The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-11
BEfRIENDs THE WOMEN PRISONERS
Mrs. Foster and Her Work IN the City Fo-
lice (ourts.

Mrs. Foster and Her Work In the City Fo-
| lice Courts.
There Is q woman in this town who makes Il
the business Of her life to haunt the police
courts and prisons in search Of unfortunate
women whom she may befriend. She has been
doing this for years. and yet has escaped no.
toriety. The first object OF her life Is to help
women in misfortune. Her second object
seems to be to avoid publicity.
Go into any prison or any police court you
choose in this city. however. and ask any Of
| fetal what he thinks OF Mrs.. Foster and he
will reply earnestly In words Of almost ex-
travngant praise. 1t is reallyvery surprising
how powerfully she has impressed them all
with q sense OF her goodness. Jailers who
look upon the most pitiful scenes daily with
supreme indifference. and from much practice
talk habitually in hard authoritative tones,
soften their voices perceptibly whom speak
ing Of her.
She is the widow OF Gen. John A. Foster.
war veteran. Judge Advocate General in the
South after the war. lawyer. Republican
leader. and once United States District At
torney In this city. He died few years ago.
His widow lives at AL Park avenue. She
adopted her present work after her husbands
death. She is connected with the Protestant
Episcopal City Missions. md gives her whole
time and most of her income to her missionary
specially Of helping arrested women. Mrs.
Foster Is about 40 years old. q tall. slender.
Rentle-spoken woman. as brave as she is gem
tie. and with capabilities OF great resolution on
occasion. She is one OF the women whom
other women inyoluntarily trust and contlde In.
Mrs; Fosters head1uartera are tho Tombs
the unfortunatss women who. get entangled
ss FONTS pr hs 5 l. Ss4 Ssss
Of operations. But sometimes she Visits the
fortunates; Even the jaiiers in the prisons at
for Mrs. Foster sonnet ines when they , have IN.
thin nEeEf ha men ; N IN their cure whom they
,ort tS.Pg sSisstly Smazipg what power to com:
sssrstS19s I'VE, ana "a. tSs %stroa GsaId saa
lu SIT down outside the bars. and In five
crying IT to shake tRer heads but oast
and subdued-like: you know.
xbat Se shs dCn say nm much either That
to her once. She's that gentle and sweet. and
vet tstro %ssn you know that-well. you know
Mrs. Foster has great influence with the
women prisoners .beiore they are Summoned
before the bar. and she has made up her mind
what should be done In the case Of each one.
II she snys nothing when the woman Is ar
ratgned the Justice knows without asking that
Mrs. Foster thinks that this woman would not
be improved by being freed.
II she steps forward and asks the Justice to
RELEASE the woman or to commit her to such
or such nm asylum or retreat, her request is
pretty sure to be granted. for her opinion Is
respected. Her object is to soften every evil
minded woman's heart, and to have her SO dis
posed OF that the influences around her will be
for the best. There Is no woman 80 depraved
that Mrs Foster. will not attempt to save her.
What she regards as her special mission, how
ever Is the influencing OF women who are in
volved with the law for the first time. and
who therefore stand in q very critical position.
A first arrest: Mrs Foster believes is often
the turning point Of q woman's career. She |
may not have been bad before. only foolish. |
careless reckless. or unfortunate. but now she |
may 90 down: But taken in time here in her |
may be switched upon the right track for good |
that she is moro than satisfied that she has
found her mission in life.
One OF the rare instances OF Mrs, Fosters
good deeds which have reached print was her |
influence over Viola Graylock. as tho girl |
called herself. She tried to commit suicide in |
the Grand Central Station It will be- remem- |
bered. and was placed under arrest. The po- |
lice could do. nothing with the girl. and she |
probably would have been sent to prison or |
z reformatory had not Mrs. Foster begged her |
from the hands OF justice and taken her to a |
quiet retreat where the girl listened to SYM |
pathy and reason.