Telegram-herald., 1891-02-15
THE FALLEN WOMEN
Tso Brave CHRISrIls wOsEs
aat fbsis usFs Aaassg rsltsa sisters
thsy F~@Tis.sty saksT Slss n2aats or
sta saa Wee ~ .ass ma
NsaA aa4 ErEiaSs

There i a class OF people whose names
and deeds are rarely mentioned by
those VINO are eOga lzant OF their exist-
eHce. they 1--we ia blocks. in we'll
knoWa houses AID eyea reside ia IS
olated lll-rep0ts IA quiet and respect
able nelgbborhOods. They are met on
tae streets. jOstled in the stores. or
stared Al as they ride by IA the patrol
wagon. Like the poor they are with
Is always. To the uniniliated few
have the appearance Of respectablllty
but many more OF them bear the IN
sgnIa OF their loathsome calling where
every eye can see and understand.
Maay Of them are young and few are
tar 60 .0ok upon for time bat the
blight OF SIN soon falls upon the fresh
est, iairesL face and il becomes only
hoFsid sign Of the souls corruption.
These people are women. They are
fallen women. Their male compan-
ions are seldom recognized, many of
them being clothed with a protective
resPectaollity which will not permit AZ
lnquisitlye hand 10 disarrange. lt Is
said bv those who claim TO know that
the male sinners OF that Tx Tar out
number the female sinners. That may
or may not bc true. one thing. how
ever. = certain. While there are oc-
eas.Onal institutions which have for
their stated object the reclslming OF
women who have gone astray. no such
reformatory for the fallen male has, as
vet, been established. Perhaps IL IS be-
cause one could not be- built OF sutfic-
cent capacity TO accommodate those
who would occupy II, and perhaps 10 IS
because no one has ever yet considered
toe object worthy the effort.
There are n this city two institutions
whose sole object 1t IS to rescue fallen
women and restore them TO life of
usefulness and decency. One IS the
Emerson home of which much has been
written and winch IS working with
gratifying success. The other IS the
Rescue Home of which little has been
written though It's success IS equally As
pronounced.
The Rescue Home is situated at the
corner OF Pine and Second-sts., West
SIDE. IL was established a few wears ago
by the salvation Army and is under
the auspices of that earnest band of
workers. 1t IS IN charge OF Capt. Lottie
Collier, matTon, and Lieut.. frankie
Hall. assistant. The house IS 4 modest
twO-story dwelling, containing eight
rooms, and - furnished plainly hat
comfortably. When tho TELEGRAM
HERALD visited the place recently there
were tive inmates. Three who had ap-
pied for shelter were unable to obtain
u Just At present for lack OF room.
Many of the cases are peculiar aad
have 10 be isolated while under medi-
cal treatment. An atmosphere which
would DC detrimental to health IS made
harmless by thorough fumigation, and
every room Is kept IN good sanitary
condition.
Since February, 1890, sixteen girls
have been sent out thoroughly re-
formed. They are not allowed to 90
until the matrOn and assistant consider
them spiritually and bodily lit to do
their duty by their employers.
The girls are secured from all parts
OF the state, and are kept until their
rescue - accomplished. They are so
deceptive and so gwen up TO a life of
sin, that 10 takes months to ascertain
their true mental and moral condition.
One gir was thoroughly reformed at
the end of seven months, but 1t took
eleven months of careful and praverful
teaching TO show another girl the right
path.
No girl can enter the home unless she
desires TO reform and u willing 10 make
the effort. When girl first comes and
realizing sense of her condition IS
shown TO her, she spends days and DAYS
in remorseful tears. Then she begins
% pray wildly for other girls in ner
own condition. "A soon as the leaven
OF reform begins to work, she dries her
tears and IS happy and cheerful. She
goes about her duties, for they all
work. apparently light hearted. but It
= usually long time before she tells
her true story.
Capt. Collier says that generally thew
do not believe what the glrs say dur
ing the first ak months OF their stay III
tho home. during that time girl
viii often tell dozen different stores
OF her family and past life, bat finally
she succumbs 20 care and kindness aud
relates only what 5 true. Their conf
deuce j. never violated and their secrets
are safe with thcir faithful friends
No children are ever born in the
home. should poor fallen creature
60 there for shelter during the time of
her lonely and hated motherhood. she
would bc cared for only until she could
be sent 70 hospital or some equally
suitable place.
Evsrv one at the home rises at ESQ
o'clock IN the morning. and at 9:'m D.
m. the Ights are out. ali are IN bed and
silence reigns. All are furnished with
suitable employment during the day.
and are xiven instruction IN the com
mon branches of learning twice a week
IN the evening. the best educated one
Of the lot hei0g the instructor at the
evening school.
They are taught housework. and are
taught to sew. Most of them come t0
the home perfectly destitute "a %
clothes. one having come with bare
feet They are taught 10 make their
own clothes fron1 materials ard second
hand garments donated the home by
berevcient friends
When The rEsRkw-HERAEn visited
the ulace the ave girls were sitting
around a table industrioBsiy st work
mskiar patchwork for a quit. Most
of them we're extremely srd nary N sp-
r,earsnce. but one. a blacs-eTet. black
haired Young woman, was a picture of
s..-...,,,.,s Essf1fv Thav seemed -k,-,.