The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-27
Ex-Service Man, Unable to
Find Work, Takes in Washing
and Now PlansLam1d1y Here
Electric Washer Aids in
Driving Wolf Away
From Door
RYLc. W. sMlGER

og VI W. SntGEhs
Hard times. a sick father AM
mother, an aunt who took in wash
ing. and bull dog determination
to win, all played a part in max.
ing a hero OF Roy Shuman, T..
years old, ex'nayy man and 100
per cent American.
Discharged from the United
States navy In February, 1921, Roy
came home and found things all
wrong. J. H. Shuman, his father,
troubled more and more with rheu.
matism, was unable to do much At
his trade, and Mrs. Shuman, never
very stropg, was scarcely able TO
do her own housework.
Ever an optimist, Roy brayely
told his parents that he woulu
make things easier for them. He
felt abnndautly capable OF the re-
sponsibility thus almost thrust upon
him, and went about meeting Il
with cheerfulness and assurance.
At once he began. looking for work.
That was in February, 1921.
Spring came. summer and then
autumn slipped into the past, ana
all the work Roy had been able To-
find was just enough to keep him
from losing all hope. An odd Job
here and one there had continually
buoyed his spirits with a promise
OF better things to come. But those
promises seemed never to mature.
In the meantime, the wolf stood
outside the Shuman door and
howled for admHtance.
Things began to look pretty black
for Roy and his parents, who de.
pended upon their son for the ne.
cessities Of life. Then, Just when
hope was ebbing. away, came an
idea that was destined to success
fully solve Roy's problem.
Since coming home from the
navy, the boy had been doing his
mothers washings, and the neigh.
bors said That he was doing them
as well as woman could have
done them. Added to this was the
fact that an aunt was making mon.
e9 washing for other people and
Roy ddeniy reeatized nat here
WIS the way out ot his trying SIT.
uadon. 5a
Against the advice OF some old.
er people and the jibes OF scotfers,
Roy approached one OF the depart
ment stores in town and explained
his plan 10 the proprietor. Inter
ested in the boys scheme for in.
dependence, the store owner sold
him an electric washer. and an cleo.
trio iron. With these Roy went
home and started TO work.
Three months have come and
gone since that time and Roy is
still washing the soiled clothing OF
idle rich, near rich, and would.be
rich, and business Is getting better
every day. For the first four DAYS
OF this week he had s$25 worth OF
work in view, and thought he would
get more for the last two days,
Down in the basement Of his
home, 236 Bon View street, Fair.
mont, you can almost any time in
the day hear the sloshlng and wilir.
ring OF a washing machine, and up
from below comes a smell OF hot,
soapy things being made clean.
Each morning Roy goes out with a
basket and collects the wash for
that day, and In the evening car.
ries It back to the satisfied own
ers.
The shunan home Is encrcled
with lines from which, at any hour
OF the day,fcan be seen the snowy
Wilderness of drying wash.
While being interviewed, Shu.
man was asked II he liked the work.
He grtnned joyfully before answer.
ing:
"well. can't. really say that I
do. But like it better than com.
mon labor, and that's all I'm fitted
TO do. Never had the training for
any special work"
In reply to a question as toI
whether he was ashamed for peo.
pie to know that he was taking In
washing" Shuman said:
mo! What is there to be ashamed
OF? It's b-aest work, isn't, lit:
Since ]. S. Shuman, Roy's father,
Is unable to do very much work,
he and Roy together have begun
planning the development OF the
present business into something
greater. It is their intention at
some time to go into the laundry
business on "a much larger scale
and in a more favorable location,
and endeavor to make It a really
paying proposition.