Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-09

est letter, so that his position, which
we had misunderstood from Capt.
Ross letter, may be understood
PitrAeld. Me. Sep.. 5. 1915
Editor OF the Commercial:
Dear Sir:-As ny statement in regard
to the Vining case OF this town has been
denounced as false and misleading.
will state the facts as l know tnem
more fully than I have stated them III
previous letters.
I called on Mrs vining one cold night
in January last. and found her sitting
by an oil stove with a wrap thrown over
her. ] asked her II she was out ol
fuel she said that she was OWING 10.
fuel, and pointing TO gentleman .nd'
was in the room al that time. she saio,
am owing that man for WOOD yer ne
has offered to haul me another ioao'
whether he ever gets MS pay OF ~;
She further stated that her frlenos nay
been very kind to her and done much
for her without pay. but that she nsa a
been obliged 10 make debts !nat eng
could not pay unless she got ap!e 10 ~
TO work. which she hoped 10 90 soon az
though her doctor did not give her u ~ =
announcement that she could WORK loI
some time and she expected every IiFie
the doctor came TO see her, II Wouio De
the last time as she had NOT oeen dple
to pay him. She was expecting 10 re.
ceiye aid from the Federal government
on account Of assignment by her boys IN
the service. but Just when that wouId
come she did not know.
I called on her again in February.
soon after receiving notice from tne
would not be paid after January ], 1873.
She appeared TO be much depressed.
said that she did not know how she was
10 get along. ! told her that II the loss
Of the four dollars per week was %
cause her distress. the town would con-
tinue the payment. although we would
not be reimbursed by the State and
that it would not go to the pauper &C.
count. The reply that she gave was
that she would try to get along win
out it, she had secured money from the
Federal Government. but not enough
10 pay her debts. ] also rave been told
that money has been advanced her by
her friends to help her along. Now II
giving a sick woman care and nursing.
furnishing her wood and advancing her
money was not aiding her l would not
know what to call it. Now l want to
say that ! do not hold Mrs. Nining re-
sponsible for the statements put over
her signature. They are the work OF a
partisan Republican Of this town, who
haDpens to have influence with Mrs.
Vjning. and has led her to believe that
an Injustice has been done her in CIV
ing publicity to her case. ] can prove
the above statement II II is called IN
question.
If Mr.. Osborn, as a friend Of Mrs.
Vining, or the town Of Pittshcld.
permitted her to lack the comforts
of average home life in that town we
are sorry for their patriotism. Just
why Nj. Osborn should have brought
il home to her so forcefully that she
could have aid, But PITTSFIELD
COULD NOT GET T BACK FROM
THE STATE, surprises US. 1t is the
most pitiful side of a sad case. For
n few raltry dollars this feeble wo-
man was tortored with reminders Of
her helplcssness. A rich town couid
not afford to care for her cheerful
" and uncornplainingly. as provided
by the LEGISLATURE. because 1t could
not get the few dollars back again
from the State.
And yet Mr.. Osborn says:
I told her that If the loss of the -four
dollars per week was to cause her dis
tress. the town would continue the pay
ment. although We would not be REIN
bursed BY the State and that It woull
not go to the pauper account.
O, Lord. And some Of us think VS.
do not deserve the punishment OF
war.