Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-12-31
SISTER ZlLLAH."
A GLIMPSE OF LIFE IN A HIDEOUS
LONDON SLUM

An Angel in the Midst Of an AssmbiaEs
of Evil Ones-I.ife Work of sister ZiI-
Iah" - Her strange Influence - Refuge
for the Homeless.
You pass through a hideous London slum,
the oil lamps flare and flicker in the wind. the
hoarse ha wkerS shrek, the ragged children
cry shrilly. and from the public houses come
the confused babhle of laughter and Cursing
and the rank watts of acrid smoke. Blowzy
women, dTagglei women, brazen women,
drunken women pass YOU; ugly male night
birds scowl at you with savage eyes; foul
r'outbed Young girls-mere children, alas
salUts sou with impndent confidence and the
night Is full of rank odors and hleared lights.
You enter narrow alley. watching carefully
the maneuvers of the skulking creatures who
slouch around with bumped shoulders and
evil gaSe.
STRANGE .ssEaBLAGE.
A door opens and you are in the midst Of a
strange as~emllage 4 bevy Of women
gather around some long tables and watch
you with duh curiosity Here is one who is
pinched with munger; her thin fingers are
knotty al the JOINTS, her hair is wnefully
scanty and she looks beaten, bloriless, sor-
rowful Here is bold creature who meets
your look with hard, brutal stare; she has
heard the chimes of midnight. Here is a
specimen of the ordinary dirty, garrulous
trollop So freely produced in the wilderness
nt London Here is mere female animal. a
creature without soul. who sits callously
glowering at vacancy. A coarse laugh
sounds out haIShly and then quiet voice
with the tone Of mellow bell, scars along
the low room and instantly the disorder is
s,iIIed
You move TO the bead OF the room and you
are greeted by white haired woman dressed
in black Her eye is like steel her lips are
composed, her forehead is very placid and her
manners are the manners Of a great lady
She is fiji to move in any assembly in the
world and her dignity would draw the eyes
nf mon and women wherever she went
Beautiful she has been, and the exquisite re-
mains Of her fairness remind you of some
splendid buildings grown gray with stress Of
years When she speaks, you hear that in
definable accent which is attained only by
those who live among ultra refined people
from their earliest years. lady this Of the
highest breeding. You feel as if you were in
the presence Of a queen, vet she puts YOU at
ease instantly and falls into conversation with
polished grace. Witty she is in subtle way
and her wit is 10 strangely blended with
psthos as b. present a unique product of in
tellectual chemistry
ONE wONAS's .iFEwORK
She knows the world, and can fash out an
occasional speech worthy of the salon rather
than Of this dingy shed; but the ruling
aspect Of her face and the essential tones Of
her voice are thoSe Of one to whom the affairs
Of the world are of small moment She
masters the evil Rssemhlsge in front OF her
and the boldest slut that ever disgraced her
Sex is reyerential toward the grave, kind
lady. whose will dominates all As YOU talk
she tells YOU OF her work. This refuge is
open every night for the homeless. and her
duty is 10 help those who are poor, to heal
those who are sick, 10 raise with loving mer
ciful words and deeds those who are fallen.
None are too base for this lovely, all EN-
bracing charity. RonanceS in plenty she can
tell and she does so with soft, matter Of
fact sweetness Every form Of human
wretchedneSS is known 20 her. and her ewes
are fixed day by day on sights of woe. Does
she ever leave that fearful quarter, Never!
lhlnk OF Ibat, ~ ul>fohtentcu, puiing fplKi
This lady. who was once beautiful, rich,
courted, has given up all for the sake of
working beneficently in the weary world.
and she passes her days in an appalling Lon
don slum Lords and ladies of her own class
zee her. but they remain only for a little
time: she STAYS at her .ost with still con.
.tancy, and bears the squalor, the ennui, the
losthsome sights and sounds, the recital Of
wringing records of misery. She is content
even TO forego her name, and her very ider-
tity has perished from the brilliant world
that once knew her. Il am Sister Zillah. -
she says. with her courtiy smile, and that is
all Here is one who is an honor to London,
to England to the human race, toiling OBJ
scurely in a place where even men of the
better class hardly dare ventuie-London
Family Herald.