of job as soon as ever she
could.-and she's behoden TO nobody
She confessed, however. that she had been
very hard up; that she had pawned everything
from her wedding ring 70 the parlor furniture
Mrs. Campbell, with her sweetest smile and
her soft Southern accent, explained that this