The San Francisco call., 1896-11-06
LIZZIE JOHNSON'S
SAD LIFE STORY
She Seeks Refuge From
Trouble in an Insane
Asylum.
Was There Before and Saw Her
Only Happy Days While
Imprisoned.
SOUGHT WORK BUT FAILED.
While in a Frenzy of Desper alton
The Stabbed Woman Who
Jostled Her.
SOUGHT WORK BUT FAILED.

The advice of the wag who suggested
that people tell their troubles to police
man is taken oftener than most people
suppose.
Lizzie Johnson is the latest San Fran
ciscan to profit by it. Ever since she can
remem Der hard knocks have been LiZZie's
portion. Disappointment seems to have
selected her for companion and ill for
tune 10 have claimed ner as its own. De-
serted by those who should have cared for
her, insulted by those who should have
shielded her, rebuffed when she sought
ho est employment, she has grown tired
of trying, and heartsick seeks refuge at
the hands of the State. 'Sweet liberty"
is to her an unmeaning phrase. The
future holds IN store no alluring prospect,
and the fondest hope of Lizzie Johnson is
that she may be allowed 10 emo her days
sheltered by the walls of an insane asylum
and free from the necessity of wrestling
livi ng from grudging world.
Mrs. Jonnson is not insane, she says,
although she was once the inmate of an
asylum. The recollection Of the days she
spent there is the one bright spot in her
mories of recent happenings. That she
did not act upon the advice of the super
intendent, whoswarned her that she would
tremely sorry.
''He told me that people would not give
me work and that | would find life
mighty hard in San Francisco when l got
back" said she yesterday. He knew
what he was talking about, too. l am
at my trade, l am first-class waist
inisher, and could earn a good living
could only get the opportunity.
ITS mighty hard, though. II I've
asked one person for work I've asked 200.
but they all say there's nothing for me.
And some of them laugh when they say
there's dozen women day around look
ing for work and that most of them are
first-clas hands.
"Tm kind of an actress, too. In my
younger days, when l was not SO heavy
as l am now, I played at several of the
theaters here. | was never any leading
lady but / could earn enough te keep me
from going hungry. guess l could fill
up in the extras now, If they would give
me chance. But they won't. I'm not
stage-struck and l don't think I'm a sec
ond Fanny Davenport; all 1 want is to
earn an honest living. But then, there's
plenty of slender, young and pretty girls
who are looking for that sort OF work, ana
none OF the managers can find any room
for me.
"a couple of years ago was walking in
Golden Gate Park one afternoon. My
clothes were not fashionable, and maybe
looked out OF place among all the pretty
women and children out there, but I
wasn't bothering any body. 1 thought
that even person as poor as l was en-
titled to a breath of fresh air and u glance
at Gods green country, but as / passed a
bench on which two women sat Watching
their children at play, one Of them made
remark that stirred ME all up. l wasn't
feeling particularly good-tempered any,
| how. l had been seeking work that morn
| ing and had heard the same old no. time
and time again.
81 turned on that woman and, though
| she said she didn't mean the remark to
| apply TO me, l couldn't believe it. Iwent
away, however, but few steps farther
/ brushed into another woman Before I
knew what had happened L had pulled a
pair of scissors from my pocket and
| sta bbed her. They arrested me and the
Judge said 1t was insane act. [ never
saw the woman before, and they said I
had no reason to attack her and so musr
be crazy, and they sent me to the asylum.
Il want to go back. 1 made big mis-
take when left. The superintendent said
that was cured and that l could 90 if I
wanted to, but that had better stay. It's
the best place for me. They don't seem
to have any use for me in San Francisco.
and I'm so sick of trying that I'm afraid
that IL keep on might get another one
OF those spells and hurt somebody else."
Mrs. Johnson will be examined by the
Insanity Commissioners to-day.