Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-09-03
[From the Omaha Republican,
HORRIBLE SIGHT.

A Drunken Mother with the Corpse of
Her ChiId---The Appalling Evils OF IN
temperance.
II is seldom indeed we are called upon to
chronicle an event or describe scene so
heait-rending as thut which follows. The
horrible incident is almost beyond belief
The details of the incident we are about to
relate are sickening in the extreme, and
carry with them terrible warning TO the
thousands of careless ones who have already
taken the first step towards the destructive
slough of intemperance. Man, with his
brain in muddled condition, reeling
through the streets, is a dreadful sight; but
when woman descends 10 that state where
the oul-dostroying influence has laid hold
upon her mental faculties with an unrelent-
ing grip, the spectacle is such as
"would make angel weep"
Gould our ladies of the present day, who
addicted TO the fashionable habit Of tipping
have witnessed the ghastly sight which we
beheld Yesterday, the intoxicating bowl OF
pleasure would hold no further charms.
The beautifully coored poison would lose
its fascination. We are not in the habit OF
morallzng-it is not our provlnce-but the
incident of yesterday called up such thoughts
as have been recorded.
Mrs. Foster is a woman well known in
| SOulneaSleT0 Oulhuu hS Olb vi luO iOWDSe ~
| the low. She has figured conspicuously in
our police courts during the past year.
From whence she came we nre unable 10
learn, and do not care 10 know. Suffice II
to say she IS here-here, too, an example OF
wretchcd degradation, frightful specimen
| of the baneful use and influence OF alcoholic
stimulants.
She IS, or has been, woman Of some
little ability and perhaps talent, Her IAN
guage when she is sober, is far better lnan
many others who move In higher circlesi
her words arc well chosen and the woman
herself naturally modest but when drunk no
blasphemy or vulgarliy is too strong OF re-
pulsiye for her tongue Time and again she
has been arrested for drunkenness. She is
the mother of three children, who will come
to-we know not what, but surely no good
end, with such an example continually be-
| fore them.
Her residence is on the corner oil Jones
and Seventh streets, near the level-a httle
rough shanty, containing but one solilary
room, and that outrageously filthy. bed
stands in one corner, a stove near the centre,
and few articles of cheap furniture scattered
about the apartment. The floor looks as II
it had not seen water since the deluge.
Yesterday morning, as officer Saunders,
of the police force, was going down Jones
|
! Foster, whom he found in the road, howling,
screaching and swearing like maniac. Her
clothing was composed of ragged calico
dress and n very dirty SHIRT. Whatever else
she might have put on when she MADE heI
| previous toilet, had been torn IN shreds ana
now hung IN taiters about her form. she
fell into the mud several times after he firsl
picked her up. When he enquired wnal
was the matter, she answered MN wwlln w
profane epithets and abuse knowing now
useless 'twould be 10 arrest the poor wretch,
/ lie conveyed her into the shanty ana lalu
her upon the bed. lie had scarcely accom-,
plished this charitable mission when sight
greeted his vision, which, taken WIN the
surrounding circumstances, made ms Dloou
almost run cold. The cause of Mrs roster
present inebiiation was explained. Her de-
liiious writings after being depo tited upon
the bed, had dsarranged the coverlet, and
revealed TO the astonished officers gaze Inc
corpse OF a child.
From lack of care and want OF proper
nourshment the little thing had died, ane
its unnatural mother, TO drown her grlef
had again resOrled to the bane of her exls-
tence-w whiskey. TWAS an appalling sight
and one we do not care to see again, Tor W.
visited the place few minutes after th'
discovery by Mr.. Saunders. The coroner
was at once notified of the child's death ant
Immediately repaired to the house.
Something ought 10 be done with this wo
man. ANY person who would thus conduc
herself while the Angel of Death is still lin
: geiing in household, is truly not fit to TAX
care OF herself, much less her offspring. onl
State should erect an asylum where sucl
poor unlortunates could find home, and,
possible, be reformed.