Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11
GENEROSITY PAYS
CAPITAL DIVIDENDS
Families Aided in 1923 Christ
. mas Opportunities Prove
Social Assets.

IA times the door was opened with
smile.
for the last time the fourteen opportunl-
ties. These were families selected by
the Associated Charities as those great
" in need of aid at that time.
Since then two of the families have
become wholly self-supporting, one soon
will be i'll that class, nine have I'M
proved their conditions to such an eX-
tent that there is every possibility they
will be capable of maintaining their
position alone as soon as the small
children are a few years older, one be-
set with illness and hard luck recently,
is making an effort against great odds
and the fourteenth, because of extreme
age is trying to carry on against the
forces of time.
Adoption of the Community Chest by
the Capitals welfare agencies IN 1879
changed the methods OF raising funds
for social needs, so the fourteen OPP
portunities have not appeared In the
last two years.
SI4,969 Investment.
Financing the fourteen opportunities
of 1928 meant an investment OF $l4,-
969 If invested in gilt-edge securities,
this sum would bring about $3.50
wear. But the return has been made
to Washington. in the form OF for
tune in good citizenship.
The progress these families have
made since that time is remarkable
in view OF their condition three years
ago. In Is of the IA cases the ma
lority of the dependents were very small
children and these are still OF grade
school age save for few exceptions.
In the majority of cases the sole
breadwlnner was an overworked
mother, and none of these has found
any of her responsibilities lessened,
although her burden may nave peen
lightened somewhat.
=. In the Ia families there were IS per-
sors. exclusive. of course, of the delln-
Cuent members. All, save one, are we'll
on the road to substantial cltlZenshlp.
And even this one, lonely old man,
has made some progress. IN the case
of every child an education is assured.
families whom the citizens OF the
National Capital have aided are those
who. had Fate been kinder, might nave
made excellent homes solely by their
own efforts in which young Americans
could grow up to valuable and inde-
pendent manhood.
Appeals Bring Results.
Harking back three years we read
the APPEAL that was published in the
columns OIL lie EfCAl411S 0toA Ava ~AAS
of these families:
six happy little girls, ranging in
age from to ID years, should nave
the careful supervision of their loving
mother. Big brother has just turned
is But his earnings will be too small
to provide protection for his sisters.
Mother has tried to teach them 10
be self-resps SEing, promising young
women of tomorrow in spite OF father
ID g.
Sponsibilities."
This is a family that is making an
earnest effort to work out its own saliva
ton. The boy did his best but he lost
his lob. After a long effort to get an
other he enlisted in the Navy. Inc
two Oldest girls work and give their
money to their mother. The smaller
children. trained in a 5000 nome, are
making rapid progress. They are oolng
their share TO raise the standards OF
the community, for they are now help
ing other children in the neighborhood
whose mothers are not so clever with
the needle. Their father now Is dead.
Washington people had assured this
family an income Of $25 week for a
war.
Grit Of Little Clara"
Another appeal was published In
these words:
For many months little Clara
showed the grit of a soldier through
the interminable hours of suffering.
One day she asked mother why DADDY
never came to see her. Mother an
sUered softly that perhaps he would.
But he never did. Sometimes Clara
wonders what is to become Of them now
that daddy does not help them any
more She knows that some one must
make money so that she and her three
sisters will be able to go on to school.
With S25 a week this little family may
be kept together"
Clara and her mother and sisters
have had hard struggle, but they can
now see hope. For two years The
mother kept her girls with her She
put a terrific amount of energy into
her work. About year ago she was
forced to slow down. The doctor told
her that unless she gave up the care
of the children for few months and
took a complete rest she would be
forced To give them UP forever. for
tuberculosis was lowering near. Finally
she consented. Relatives took the chill
dren and the mother rested. She put
as much will into recovering as she
had into building her home and after
many months was able to once more to
take her girls to their own home. Clara
is now II. A few weeks ago she got
her first job, and is thrilled that at
last she can make things little easier
for her mother. But her daddy has
never returned.
Foreign Womans Plight.
The workings of the melting pot are
demonstrated III the family whose ap-
peal three years ago was worded this
way:
"A poor. bewildered foreign mother
finds herself in land where even the
customs and language are strange. In
her trouble she cannot even turN TO
their former source of cheer and COM
fort-her husband. long victim of
tuberculosis. With the aid of the Is
year odd daughter she watches over her
two little boys that they may grow up
to become loyal young Americans. IN
less some one steps in and furnishes a
minimum of $23 week the alternative
is separation"
A new day has dawned for these peo-
pie. They have taken their place once
more as self-supporting members of the
community. The girl who helped three
years ago has stood by her mother s
side continuously She has the satisfac-
ton of knowing that her brothers are
growing up to know what mother s
training means.
One family differed in that there were
no children or other dependents.
For many years this couple lived
happily together" the appeal on their
behalf said They have no near rela-
tives. The old man would gladly support
his wife. but jobs for the aged are few.
and, besides, he is nearly blind. The wife
seems very frail, but she insists on keep
ing house as best she can"
The SIC a week which was provided
Rent ~