Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-10-09
A NIHlLIST'S SAD END.
A Russian Girls Melancholy Life
and Death.
To Avoid a Compulsory Marriage She Comes
to America Only to Wander
Hungry and Destitute Through
the Stress of New York.

New YORK, October S.-A short time ago
brief paragraph in the morning papers told
OF the sui eide OF young girl, Russian,
by swallowing tunbler OF warm water,
in which common matches had been soaked.
The fact itself was sufficiently dreadful in
its simple brevity-but it was made more
terrible by the circumstances OF the case.
The girl, only eighteen, was one Of party
of Russian Socialists who came to this
country less than year ago
Fired with 2nIhusiasus
expecting TO found a community, and
imagining that there was system OF uni
versal brotherhood which welcomed all and
found place for all. Mss l.. at home was
an object of attention and considera-
ton. She had received good edu-
cation, had begun TO study medicine,
Was in the possession OF property left by
her parents, nut was somewhat tyranically
controlled ~ brother and an aunt, who
had made CrUiCe of husband t)r her and
otherwise endeavured to bind her will and
enforce Their authority. She cane - this
country, as she said IN her brnHen tngish,
10 have her free, and SAY wha: was IN
her mind
She was bright, intelligent, gentle in her
ways and manners, lady.like IN appear
anCe and endowed with the
Keencst Sense OF Honor
ar d integrity. She refused to be taken care
of by Professor Felix Adlers society, be
cause il would have made her pension
er for the summer without giving
Ter the work she wanted. She finally
obtained place in silk factor at $3.50
per week, dividing this sum With some
needy com patriots who had not yet found
work. But hard living, insufficient food,
ana the strain OF standing and tending
looms, to which she was entirely unused,
broke her down, and she became Ill and
unable TO go TO work. AS soon as she was
able she sought for different employment,
but il was summer and she was unable TO
find it. For weeks she walked up and
down the streets and avenues, often with.
out food, till one day she presented herself
AT the house of lady whom she had seen
and gho bad befrlended her. She was
wcrn almost TO q shadow. Her face was
deadly white it told it's own story.
DeplorabIe Career.
She received money for present needs.
and oOk with her note which procured
her h place in another factory, but at only
S% per week-it is one OF the most difficult
things in the world for a poor, respectable
Girl 10 find shelter in this great Ci:y-and,
required to vaCate her old room, mis- rao.e
though it was, on account OF unpaid reat,
she almost exhausted her last remaining
stIeugth in finding another shelter where.
for 81 per weak, she was permitted TO hide
her wretchedness and despair. The pay
mept OF her rent allowed her !! per week
for food. clothing and all the necessaries
Her few dollars OF debt appalled, her-.nd
unr,auitted love for one OF her own cOnn.
trynlen, which perhaps had influenced her
dreams OF ItOpian future bad enc0un'
tered its final death. .blow-and the brave
but tender spirit of the poor girl could
stand 10 more.
She Had Not Money
to buy decent poison. With her last penny
she bought box OF matches aud went TO
her lodgings. She could get no warm
water that night, so she waited supperless
till the morniug-Ehat a night for 8 young
eighteen year old girl to pass-and then 90
tanning a tumblsr OF hot water, soaked the
matches aud drank it. She lay for ten
hours in mortal agony, while the h'e was
slowly eatirc out her life. Then she was
removed 10 Bellevue, npped opep seWed
up With twine and buried by three young
nen-tVo OF her country.men and an
otber-and these noble fellows each took
their whole weeks wages and paid the
girls debt, that no shadow might rest on
her fair memory.