The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-01
POOR MARY STEWART.
There Were No Tears Shed at Her
Little Funeral.
ONE BUNCH OF FLOWERS
She Was Given a Christian Burial
and Rev. o. G. Clark Spoke
Kind Words-No Rela-
tives There.

Nfissoula, Nov. 30.-One OF the saddest
events which has ever transpired in
Missoula was the simple funeral of
Mary Stewart this afternoon. In the
little assembly which listened to the
words of the preacher were none of
the friends of her early life. All were
strangers save the preacher, whose
kindly interest had found for poor Mary
Stewart a Christian home with the
good woman who braved public optn-
ION that she might do some good to
| this singularly unfortunate girl. This
woman and the preacher were the only
ones who had been even acquaintance
of the dead girl. in the little group
| which gathered in the dimly-lighted
rooms ait Lucy's undertaking establish
ment.
The remains had been laid in a hand
some rosewood coffin and some friendly
| hand had laid upon the top little
| bunch of flowers. That was the only
emblem of interest or affection that
was visible Rev. o. G. Clark conduct
ed the services, which begun by read
ing selections from the scriptures. He
then spoke briefly as follows:
II am not here this afternoon to
| speak harsh words concerning the life
OF the unfortunate girl whose body lies
| before us. Nor are we here to shed
/
| of those who were dear TO the unfortu-
| nate young girl by ties of blood or
| affection are here to-day. But there
are two things which think we should
do. We should speak words of charity
| of her who lies here dead, and we
should draw a lesson from her life.
| Her whole life was unfortunate. She
| had an evil inheritance. There was
bad blood in her veins and evil heredi-
tary tendencies. More than this. hers
was a life beset by peculiar tempta~
| ttons. / doubt If girl whose heritage
had been pure and whose character
was strong could have passed through
| the severe trials TO which this poor,
weak girl was subjected. But she was
| not without good tna1ts. / know that
when, some weeks ago, was asked IL
| find a home for her where she would
be surrounded by good influences. hes
itated. But 1 found her a home with
| the noble woman at whose house she
died, and that woman was true to her
trust as ever woman was. And know
thai. the poor girl appreciated the kind
ness and that her better nature re-
sponded to the new influences around
her.
II believe that, had II not been fol-
the vulture who preyed upon her life
that this sad occasion might have been
averted. The trials and temptations
which tbeset this poor, weak girl were
more than we know of. They were toe
much for her to bear and now she lies
here, dead by her own hand when she
might have been a good woman.
There is this lesson no draw from
this life: The result of sin Is ruin and
disaster The wage of sin is death.
l would that could ef1ace those words
from the great law of nature, but h
cannot be. Disaster and ruin follow
sin. 1t Is an individual law. Look In
our almshouses and our prisons and
you see the full significance of these
words. But the most serious result oi
sin is upon the human heart. 1t de-
bases IL and drags 1t down and unfit:
man for the enjoyment of the life here
after. The sinful heart knows nC
peace.
Now we draw the curtain upon thi,
sad life. Not alone upon herself viii
rest the responsibility of her sin, bu
rather upon those who preyed upon hel
virtue, who ruined the young life. They
are responsible for the sad end of thi!
unfortunate one"
The services were closed with a shor
| prayer and the remains of Mary Stew
| art were borne to their hast resting
place with no one TO shed a tear for he
or to breathe "a sigh for the young life
so suddenly blotted out.