Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-02-16

'OOlnB 10 INC statlOn
"No-we are taking her home"
"Where was she 7"
"Don't ask so many questions-move
on out Of The way -
"Thank you-please take our card p
"Ah J All right Come with us
and III tell you all about her. She
went down TO Houston street and got
on a breeze-upset things, was upset
out in the alley drunk, and we are
taking her home"
Into a by-street-up stairs TO a
room with shattered sbutters-a patch
OF carpet-a bed-a cheap wash stand
"a scratched bureau-an old trunk in
a oorner-a little cupboard over the
mantel wherein were a few bottles,
some cold corned beef, a bottle OF ale,
two cigars, greasy pack of cards,
and some few little articles Of head
dress.
The occupants Of the other rooms
stared at us as the insensible woman
was carried TO the third story to the
room above spoken Of, which an old
dame said was hers. Two women
disrobed her, while we looked about
the premises They laid her on the
coarse bed, and called our attention to
great bruises over the ribs-over the
stOmach--a long, dark bruiso across
the back, where some one must have
struck her a fearful blow. And q
dark, greenish black spot, half the
size of our hand, just under the left
breast, told US she had been kicked
there by some one terribly in anger
Very soon one of the policemen re-
turned with physician, and then they
both went away to see who had done
all this. The aged, white. haired ply
sician with care examined her-shook
his head.
"Badly injured, Doetory"
"Yes-internally. She cannot live
long. Somebody has nearly killed
her"
"Under the influence Of liquorY
"Yes-she has been drinking heav-
ily."
And thopoor girl, or rather woman
OF about twenty-one or two years, lay
there breathing heavily.
Her dark hair hung dishevoled from
a clear-cut brow. Her eyes we're
closed-her lips SCI as if in pain-her
heaving, bruised bosom giving evidence
Of injuries internal She did not look
like bad or a vicious girl. ONLY un.
fortunate!
Her name was Clara-so the land.
lady said. She paid three dollars
week for the use of the room. She
came and she went, alone or with
company, and no one knew when.
-irvre from, or who was with her
For such is the fashion in places where
no one cares for the affairs of another
From other rooms came sounds of
m'rth and echoes Of fearful profanity,
as women in half dress or tawdry
hnery joked with coming or depai ting
guests, or swore at each other. To
hear such words, such slang. such
thieves jargon, such vulgar, proiane,
indecent, words from woman's lips
made us sad Ii made us look for n
moment on all women as bad. yet ire
knoU they arc not. Only when a
woman falls, she falls lower, and soon
becomes more disgusting in her mis-.
cry and her sin than man, for she piyes
herself wholly TO her abandon. Be.
cause she has loved-has lost-society
scourges her with hot words and lash
OF devilism, just as society takes fen
dish delight in torturing the weak
And she, poor drunken, murdered
Clara, is dying God pity her moro
than man does. We do not know who
she was, where from. what her history.
But she was somebody. She was a
woman. She had a history as we all
have She would be beautiful when
dressed, but 10 all her wardrobe was
nothing beautiful There was a little
hat with a red feather therein. Al
light white cloak or jacket. Some
ribbons stitched on an old dress. and
she was ready for the street-Ior a |
life sinful, hazardous, awful, terrible
but yet her llte--all there was of il
eft TO her
o. merciful poworl o. Great One
above us all Pity, o. pity those
who tsus iire their fife, and drink the
bitter dregs thrown into their cup by
loI-olooded, heartless, cruel, reckless
humanity.