The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-06-20
DIED TO ESCAPE DISGRACE.

DIED TO ESCAPE DISGRACE.
The Pathetic Story of Bella ArreITs Sui
cidnl Shot-Ruined by Love of Drink
"A Life of Industry and Promise MARRIED
by One Bad Habit.
A sad Temperance lecture was pre-
seuted yesterday in the death of Bella
ARIEL, a young woman who had be-
come addicted to drink and who feared
the exposure it would eventually lead
to. The habit was begun with ply
sician' S prescription. The patient suf-
fered with neuralgia pains in the head
and depressed spirits, caused by close
application to work She found relief,
at least temporary, through the alco-
hOlic stimulant, and continued the use
of it until the habit grew upon her
Several times she resolutely abandoned
the practice, only to return to the fatal
cup again. None of her friends or
members of her family were aware of
her weakness. Her habits were as reg
ular as clock-wOrk. She arose early in
the morning, went to her business
promptly, transacted her duties for the
day, and returned o her lodgings, No
24l East Twcnty-Fourth street, in the
evening. She led a most exemplary life,
with the exception of this one failing.
Bella ARIEL entered the Embarrassing
establishment of John Dougall, No. 348
Sixth avenue, fourteen years ago, as an
errand-girl. She was bright, intelligent
and modest, and worked hard to adj
vance herself. 1t was not long before
she understood the business and was
promoted to the SUPPLEMENTARY of the
place. She reached the store every
morning at eight o clock and remained
until eight in the evening. On Sunday
she passed the day with her mother and
three sisters at Arlington, n j. In the
house where she boarded for over seven
years the family knew little of her his
tory. She was very reticent and kept
most of the time by herself.
Some time ago Miss ARIEL complained
of pains in the head both to the female
clerks in the store and to her landlady,
Mrs. Scott The latter after that noticed
signs of liquor on her ledger. but as Miss
ARIEL had always conducted herself
properly the landlady did not like to of
fend her by mentioning that fact. Fol-
lowing that Miss ARIEL several times
came home in the evening intoxicated.
MRS. Scott made up her mind to reprOve
the young woman for her conduct, but
each morning the ledger carefully
avoided meeting, evidently feeling
ashamed of the occurrences of the pre-
viOus night.
About three months since she ceased
drinking, and Mrs. Scott, who was per-
haps the only one acquainted with tho
young woman's weakness, began to
hope she had abandoned the habit al
together. There was no complaint after
that of sickness. Miss Arrell's health
seemed to improve, and she appeared
to be in much better spirits. But this
reform was of short duration, for she
was brought home on Monday night by
two of the girls in the store in condi-
ton that Mrs. Scott declared to be ode
plorable." The ledger was assisted to
her room, while the girls explained to
Mrs. Scott that Miss ARIEL had been
taken suddenly i'll while at work, and
complained of dreadful pains in the
head, and Mr.. Dougall, who had been
in fremont all day, returned at six
o'clock, and at once insisted on her re-
turning home with them.
Yesterday morning when Miss ARIEL
awoke she sent for Mrs Scott and said
she felt very weak. She asked that a
messenger be sent TO drug store for a
bottle of brandy. Mrs. Scott secured
the necessary stimulant, and the lodger
partook rather generously of the liquor,
after which she went to Mr.. Dougall's
store.
About two hours later she entered a
back room used by the employees as a
cloak-room, and, taking arevolver from
shelf, shot herself in the abdomen.
The report of the pistol alarmed the
other GIRLS, who ran into the room to
find the body of their superintendent
stretched upon the floor. Life had not
left the body. but she died in Il few
minutes after her removal to the New
York Hospital.
No one was more surprised at the
tragic death of the young woman than
the proprietor of the establishment.
The pistol she used belonged to him,
and had been purchased twenty years
ago to protect his place from burglars.
He had been robbed shortly before that
The revolver he placed on the shelf
twenty years ago, and had never
touched the weapon since. He felt
greatly aggrieved over the sad ending
of his assistant, whose services, he said,
were indispensable to him. Y. Her.
aid.
OUT of 200 women taken to the Mas
sachusetrs Reformatory by drink 1913 be-
gan their downward career with beer,
81 with whisky, 20 with wine, 8 with
gin-9l at the homes OF acquaintance