The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-11-14
WHiSKYS WORK.

Sad Experience of a Woman Who, in
Denver's Early Days, Was a Ministering
Angel to the Distressed.
A few days ago there appeared at
Justice Stanchtield's Court woman
whose disgusting appearance at once
riveted the attention of every person
present. The woman was a veritable
old bag, bloated. dirty, blear-eyed and
with voice which set every nerve with
in its sound on edge. Her tangled hair,
gathered up at the top of her head,
looked heap of filth, and the flies flocked
to and swarmed around the mass.
She appeared as the legal protector
to little girl, bright, prematurely-
old child, who had come there to testi-
fly against man whom she claimed
had abused her. Strange to say, al
though the old woman was there as the
child'S guardian, she had been sum-
mOned to testify for the man. side of
the case, but so besotted was her condi-
ton that she did more injury to the de-
Tense than her absence could possibly
have done.
Every instinct of womanhood and all
sympathy for abused childhood seemed
to have been utterly blotted from
the woman's nature, and the only
lively interest which, her befuddled in
tellect seemed capable of grasping that
day was that of animosity toward the
little one. She cursed the child and
accused her of lying, and once, forget
ting that she was in a court of justice,
she raised her clenched fist and swore
that she would strike the child if she
had the power at that moment.
The abandoned woman made such an
impression upon the mind of reporter
who was present that he spoke of her
to one or two people whom he met with
later in the day, one of whom happened
to be man who had lived in Denver
from its very early days, and who in
those days knew almost every indiyid-
ual man, woman and child in the little
settlement.
As soon as the old woman's name
was mentioned the old man frightened
up and remarked:
"Why, that woman used to be one
of the very handsomest and most
wealthy in the town in the early days
Yes, indeed, and she was one of the
best, too. [ tell you there's many
man to-day who owes a good deal to
that old wOman's kindness. Why, she
was an awful good-hearted woman. If
there was anybody around sick or in
trouble, nothing that she had was too
good for him or her. There was a
partner of mine who worked with me
in a livery-stable, and he got taken
down with the mountain fever. He
slept there in the stable, had his blank
cts and that sort of thing, but it wasn't
very comfortable for sick man.
''Tbis old woman heard of it, and
down she came to see him. She found
how he was and had him taken to a
room. She got lot of sheets and pill
low-cascs and those things. Every
morning she came with a clean lot OF
bed-clothes, and nice little delicacies
for him to eat. I tell you such things
as cotton sheets and linen pillow-slips
were almost unknown in those days
But she had plenty. She took good
care of that fellow, and anybody else
who was sick. She was en- awful good
hearted woman. y
"What could have brought her down
70 what she is now?'' asked the old
mans listener
''Whisky," replied the old man. sadly.
- She began to drink some then; she's
kept on, and now she's no earthly use. "
--Denrer Tribune.