Telegram-herald., 1891-12-09
LIFTING UP THE FALLEN
IN TIE CHARITABLE EMERSON HOsE
usw the Dsiieats Wsrk Of Rsciaiuisg
the lsss is rrssss Hssa--A story Of
Ruis aud Wa,ward sisfsissss
--hsstarea 10 Home.

-
Grand Raplds. About that time de-
termined little woman OF the city de-
cided that the duty that lay nearest her
Was b. undertake the reformation OF
George Young, 30 she went TO the
house, tod Miss Young her object, and
MAS orde. cd oat. Again she went,
again she was ordered out. Time after
time this happened, but at last the
heart OF the W, m,n WAS touched. and
new life was tegun. All Grand Rap
ids scoffed at the idea of the reforma-
ton of George Young, hut when. three
years ago last June, she turned her
house into rescue home for fallen
women, people began 10 believe . little
IN her sincerity. After Gong great
deal of good among tho scarlet sister
hood here, she went 10 another city
and established such home there, and
has spent all of her time since In the
work. At present she is in West
Superior, Just across the river from
Duluth. The amount of good she has
done can never be told. When first
opened, the character Of the home
was misunderstood, and the matron
suffered great deal of annoyance from
men who insisted on coming there.
But as the home has become we'll
known, tins annoyance has been less
frequent In It's hrst DAYS, the ladies
interested in the home found 1t neces-
sary 10 60 To disreputable places TO tell
the girls there that place OF reforma-
ton Was opened to them, but now. so
we'll known has the institution become,
that the girls seek it for themselves.
The home Is large and the rooms airy
and cheerful.
Everything In Good Order.
A visit Yesterday showed everything
in the very best of order. The furnl-
ture is comfortable, and there Is an APP
pearance Of home about every room.
"We are well provided for at present.
said the nation. This is the good
time OF the year for us. The thing
that we need the very most is coal. We
have plenty of wood, but little COAL"
The present officers Of the home are
Mrs. King. president; Mrs. Margaret
Andrews. vce-presiden:; Mrs. Cassius
| Sweet, secretary; Mrs. G. NJ. Loomis,
| treasurer: and board of managers.
The rules are very simple. Inmates
must rise at Z, ard retire at 9. Break
| fast Is at 1850, dinner at IL, and supper
is at 8. Immediately after breakfast
"famIIy prayers arc held. 1t which
all are expected to be present. All beds
must be made vi 8 o'clock. No one Is
| allowed to leave the house without per-
misslon of the matron, and all who go
out must be back ut the home before Z
o'clock. But the Giris are~not allowed
| to go every day-about twice = week is
the average. At other times the nation
takes tie girls out with her.
The Past Is Buried.
"What do you do with the girls, and
what do you say to them when they
| first come to you" was asked the
matron. II don't say anything at all
| to them FOR the first two or three days.
| i just give them n ON, and let them
| get = little bit accustomed TO us and our
ways OF living before say anything TO
them. IL is really quite remarkable
how quickly and easily they take up
our lite. After two or three days resi-
dence here, | ask them about what
they wish to do--talk TO them about
their plans for the future. 1t Is an un-
written law here that girls shall not
talk of their past life to each other.
| indeed, most of them show a decided
aversion To talking about it tn anyone.
Sometimes after they have been here
for long time, they come 10 me and
talk 10 me about their past, but don't
| encourage IT. Our rules are to take
| them as they are now-let the past be-
begin a new life from the time they
enter. When they have been here two
| or three months and show q
desire to reform, the ladies
have them learn any trade they may
show any aptitude for. Some of them
are procured positions in the stores of
the city, and in this aud various other
branches Of employment they manage
to earn an honorable living. and never
60 back to the old life of sin. Some OF
them are here long time without
showing any disposition TO reform. aud
some OF them leave us deliberately to
go back to 1T. But girls who have been
here once. and who have gone back TO
the life, almost always come back TO US
again. This time they may stay long
time and even then go back. But hav-
ing once been here helps them forever.
| They learn here tnst there Is another
| life possible and in the midst OF their
bad lite . recollection of the possibility
| of purer lite comes to them, and
sooner or later they come To us again.
| For such there lie always hope of q mob
ler wofnanhood, and II IL with these
creatures that the Emerson does its
| best work"
But two Inmates al Present
There are only two inmates in the
Emerson at present, one . young
! woman - years old. who went there of
her own accord, and one a girl OF 10
| years. who Was taken there by the city
! physician. During the past year there
have been between thirty aud forty
there IN all. The matron says that iy
the bad women of the town. the home
"a recognized as the last resort ior those
who are diseased, and as = consequence
many who are IN that condition 20
there for shelter, food. and home.
Then large number of the inmates
are giTis wno come To the city strangers,
AMI are dscoyed by some william INTO
house OF ill-repute, from whlen they
are rescued by the police, taken to tie
Emerson and kept there until their par
! ents are notified, and either send for
them to come home, or desire sonse other
disposition 30 be made Of them. Most
| of The applicants for admission are giris
from Ia years old up To %, and IN some
cases so years old.
Once an the home they are required
| to do Al the bousework undeF the
supervisor of the natroa. Every
| afternoon they Are taught 10 se~, II
| taev lave not already learned. Ladies
| shs are interested ia the home send
| slatnes there 20 be naee over for the
| q,rls who undertake the work for
4 :. --.fJ. varrnnS AexrAe1 ~