The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-05
WHY WOMEN SELDOM REFORM.

One of the most saddening stories modern
times comes from Chicago:
Charles Stiles beat and otherwise maltreated
his mistress Theresa Sturla, a child OF six
teen, until she became frantic and killed him.
Her youth, her beauty and her romantic his
tory appealed so strongly to sympathetic
public that strenuous efforts were made to Sc
secure her acquittal, and because of them she
escaped with the most lenient sentence pos
Sible-two years in the state penitentlary. A
proposal was made to petition for her pardon
and the names of the most prominent citizens
of Chicago, the scene of the murder and her
trial, were assured her, bat by the advice OF
| friend she refused to allow any further efforts
in her behalf to be made. This friend was
Mrs. w. b. Black, wealthy lady who had
interested herself in Theresa's cause, who pur-
poses TO adopt Theresa as her daughter when
the girls term of imprisonment shall have ex-
pired, but who, deeply as she mourns the SEN
tence, has "come to regard ii as the only
means by which, in isolation and meditation,
the poor girl may come to know her true
friends and turn to them for the earnest help
they will always be ready to extend to her.
These are Mrs. Blacks own words as re-
ported in the Chicago Daily News. She was
lSu " uSC lilCh ny pClISifihS q Sha''SS Az
Theresa's demeanor, the effect of the influence
of immoral persons who endeavored to per-
suade her TO again enter upon dissolute life.
In an interview with a reporter it was sug-
gested to Mrs. Black that Theresa did not APP
preclate the kindness shown TO her. Mrs.
Black replied: 81 do not find any fault with
her present condition Of mind, regard it as
the result of other influence; and if, at the time
Charlie Stiles was killed, one-fourth OF the
men of this city had been removed think
moral influences might have been potentia lin
her case. Could the public know of the offers
of evil which that girl has received, and of the
visits of men to her in the county Jail who dis
couraged and jeered at every purpose OF re-
form, until she has been so wrought upon at
times that, as she informed me and my hus
band, she saw no good in the face OF any
man, the good people of this city would under
stand the change in her conduct as do.
1t does seem strange that such things should |
be, but speak from what l know. She has |
had influences brought to bear upon her which |
seemed enough to thwart all her purposes of
reform. Certain men of high standing, both |
IN financial and social ways, men who are
considered worthy of the respect OF the pub
lie, who are fathers of families and profess TO
be Christians, have made prefers to this I'M
Orlunate girl 10 SET neF up III separate eStdO-
of ill-fame in this city. But, while
shall never cast a irebra1 in domestic cir
les, to destroy the peace of good and loving
wives, feel tempted to ask these men, pro-
essed gentlemen, in the name of purity and
to desist from their base efforts to
lestroy the hope of fallen ones genuine re-
never before could understand
Why woman cannot as thoroughly reform as
man, but do now. 1t is because an army
# unwoehy men rise IN her way to arrest her
Progress and cast the burdened one baCl;
pon the world from which she has striven to
Use. The mistresses of houses of ill-fame in
his city offered her 1000 for the purpose Of
making an effort to secure a new trial, provl-
led, if success was attained, she would be-
ONE an inmate of their houses. This offer
he girl refused. have been at the jail and
cen the notes sent to her from men offering
er money ard help.