Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-28
WRITTEN FOR THE STAR.
Ii II E'S PHAS SES.
Notes from a Reporters Memoranda.
" ZONE
ICopy-yicEt vccurcd.l

lCopy-rickt SccUrcd
Reader, would you believe that invaluable
lessons Of life are continued in these little
worn-out volumes-a local reporters used up
memorandum books We suppose not but
can, nevertheless. assure you that such is the
case; Tor numerous accounts of human misery
and goodness are herein recorded. We regret
our inability to aver that the latter outnumber
the former; but, alas. the reverse is true and
while the latter are comparatively few the
former are multitudinous his may likewise
be asserted concerning all human history II
rs little else than regiSt Of the Weaknesses
the faults, and the crimes of maukind-thsn a
mere compilation of sketches Ot suffering ard
sorrow. Incidents Of that description are pa
Taded upon nearly every page. but seldom are
we treated to agreeable stories of generosity
and goodness; and, indeed, we may almost
count upon our fingers the individuals men
toned In history vhCso lives were pleasant to
themselves ard beneficial tc their race while
those nations which eDjoycI long seasons OF un-
interrupted peace and prosperity are granted
but brief narratives
Why is this Does verify cunstrain its as
cription to the deprayity of tho human family
UT, may we account for it on the hypothesis
that We are more prone to remark vice and
misery than virtue and joy! Are not seasons
of trouble, however brief like the fyures on a
watch dial, which strike our attention when
over we glance at the plate Whereas periods
OF eonteatment, which, ike the dial's blank sur
lace, occupy much larger space. are passed
over without comment Apparently. there is
In mankind an intuitivc disposition to goss
about malefactions and affections and an en-
Vious reluctance TO give honor for virtues or
cOnSratulatIOn Tor successes. This may and
we believe 1t does, produce that marked pre-
pOnderancc of sin and sorrow ia the worlds
annals. But, as it Is not our present intention
TO write 4 metaphysical dissertations or ? sopo-
rihc homlly, We viii, without further introduc-
tIOn, proceed to the relation of a few incidents
thrust upon our attention whilst purSuin. the
arduouS avOca;ion of local paragraphist for a
daily newspaper. Here, then, is the first Of
series
A Sad Story.
May sth, 1916 -. Mem Ellen Darrell mys-
teriOusly disappeared from homo three days
ago and has not since been hoard Of Her
tather after having sought her diligently him
self, applied to the police to-day for assistance
to discover her whereabouts. She is about fir-
teen years Of age, and Of preposs sscS sing appear
ance. Her afflicted friends fear that she has
fallen a victim to foul play
May 2Sth, ISi6.-'' Man This morni1,-
Capt Ovens, OF the third district police sue
ceeded in finding Ellen Darrell, whose rny.te-
rlous absence from home We noticed a short
time ago. Ellen told Capt O. that she had
been persuaded to run away by young man
named Herbert Lawrence, because of a iancied
aGSrIeVauee from her father. Her fCkle lover
abandoned her about ten days ago, without
any definite promise OF return, snd left her d.
most destitute She was very loath to 20 home
but Capt. d. succeeded in p partially overcoming
her objections, and when re told ersbis pur
pose to take her back, she yielded a reluctant
assent Her mother was rejoiccd at her re-
turn, but her father treated her with evident
haTshness, notwithstanding her pcni;ence."
Dec. 10th, lS47.-'' N NJ. John Powell was
arrested this morning, by officers Yorrick and
Wto,en, for an assault on Ellen Darrell,
handsome and understanding but unfortunate
girl. The assault occurred in house Of unfa-
yoTable reputation in Scott street. Justice
Martin held him to bail for court
Jan. lltb. ISj0.-'' .a Ellen Darrell was
arrested las, evening, by OHiesr Wclch. for
drunkenness and indis;reet conduct in the
street. Justice Hing required security for her
better behavior and as this was not in the fraII
Ellen power 20 give. she was ticketed for thir-
ty days TO apartments over the Falls =
Mar. 9th, lS52.-'' M.H Last NIGHT watch
men IlOugh and Bemas picked up a wretched
looking specimen u feminine frailly in the
streets, in an almost inScn>:aic condition from
the elects of exposure aud bad whisky This
morning she gave her name rs Ellen Darrell
and, as she had no friends to rrofide for her
Justice Cook gave her a IcIuIit to board free
at the West End coGnjry-seat until warm
weather. She told the } Jaoticc that she ..drcant
she dwclt In marble halls, aud gaily t1king
her seat IN the corporation hvck, was irottcd
OH by " Black Maria 10 where she had a pros
Pect OF good victuals and delightful shower
Feb. itb, lS55.-" Mh. Died in the aims
house last night. Ellen Darrell a-ed about
twenty-fOur years. The deceased mad been an
inmate OF the institution sune two winters.
About two weeks s!Hco she was sioSed to visit
the city aud having INDUCED in protr cted
debaucb, was found ia the street in n Ditiuble
state. she was then returaeI to the aims
house, where death hes at las, released her
from lilo Of degradation. E,juiescaf in
PQcr."
The above are (nameS excepted vcritable
memoranda, which were served up ms local
items at the different periods sivcr TO be
read, and then again forgotten forever. Theirs
Is melancholy record, for they inform us of
"One more unfortunate, weary of breath
" no IaShly IUporiu. lie, TUsheI 10 her death =;
Ihey are insufficient, however to enable us
10 understand the character and trials a tie
poor victim cl mai : deception whose name
they contain. From Z EN- alone we cannot he
come c0mpeteht 10 ProE, zee TbO Was blarnabIc
ioT her early degIaGatICn sGd HDtimeiy death
or, whether she wa reilly worthy of pity or
deserved condemnation. Oar curiosity imneIs
us TO inquire further, GEi We would like to
know
Had she User h. a. ne Il i,foih.r,
Or WIS Ih-.r 7 De. rr one
suit, ard II E"tTeT one,
Yet, than All O.hcT -
The quotations being ,hus incornn,ete. allow
US to Int the veil and disclose more of poor FL
len history, that yea may be benefited by the
moral lesson her sliJl lite incuIcates We
Will not drd" upon inlaS'nttion 10 ill up the
picture, but present the Scenes coiored as we
found them-slTing. simply, an unvarn;Shed
narrative Of the principal events Of her gloomy
career Should our efforts interest and p,ease
and, at the same time contribute toward saving
single fellow creature from the maeIstron,s ~
vice, or mi one to continue steadfast in the
path Of virtue, then Is our object accomplished
then have not labOTed in vain
Before proceeding further, allow US to apol.
OgiIe for the misplaced humor which peryades
the above quoted memoranda. The newspaper
writer, through exeitinnS to produce readable
articles from subjects barren Of interest, insen-
sibly acquires the habit Of clothing his thoughts
IN this hecdlesS style. He becomes 20 accus-
toned, tO", to describe circumstances of an at
~ L. &.