The morning call., 1894-03-25

the walls and dirt and filth covering the
floor. When Hester enters all the dilapi-
dated furniture can be seen piled up in
Discriminatory in one corner, and her first
work is to take it down and arrange it
around the room. From underneath her
household goods an old, peculiar-looking
trunk becomes visible, and Hester takes a
key from her pocket and unlocks 1t. Rais-
ing the lid pile OF bright-eolorrd fnery
becomes visible. A second glance and it
turns into dolls. Dolls of all kinds; big
and little, pretty and ugly, but all dressed
in the finest silk and satin.
Hester will not speak, nor even notice a
visitor. and words spoken TO her are
wasted on the air until she gets her dolls
arranged. That seems TO be task OF
pleasure. for smile comes over her face
as she takes each from the trunk, and
kissing il passionately puts il In he place
she wishes. This NAV be on the floor and
it may be on the table directly in front Of
Ler, but it must be where she can see it.
When all are arranged in a sort of half
circle Hester puts the rickety chair in the
center ana commences TO talk 10 her pets.
She will sometimes take one in her lap
and caress it, as if it were child. The
dolls seem to answer her and she speaks
as If she were carrying on a conversation,
and her voice softens considerably.
When she has talked TO all the dolls the
visitor will know the history of each. She
will speak To it about all the affairs of its
life as 1t exists in her mind and will also
become little communicative. She is not
cross, as she is on the streets and does not
mind telling that the dolls are her chill
dren and that she bought them with the
money she begged. She will hold up her
last purchase and tell how much it cost
and describe its peculiar characteristics.
Her only aim in life is to get money to buy
dolls, and when she has them she cares for
them as If they were children. She says
if anything should happen to one of them
she would die of grief.
That Is the way Hester passes her days
now, and what a contrast to the brilliant
life she once led. If the weather is not too
money. Then she boards it like a miser.
scarcely spending any for food until she
has enough to buy another doll. to bring
JOY To her life, as she says.
And sothe days 90. each almost like the
preceding one.
Whether Hester distinctly remembers
her past life is something of a question.
but it is known to several people IN San
Francisco. A gentleman who was in busi-
ness with her husband after they came to
this country heard it all, and says he
knows that it Is all true.
Hester was born in 1910 in Limerick.
Ireland. When about 1S years old an
young child. She was naturally bright.
and as the years went on she became a
governess in a wealthy English family.
While occupying this position the family
went to Paris, and 1t was there she met a
Freuchman named Duval, who became in
fatuated with her and offered her his hand
in marriage.
That was in 1S40 and as NJ. Duyal was
possessed Of great wealth his wife at once
secured a fine social position. Nine. Du-
vaPs salon was one of the best known in
Paris. and her husband managed to keep
So n1.,rve eNN.., -
Government so that they were looked
upon as society leaders.
For thirty years Hester passed the most
brilliant life. bnt change was bound In
come, and it did come with the rommune
NJ. Duval felt that he would be safer ont
OF France and came to San Francisco with
his wife early in the seventies.
de went into business here. but soon
failed and began to lose heart. One dav
be was found dead in his bed with a bullet
hole through his head, and Hester was
alone and moneyless without a relative
Friends cared for her for awhile. but st
last her mind commenced to fail and She
did such queer things they allowed her TO
90 her own way.
She has been going 1t ever since. now
almost twenty years, and the wonder is
now sne lives. Nearly all who knew her
husband have died and those who have not
Know tie useiessness of trying to do any
thing with her. She is not crazy enough
to be lncarcerated IN an asylum, so she is
let alone by every body and is apparently
perfectly willing to end her days with her
dnlls