The transaction by which Mrs. Donnerwald disposed of her store and fixtures was turned to the advantage of another dependent widow who was the purchaser. The amount of the purchase money was loaned to her, and in her hands the store became a means of self-support. For such ingenuity in adjusting those who are not quite capable of managing their own affairs, there is ample scope in the field of charitable relief. To discover that the keeping of a store which has been a complete failure for the one is exactly the occupation required for another who has made a failure as a laundress, and to bring about a change of callings, is an example of the kind of service which may mean considerably more than a grant of groceries or of money.
Donnerwald, Arnold and Lizette. Mr. Donnerwald had been a saloon-keeper, but was forced out by the high license fee required by a new law, and lost $1000. He then started a restaurant, but this did not pay, and later tried a candy store. He did fairly well at this for a time, but his mind became unbalanced as a result of undue worry and malnutrition. Mrs. Donnerwald at that time was taking in washing, as well as attending to the shop, and all of the family, through lack of proper food, were in poor physical condition. Some little aid was given by a former employer of Mrs. Donnerwald's, but relatives were unable to help, and her husband's children by a former marriage were also poor. The family was favorably spoken of at previous addresses. A private society gave assistance and provided tickets for a diet kitchen, and a little later another society aided to the extent of five dollars.
A purchaser was found from whom Mrs. Donner wald received forty dollars for the store and fixtures. Fifteen dollars of this amount was used to pay an instal ment debt incurred for furniture. A baby who was ill was placed in a hospital, where it remained for five months. Although still very ill, the child was sent home, and died in a few days. Work was found for Mrs. Donnerwald for which she was paid six dollars. Her husband was now in an improved condition, owing to better food, and, as the doctor did not consider him to be dangerous, he was allowed to remain at home. Both the private society and the diet kitchen continued aid for some months, and in the winter fuel also was provided.
A year after the application, Mrs. Donnerwald having secured plenty of work, the family became self-supporting.
The following case furnishes an instance of a deficient income on account of physical incapacity. Refusal of re
lief in this instance would doubtless have led to the com mitment of the children as public charges, while the giving of a moderate amount of assistance, and aid in securing suitable employment, enabled the family to become self supporting, though not until after Mr. Bowles's death.
Bowles, Thomas and Jane. Mr. Bowles, having been idle for months, unable to secure employment because of exceptional stoutness (weight over 300 pounds), and varicose veins, which prevented his walking or standing continuously, applied to a newspaper for aid. He had been clerk and bookkeeper, and afterward, with what money he had saved, started a cigar store. In this he had failed, losing his capital, and had since pawned everything of value which they had. There was no income what ever, and Mrs. Bowles was near confinement. Aid was provided for several months, and on some occasions money was advanced by individuals who knew the conditions.
Arrangements were made for Mr. Bowles to enter a hospital for treatment. After he left the hospital, he was unable to find suitable employment, and the wife there upon tried canvassing, but was unsuccessful. Work of a more appropriate kind was found for her subsequently. Just a year after the first application, employment was secured for Mr. Bowles at six dollars, which was later in creased to eight and ten. They were able to redeem many articles from pawn, and the wife finally gave up her work to take care of her three children. In the autumn, however, the season for the man's employment having ended, he again applied for assistance, and a position was found for him in a public hospital at $10 a month and board, which was afterwards increased to $20. This posi tion he held until his death, eighteen months later, at which time his fellow-employees raised the money for his funeral expenses. Mrs. Bowles then supported herself and the children by caring for three foundlings, and even at the time of the birth of a fourth child, soon after her husband's death, it was not necessary for her to be aided.
Mrs. Harrigan presents a more complicated problem. She had the unusual, but not absolutely unique, experience of burying two consumptive husbands, and even with the third she did not become independent of charitable re sources. The tuberculosis of the first husband was doubt less aggravated by alcoholism.