Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1890-06-14

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arraigned before the justice next morning, she said
that she had been driven out of her room for non
payment of rent, and after pawning her dress had
"got drunk to drown her Sorrow and not being
able to control herself, had returned to her former
home and abused her landlord, when he had her
arrested. She was sentenced to one month on the
Island" and after that she had become a Greg
ular."
''Such creatures do not last long, commented
the captain. "The exposure brings on consump-
tion and if they don't die on the streets, they
sooner or later go to the Island for the last time
and new ones are constantly taking the place of
the old''
But think of what these miserable bits of hui
mainly must endure on the streets of New York,
when lodging-room in police-station is looked
upon as piece of good fortune! Cherries indeed
must be their existence, when the blank walls bare
floor, and hard bench is all that they know of
home.
No wonder the hearts of the captains and men
melt so often at such misery; and that they club
together for the hot-coffee breakfast on
q stormy morning, for the desolate wanderers who
have to roam the snowy or slush-fed streets until
night again brings them the blessing of shelter.
Some women break down under the strain and
beg to be sent to the "Island." Others, still
hoping against hope, 60 on with the horrible life,
and have terror of prison or poor-house equal to
that felt by the happy mothers of homes.
The second class will resort to lies and tricks of
all descriptions to avoid being arrested and only
when disease lays its merciful hand upon them and
they are carried to the hospital do they give up
the useless struggle for existence.
But even with these sregulars," the women
known to the police, there is some aim in life,
there is for them something to look forward to in
being able to mix with their own set during the
long hours that intervene between night and morn
ing. They are interested in whether this one or
that went into the poorhouse or whether the other
one was ''sent up;' and they discuss the relative
merits of the different police-station lodging
rooms and the chances of hot breakfasts.
They know all the captains and sergeants by
name; and whether such and such an officer on
such beat will let them sleep in an alley or cart.
There are cellars they can tell of; and worse of
ALL cases Of sickness in hidden places, where the
'poor creature is that feared O. bein' sent to tn
hospital, that We wud give her yer last bte.'
iii They are comfortable in comparison with the
thousands who never go near the police, because
they have accommodated themselves to their cir
cumstance and make the most of it,
Passing through narrow street near Canal, one
afternoon, saw policeman stop in front of q
house, evidently at the call of the owner of the
building.
Making sudden plunge behind the stoop, the
officer reappeared holding ragged, draggled old
woman by the shoulder
''Now, what are you dom here? Why don't
you keep movln'? Go on, now, or I'll lock you
up sure!" cried the sturdy officer.
20 officer, dear, DON'T" said the old creature,
pleadingly and tremblngly.
"For Gods sake let me sit still minute Shure
I'm dom no harrum to nobody. Shure it's been
'movin' on I've been every blissid minute of this
day''-she began to whine land not bite in my
head"
"Why don't you 90 up, them" asked the,officer