The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-10-06
"I Work for Uncle Sam"
EsteLLe arise n
Tells of Career
In Government

(This is the beginning OF q
series of true life biographies OF
real people Uho tDork for Uncle
SAM
AS a little messenger girl, Es-
telle Harrison liked to take an
8 o'clock early morning walk on
the lawn in back Of the execu-
tive offices of the White House.
That was when her beloved
President, Teddy" Roosevelt.
strobe energetically up and down
with his hands behind his back,
taking his constitutional.
Always Teddy" would smile,
or nod, and sometimes he would
stop to talk. Usually, he would
remark that it was a bully
morning." or something to that
effect, and they would look at
the flowers together and speak
OF their beauty with the sun
and dew on them.
CARED FOR BROTHERS
That was "30.some" years ago.
And that same little girl who
walked and talked with one OF
our country's greatest men has
known personally every Presi-
cent since that time. She is be-
loved throughout the Govern
ment buildings as Inspector
Harrison" who has worked her
way up in the ranks to a posi-
ton of responsibility and trust
as a supervisor of the women
who care for Uncle Sans prop
erty.
Miss Harrison's father and
mother died when she was very
young, leaving her to care for
four brothers. AS a girl
she not only worked for Uncle
Sam as a $2O-a-month messenger.
but washed, ironed, cooked and
kept house for her little family.
Ernest, the older brother mar.
ried and became the father OF
a daughter. But his young wife
lived only a short time and
when she passed away there
was little infant Mary Black
for Miss Estelle to care for.
BY strange and terrible coin.
cidence pneumonia took the
four brothers away and there
was but Mary and Miss Estelle
left.
MOTHER TO NIECE
No mothers eyes could ever
take on a more lovingly mater
nal look than do the soft hazel
ones of Miss Harrison when
she talks of her baby" Mary
is a grown up and clerk in
the Veterans Bureau now. But
she is as much a part Of her
aunt as if the older woman were
her own flesh and blood mother.
for Miss Harrison is the only
mother she has ever known.
Every sacrifice a mother is
called on to make the aunt has
made for her lovely niece, edu-
eating and launching her in the
world.
when Mary's dramatic club
puts on another show Ill send
you tickets" Miss EStelle
beamed proudly telling Of the
young girls talents. You must
come to the Arts Club and hear
her sing too. She thinks she
isn't much of a singer, but
do"
Miss Harrison would much
rather talk of her pretty niece
than herself. But we managed
to get the high spots of her biog-
raphy. From messenger she
was promoted to a police
woman. That was during the
World War when the buildings
were so crowded and you had
to keep a sharp eye open all the
time to make sure everything
was going properly"
HAS LARGE BEAT"
She did various and Sundry
things after that until she
worked her way up to her pres
ent position. Now Inspector Har-
rison'S duties take her over q
large "beat." This includes the
State, Winder, Civil Service.
Walker-J Johnson, Old Labor and
the Premier Buildings. Also the
Federal Trade Commission at
1923 and 1928 F st.
Making certain all the work
is done properly and that things
run smoothly with the char.
women in those buildings is no
small chore. But Inspector Harri-
son loves it and has never taken
a day of sick leave in her life.
She will laugh and tell you she