Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-11-17


brewery, now happily wiped away for
ever, there came together curious
company Tuesday night to bid farewell
to woman who had q strange and
eventful history.
There have been strange funerals in
this city, but none more so than the
one Of Della Laughlin, formerly known
as Blue Bird" who was led, by the
gift of a pink rose, out Of a life of shame
in the dive Of Italian Joe,' in Mulber-
ly Bend. and became devoted mis-
sionary Of God until death cut short her
career.
There had been Il service in the
morning at the Door Of Hope Rescue
Mission, but those who went to it were
for the most part respectable in mien
and decent in appearance. But it had
been Delia's dying wish that her body
might he taken down among her old
associates OF the slums. in the hope that
some crushed heart might find new
hope from looking at it.
And the evening service was arrang-
ed and invitation tickets were sent out
to blear eyed men and women in the
Bend. The lowest denizens of the city
and some of these night birds came out
for Delia's sake and paid their little
tribute to the woman who had done So
much in their behalf.
There were some present whose
clear faces showed that her labors had
not been in vain and an earnest little
band of Christian workers, headed by
Mrs T. NJ. Whittemore, sought to turn
others from the hard road of the trans
gressor, telling arew the joyful story of
Della and using the peaceful face in the
white coffin as an object lesson.
1t was hard to believe that the pure
white face, the pinched form in the
white dress. framed in q white coffin,
which was fairly covered with pale
roses. had ever belonged to the leading
spirit OF italian Joe's But many
who were there knew whatit had been
year and and Il half ago, and testified
to the wondcrous change.
4 little vase with TWO pink roses
was brought in by a pale young man,
who had been Delia's companion in the
dive, and was placed upon tho coffin.
He asked for prayers when Mrs. Whit
tcmore called for a showing of hands.
and seemed TO be one of the sincerest
mourners.
Many songs were sung and Mr.. Whit
temore read Delia's favorite Psalm,
the XXNII., and drew applications as
he read. lie called on her old ac-
quaintances to bear witness to the
change which religion had wrought in
her.
a Mr. Taylor related how he had
been converted in mission after be-
ING thirty years dIunkard and had
not had single desire for liquor since.
Then Mrs Whittemore made tear
ful and impassioned appeal to all pres
cnt to abandon evil ways.
If Della were standing here she
would plead with you," she said. Il
praise God that that precious child came
into my life She often said, %, if l
could only tell mother Just before
She died she put her arms around my
nec,; and said, Dear, am going to be
Your guardian angel when an dead
and will never leave YOU"
Many who heard her words were
moved TO tears by Mrs. Whittemore's
eloquence, and when she asked those
who wanted to be prayed for to raise
their hands large number answered
the invitation.
There was 4 final service yesterday
morning for the benefit Of Delia's Cath
olic friends and then the body was
buried in the Door Of Hope plot.-N.
Y. Herald.