Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11

to prevent their separation enabled
them to remain together until the
death of the wife. The husband was
placed under the care of an eye spe-
cialist and now sees better. He is living
alone and friends are striving to get
him into home for the aged In spite
of his age, he tries his best to support
himself by doing odd Jobs. He is try
ing to carry on as long as possible in
woman ne loved.
One mother Is still trying 10 lead
her brood to social freedom, but her
smallest child today is only years old
Tragedy has reared its head high in
at least one home" the appeal SAID of
this family. "A drunken husband left
his family and now the mother Is faced
with the problem of supporting her six
children, with only the help of the two
Oldest sons, one Of whom works after
school,"
This mother continued to make a
home against odds for more than two
years. Last Spring she decided the
stakes were too high. The oldest
daughter had just married and the sec
ond daughter the mother felt was get
ting beyond her control, so she went to
the Juvenile Court and asked to have
the two younger children placed with
the Board of Public Welfare. She and
the older children were able to take
care of themselves. The father has
never been found.
SIC Badly Needed.
A graphic picture of a heroic out
lcok on the problems Of life Is con-
tanned in the record Of the family
which was described In this manner
three years ago:
Not many. no matter how unfor-
tunate. are like little Martha. under
the double handicap of a probably in
durable physical disability and extreme
poverty. Her mother, with FIVE children,
works, while all but Martha are at
school. They need aid. Sixteen dol
lars week will mean carrying out
special plans for Martha and making
this home happy"
This family has made steady prog
resS. They still receive assistance, but
those who know are sure they will very
soon be independent The oldest daugh-
ter was married nearly three years ago,
but she stayed with her mother to help
Her training has been Of great value
The second daughter was married re-
Gently. Her husband has steady job
and is making progress. Martha still
suffers from her disability, but soon she
will go to an institution where she
will be fitted for an independent place
in life. This would leave a boy IL
years old and girl of 10 at hcme with
the mother. Both are excellent In
school. The boy is Scout and last
Summer was active in the Boys Gar
den Club provided by the Civitan Club
The father is in pal serving. a SEN
tence Of year and social workers are
aiding the mother in getting a divorce.
She has been working part tine for
five years and is highly regarded by
her employers.
Climbing a mountain of trouble for
IS years, another mother. with the aid
of the Associated Charities Christmas
opportunity CT 1928, at last is on the
road to happiness.
Fate has played a queer trick with
14-year- Johnnie's frail body" the
appeal read. But he's blessed with a
mother who understands. Edward. his
twin, Is forever planning something for
Johnnies amusement with the few
cents he picks up helping ON paper
routes. Then there are two little girls
Grace, the 1i-year-old, and Swear old
Mildred. Father has treated them
all shamefully and left mother to puz-
lie over the problem of keeping her
family together"
S22 Week Provided.
This little group was provided with
an income of $22 week. But 1t came
after long years of struggle. Twelve
years before the mother had three
small children and a husband who was
a drunkard. Three more children ar
rived. The older ones were forced to
beg. All were In poor health. But
their mother had spirit Time after
| time futile efforts were made to cure
her husband of alcoholism, Finally
the court ordered him out Of the home,
and today, unable to work he is being
cared for by relatives. Other sorrows
piled in upon the mother Of this fam
lily. One daughter died suddenly. a
son took his own life, and now she
faces the realization that another son
has q poorly compensated heart condi-
ton at the age of IS. But she has
made home for her other children
She. has climbed TO . position of. re-
spectacle citizenship, and her family
Is community resource.
The white plague has left its mark
on one mother and her two daughters,
but they are recovering and have
shown their social worth. The appeal
to aid them said:
When her husband died of pneu-
monia five years ago. this widow started
to work to support her two little girls
and frail mother. The strain of over
work and poor food made her and her
| two children easy victims for tubercu-
losis. All are now under care of spe-
cialists. Rest, good food and peace OF
mind Is the prescription OF these doc
| tors"
In this case $25 a week was needed
Ana 1t proved a good investment for
| washington. Today the mother Is bet.
ter. She is able to help make her way
ny sewing. The older girl Is married
mas nome OF her own and she is hap
| PLY engaged in building for the future
/ OF her own baby. Her younger sister
mas finished the course at the Health
school. although she is not yet cured
But she is trying to find a way to be-
come independent. Their grandmother