Evening star., 1932-02-21
WOMAN IN ASH0E'
CLOSES HER SHOP
Place Where JobIess Got
CaSt.offs of Well Shod Folk
to Be Torn Down.


Shoe" that nursery rhyme character
whose temperance in Washington this
Winter kept thousands-men, women
and children-from being literally ION
their uppers," closed up shop yesterday.
The old woman's 1882 stand was born
IN the mind Of Washingtonian, who,
as he walked through one of the parks,
thought Of Washingtons soldiers at
Valley Forge, and believed something
could and should be done for those
whose feet showed worst Of all the re-
suits OF joblessness.
Her demise. after flourishing career.
was due to succession of circum-
stances-principally that Spring is
almost here, and the depression seems
to be lifting, 1t was explained by F:
Regis Noel, Washington attorney and
founder and chairma nof the insti-
tuition.
Building to Be Torn Down.
The Wilkins Building, wherein the
store was located, has been sold TO
the Government, and must be turned
over to 1t soon; another reason for clos
ing out the old woman.
From an economic standpoint" ex-
plains Mr.. Noel, Its next to impos-
Sible to expect men and women to hunt
jobs when their shoes are uncomforta-
BILE; when their feet are cold. And
who would expect little children to go
to school on these cold days in some
Of these?' He picked up childs shoe,
torn and ragged, with great gaping
holes, one Of the many turned n by
people who have been benefited
Since November /, when Mr.. Noel's
plan first went into effect, about $4,000
pairs of shoes, all of them estimated
to have at least three months wear in
them, have been given out to the needy.
The Old Woman still had about $500
TO 5000 left when she closed shop yes
terday. These were turned over to
still had $l27 to turn over to the
charities.
Operates on Donations.
The Old Woman has operated on
contributions Of shoes from citizens.
Through special arrangement with
the William Hahn Co., those shoes
which needed repairing tabout two
fifths Of the total number brought in
for distribution) have been repaired
The total cost of repairing has been
about Is cents on each pair of shoes
given out
Somewhere In Washington are five
men who stepped into the shoes OF
Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes
less than Is minutes after the Chief
Justice left them in the store. Others
walk the streets. searching for work
wearing the shoes of cabinet members
Through a special arrangement with
many of the city's shoe dealers, shoes
left in their stores by purchasers OF
new ones have been turned over to the
Old Woman for repair and distribution
The dealers allowed the Old Woman
5 per cent Of the sale price of the new
shoes for repairing the old ones.
Shoes given out were believed to be
worth an average Of 81 a pair" Mr.
Noel said
The rent Of the store cost nothing
it was donated by Joseph H. Hines
the owner: salaries cost nothing: COL
lection cost nothing-the shoes were
brought to the Old Woman and were
handled in the building by men en-
ployed by local shoe dealers and b.
several unemployed, who came to gel
shoes and were put to work-willingly
Benefit Melted s74l.
On January IA benefit was held a,
the Mavfower Hotel which netteo
about S74l for the Old Woman. Enter
tainment for the benefit. the hotel and
all were donated. The admission
charge was 81 and a pair Of worr
shoes "as depression tax
"All we asked of those seeking shoes
was a letter, card or note from some
Of the local charities or other ogan-
izations or citizens listed in the city
directory" Mr.. Noel said Men, wom-
en- and children have come in here
with requests for shoes from the Rec
Cross, Salvation Army, Catholic Char.
tiles. Gospel Mission. Central Mission
American Legion. Southeast House
Travellers Aid. Volunteers of America
Veterans Home, Board of Public Wei
fare, Municipal Mission. school teach
ers, truant officers. Y NJ c. A., police
men and hundreds of private citizens.
Seven truckloads of unusable shoes
thrown away by people who have OBJ
tanned better ones from the Old Wom-
an, have been carted away from the
H street building.
Besides Mr.. Noel, members of tn,
committee who have sponsored tht
organization through its brief but col
orful career are George E. Fleming
treasurer; Charles L. Parsons. Chic
Justice F. w. Booth of the United State.
Court of Claims, Mrs. Harriet R. Davis
William w. Everett, Gilbert Hahn
Arthur B. Heaton. Mr. Hines. Mis-
Ruth A. jones. Richomnd B. Keech
Col j. Miller Kenyon, Milton w. King
| Maj Henry Leonard. Gideon Lyon, Mrs
Eleanor Patterson, William A. Robert
workers who have given their time t,
the Old Woman include Mrs. Lois A
Miller, Miss Virginia Booth, John R
Gorham. Arthur E. Spring, Albert E
Anderson and Perry Hammock.