Evening star., 1924-05-11
PLANS TO PROVIDE
"SHUT-INS" RADIOS
Additional Details Will Be Broad.
cast From WCAP This
Evening.
NO ONE TO BE OVERLOOKED
Hope to Give Every Deserving Per-
son a Set.

Additional details of the plan for
installing a. radio receiving set in the
home of every "shut-in" in the Dis
trict who cannot afford. to purchase
enc Of the little magic boxes" will
be broadcast from WCAP tonight by
Leroy Mark Immediately after
''Roxie" signs off" with his familiar
Good bye, God bless you, pleasant
dreams"
Mr.. Mark last Sunday night told
the audience of broadcast listeners of
the movement to give every poor and
needy bedridden person in Washing
ton a radio set, and appealed to the
hsteners-in to send him the names of
the "shut-ins'' known to them. AS
a result he received the names of 387
such persons, together with hundreds
or letters describing pathetic condi-
tfons in the homes of some of the
shut-inS," where a radio set. it is
neileved, would bring a ray of sun
shine Many of the COMMUNICATIONS
came from long distances.
Once Wealthy-Now Poor.
One Of the letters read: 81 am a
WIDOW of once wealthy man who
lost everything. My only daughter
WORKS at a meager salary, gettin g
enough to give us barely the neces-
sites of life. I am eighty eight
wears of age. and have been for
Twelve years past totally blind and
An incurable cripple. My only
pleasure is hearing my daughters
voice upon her return home each
evening, when | can be moved to
another spot as l am compelled to
remain in a chair all day long, seeing
nothing. hearing nothing, and can't
even move without assistance l
hAve heard of the wonderful radio,
and before I pass to the great be-
yond. which / hope will be soon. it will
Our poverty compels us to cook, eat
and sleep in one small room, and
your charitable assistance will help
me bear my burden"
Mr. Marks scheme for giving
every 'Shut-in" a radio set depends
entirely for its success on the gem
erosity of Washington radio fans
who have outlived the crystal set
stage. 1t is the belief of Mr.. Mark
that hundreds of radio enthusiasts
who bought crystal sets when radio
was in its infancy, later replacing
them with the more expensive and
more powerful receivers employing
audion tubes, still have the small
are willing to donate them to the
"shut-ins." He has arranged to have
the scores of Peoples drug stores
and Piggy Wiggly groceries in the
District act as the receiving stations
for the crystal sets which the radio
fans are willing to donate. The fans
are urged to take the sets to the
stores in their respective com
munities, with their names attached
in some manner, in order that their
receipt can be acknowledged. The
sets will be collected and placed In
central warehouse awaiting dis
tribution.
Scouts Will Install Sets.
The sets will not be given to any
one except upon AN order signed by
minister. priest, rabbi or physician.
Washington, through Edward s
Shaw, scout executive, have volun-
teered to install the sets without cost.
Virtually all of the scouts. Mr.. Shaw
pointed out, are sufficiently familiar
with the technique of radio to. install
the sets satisfactorily.
Besides the discarded crystal sets,
Mr. Mark will appeal for headphones
and funds with which to purchase
the requisite antenna equipment Ar
rangementS have been made to pur-
chase this equipment at cost from
three Washington radio dealers.
Checks should be made payable to
the Mount Vernon Savings Bank, 9th
street and Massachusetts avenue, who
has been appointed treasurer of the
fund They will be acknowledged
"over the air. through WCAP.
Washington business men and
prominent members of the Calvary
baptist Church, where Mr. Mark for
meriy attended, have commended him
on his movement to give the shut
inS" radio set.