The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-19
WOMEN VISIT THE SLUMS.
Seamy Side of Life as the Social Purity
Congress Saw 1t.

Baltimore, Md, Oct. 1S-The workers
in the social purity movement closed
their national congress tonight. A final
conference of the leaders will be held
tomorrow to map out work for the win
ter and arrange for the establishment Of
branches in Crfttenton Mission and Bal
timore and several other cities. This
done the 200 women of the Social Purity
congress will turn their attention to the
national convention of the Woman's
Christian Temperance union, which
opens in Music hall.
The workers for social purity, last
night, acquainted themselves with the
absolute side of Baltimore life. Mrs.
Charlton Edholm of Chicago, accom-
panied by eight of her followers and the
Revs. j. F. Flint, of Illinois, and c. w
Watch of Brighton, Canada, was pilot
ed by three newspaper men and two
policemen through the disorderly houses
in Josephine street.
1t was near midnight. The houses
were ablaze. The sounds of music and
dancing ceased in one of the most hand
somely furnished establishments as the
party entered. A number of girls fed
TO the back part of the house Mrs.
Edholm went after them and persuaded
TOUR OF them TO return to the parlor An
elderly woman came in with lowering
looks and assented ungraciously to Mrs
Edholm's request for permission to talk
a few minutes with the girls. Mrs.
Edholm started Nearer My God. to
Thee" The girls looked down. EXCEPT
one, who burst into hysterical laughter.
a picture of ''Chrits Before PLATE" hung
on the wall, and on the opposite wall
was reproduction Of one of Rosa Bon
hours horse pictures.
After the song Mrs. Edholm kneeled
by the girl who had been laughing and
prayed earnestly. Still on her knees
before the defiant and dissolute hut
beautiful girl, Mrs. Edholm besought
her to leave the place. The girl rose.
looked at the social purity workers in
defiance. then burst into tears and Sob
bed out:
Il know you mean well in coming
here, but l don't know how much good
1t will do. Instead of coming here YOU
had better go around to some Of these
factories and shops that grind a girl
down to y week and get them to pay
better wages. It's no use, a girl can't
live on what she gets. You had better
put in your efforts there
Another woman said: You peoDle
talk very nice TO us girls, when you
come here, but You know you wouldn't
any or you take us into your homes 10
associate with your families"
The same affecting scene was enacted
in a dozen of more houses The girls
and the proprietress. with one or two
exceptions, Were courteous. Not word
was uttered 70 offend the womanhood
or the visitors. Men guests Of the house
knelt by the missionaries. In one place
a young man bit nervously AZ his glove.
%. boys" prayed one % the mission
aries, do your mothers know where YOU
are tonisht?''
The youth, with bowed head. went ont
of the room. As he left A woman shout
IL years old entered. She was a living
counterpart OF Du Maurier's heroine.
with bit more OF dissipa ton and sor-
row in her face. She was tall. straight
and beautiful She walked slowly into
the room. her eyes 20 the floor. Mrs
Edholm went to meet her. shook hands
with her and said: God bless you. dear
Mrs Edholm urged her 10 leave the
life she was living.
i would like to-" she said. CRYING.
but l cannot. I have two children 10
support and pay for their schooling.
one is IL years old and the other is Is.
They are not in this city"
DO leave this life" earnestly plead
ed Mrs. EdhoIm. You wouldn't want
Your children 70 know where You are
and what you are DOING"
%. my God. no" said the woman
Ny children are pure and sweet. I
would not have them know about me
Tor IIlS world / want 70 leave this life
but l cant You don't know how il is
Tell me what is keeping You here -
said Mrs. Edh0lrn. Maybe | can helm
you. Are you in debt9 We viii help You
take care az the children and VIII get
YOU something 10 DO 70 earn a living
Can't you tell me dear what is holding
you back"
No. ma am. l can't tell YOU" said
the woman, and no persuasion by Mrs
h.dholm could induce her 10 divulge her
secret.
Wien the party felt the woman pu;
her arms around Mrs. Edhoim and kiss
Cd her on the cheek
IL vas l o'clock this morning when the
party left the street after Distributing
circulars OF the Rescue Home and pray
ing n every house. The ladies were
impressed by the statements Of the
girls Soout starvation wages and Mrs
Edholm remarked: This is the un1or-
tunsie condition OF ali large cities
MAX and vile were formerly one. TIE
Gibson Globe.