Evening star., 1935-05-21
BY JOHN J, DAILY,

In an old-fashioned house. in the
heart Of Washington's downtown busi-
ness section, is the one and only
Old Curiosity Shop in the city, a
haven for the poor, a repository for
the rich, and the one place, seemingly
where every one who contacts 1t goes
away happy.
They call it the Thrift Shop.
A permanent activity for Chill
dren's Charities" it is housed in the
old building that stands at lOl1 E
street as relic Of bygone residen-
tial district now faded into the glory
of an almost forgotten past.
At the Thrift Shop is the answer
to all critics of Washington City
who say the Nations Capital. made
up Of citizens from every Stafe and
Territory and insular possession, is
not civic conscious.
Five great charities feel the civic
consciousness of Washington throbbine
each day through the pulse of the
Thrift Shop.
Provides Necessary Luxuries."
Mrs. William A. Graham, shop
manager. is ready at any time to re-
fute any wild statement to the effect
that WaShingtonians are not aware
OF what it takes to make a city great
in the way of humanitarianiSm-t
simple expedient of extending a help
ing hand to those who need heip.
While the city. through its Com
munity Chest, and in other ways
takes care of many needs IN the
charitable field, it is not always pos
sible through organized charity, Mrs
Graham says, to give that one great
plus exertion-which means adding
necessary luxuries" TO the charitable
chest. BY necessary luxuries, or
luxurious necessaries, Mrs. Graham has
reference merely to such things as
story books for the kids in the wards
at Children Hospital, or at the Child
Welfare, or the Children's country
Home-three of the real charities that
get magnificent attention from the
Thrift Shop. The other two agencies
that administer to those who need
help are the Prenatal Clinic and the
Junior League Social Service Work.
All five claim they owe a debt of
gratitude to the Thrift Shop.
Many persons have seen that sign.
The Thrift Shop" painted on the
display window of the E street House
of Mercy and many have wondered
Just what it meant-where the thrift
came in and where the benefits went
out
The Dickens Spirit Pervades.
Only one visit is needed to get
into the atmosphere. One visit leads
to another, and after a while a man
or woman begins to feel that the
spirit of Charles Dickens has per-
meated quaint little home in Wash
ington.
1t works out in this way: Ladies
who ride in their limousines and gen
tlemen of the old school 60 searching
at home for something to send to the
Thrift Shop. These gifts are assorted
by volunteer workers who put price
tags on them and exhibit them for
sale at the lowest possible price.
The profits go for distribution
among five charitable institutions.
Nor are the sales in the Thrift Shop
confined to purchasers from the ranks
OF the middle or lower classes. Quite
often the wealthy purchase goods
which they ship to deserving persons
in other cities-or even in Washing
ton
The Thrift Shop carries a stock of
goods that would amaze the average
merchant. You can hardly name
utensil, a necessry or a luxury of life
that cannot be found, at some time or
other, on the shelves or the tables
of the Thrift Shop.
BY the very nature of the Thrift
Shop it has to become a veritable Old
Curiosity Shop. ..-