The New York herald., 1869-12-08
"ANONYMA."


Girl--A beautiful Prisoner in tho City
Prison--IIer Strange Story.
Few Of the many thousands who every morning
run their eyes along the FIRST column OF this paper
and pause moment before turning to scan the
news OF the great world TO smile at each cunningy
written "Personal,n ever renect upon the curious,
hidden mysteries these condensed paragraphs con-
tain, or, In the whrllng, bustling round OF their
everyday existence, give a moments thought TO
those advertised hints OF sorrow and suffering,
sin and shame. The benevolently inclined, unfor-
tunately, see but too much OF the dark side OF lie,
and are brought face to face with but too many
human creatures deserving OF kind words and
charitable deeds, and those-and in this Christian
community there are too many such-who, In the
headlong race for gold, the mad excitement Of
political llfe or the struggle for social distinction
ana preeminence, harden their hearts to the appeals
OF the helpless and distressed, ray no attention to
the mute eoquence oil the Personal. But II q tithe
Of the seethiug corruption, the social dis
orders, the crimes, the sorrows and the joys
SO vaguely limited Mt in the nrst column
were written and spread out before the readers of
the HERALD, how the community would be thrilled
with emotion In the ever VARYING moving current
Of Afe around US men ana women at the mercy Of
every breeze OF misfortune are drifting toward de-
structon, In darkness ana solitude, without voice
20 cheer or o hand to save. Seasons come and 20;
spring ushers In blooming summer and winter fol-
lows autumn, but still aurlng hope recedes IN the
distance and finally sinks In despair
A BEAUTIFUL VISITOR,
One evening last week The dO0rman on duly In one
OF the up town precinct police stations heard o night
observed a lady standing near the door regarding
him atentivey. She was neatly dressed In black
With warm and elegant Paisley shawl, and thin
veil partially concealed her features. TO his inuu-
ry as 10 her business tnere sue replled-and her
voice was low and musical-that she had heard that
a 'dctectiven was looking for her aud she wished
for criminals to inquire after detectives at least In
station houses, and the curiosity OF the doorman
explain herself, and offered chair. Seating herself,
the lady threw up her veil and disclosed q
OF Dearly whiteness. Il was q face OF sucn
exquisite form and expression that even amid
crowded assembage OF beautiful women
would have drawn general attention to her Her
dgure matched her iace, aud the small white hand
winch she extended for the glass or wafer, consid-
erately brought TO her by the doorman-for she
looked faint and weary-mlght nave well been the
modei for sculptor. Her every motion was grace
fu!. ana there was about her that indescrioaUe
charm whicnls only possible IN women OF blood and
culture. Her face was deadly pale, and though
twenty years had hardly passed over her fair head
SORROW aud suffering had placed their indelple
marks upon her features IL was
COMMON STORY
that she told, so very common indeed that were 1t
not for The deep impression her appearance made
upon he mind OF her interrogater, couple Of lines
Ia the once book, "a nights Incarceration Ia tas
would have been the end OF the matter, and
this strange eyentfui bistoryn would NOT now be
told she was only Working girl, she SAID, and
lived by sewing for large dry goods establishments
on Broadway. Somet time since the lady with whom
she boarded grew jealous OF her, and began treat
her shamelully, and at length ordered her away.
she was very III at the time and became much
worse, when, after long search, she discovered
articles OF wearing apparel put In the misera-
bic room assigned 10 her. Naturally OF an inde-
from the vtrago IN the house from which she was
elected preycd upon her mind; sne became revenge
the things Ia her trunk was nun belonging the
woman, winch sle had men1ed, aud this
one day she wickedIy cut up with
her SCISSORS and threw 1t again into the
trunk ana thought OF 1t no more. Too sick to work.
too proud TO ask the assistance or friends, and
recoiling with horror no the thought OF that other
means OF wardng OIL hunger, she was iii the depths
OF despair. Fortunately az this moment the law
stepped in between her and destruction Sne heard
that she was about to be arrested for theft. Her
neart was hardened against the world, and she had
no bushes for IT.
Then she asked the wondering doorman 70 do
with her Whatever was proper to be done TO her for
her crime ana, lotting fali the veil her face,
waited patiently Tor wnat was TO follow.
Her accusers came to the stat Oh house in due
time ana policeman shortly after conducted her to
one OF the cells, where she slept unseen until morn
ing. Ultimately, and after the usual delay she was
removed 10 the CITY Prison, where sue now is.
What may become OF her after she leaves there;
whether she Will be assisted 10 rise by kindly hands
or be LEFT to drift TO perdition with the thousands OF
unfortunate women beyond tue pale OF society re.
A STRANGE STORY.
The writer visited the sorrow stricken girl yester
day ia her chill apartment and heard IRON her own
lips the story OF her e. For the present her name
Is withheld fer there are circumstances connected
with her history which, II fully detailed, would
greatly distress more than one respectable family.
lt was long story--oo long To be told at length in
these coumns-but condensation oi it viii be SUI
fcient
From her earliest recollection until some three
years since she lived In beautiful villa, on the
bank OF the Hudson, with gentleman and lady
whom she was taught TO love az her father and
mother. All the luxuries OF a refined home were
hers Masters Of language and teachers OF music
ana drawing attended attended her regularly, and
taught young ladies OF the present day, and
much more besides, which her nqnring mind
demanded. She was carefully educated. But beside
the love OF books, the encnantments OF music tho
pleasures OF art, and the companionshlp OF flowers,
her maiden heart told her there was something else
In life. She never knew the infinite tenderness or
mothers love, nor ever felt the power OF fa.herly
affecton. Instinct told her that che was
into womanhood "0e her Absorbing n GiDSaSa isougSt
by day, and her dream by night was how sbe could
best unrayel the mystery OF her being Several
circumstances came TO her knowledge on her
eighteenth birthday which awoke her rlumberina
suspicious and from tnat hour forward she watched
and waited, hoping for the light. IT came when sne
least expected II.
DISCOVERY.
the Old crone, Agnes Corcorau, who had been her
nurse and was then the trusted servant OF The family
was sitting under tree near the summer house, in
which tho young lady was reading one afternoon IN
August, ana thinking herself unob3erved, took out
rom under her apron splendid embossed and gilt
edged Bible OF ancient pattern. This she thuinbed
and croned over, much to the amusement or the
lady, who percelving her motions ana aware that she
could notread stepped out over the grass and stood
behind her Mumbling ncoherently TO herself tho
old domestic turned over leaf after leaf ana finally
piece OF q newspaper slipped from between the
leaves and fell on the grass at her icet The lady
stopped and picked 10 up, and by so doing discov.
cred herself TO Agnes The secret was in her hands
now, and nothing could prevent the dSno,temeOt
1t was
ONLY HERALD s'PERsOHALv
OF twenty years ago. and read as foiows:--
L1oR ADOPTIoN-A BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH FEMALE
IL child. Apply 70 y. ID. r., bS Beaver street.
AZ she read 1t aloud the old woman sprang TO her
feet and attempted TO snatch 1t away, but quailed
before q pair or flashing dark eyes and
cheeks flushed with anger. The nurse had
loved the child when years ago she
her love had turned to worship. she did not long
withstand, therefore, the pleadings OF the young
LADY aud nnrceIYIuQ with Nnnnanis mint iralincf