Evening star., 1896-03-30
A Tragedy the Inspiration.


The inspiration of the call for the estab-
lishment of such a home was the enact
ment of a terrible double tragedy in the
Division early in the winter of 1856. A
man, crazed by jealousy, shot his mistress,
and then shot himself. Both died. The
whole city was shocked by the occurrence,
and the members of the W. c. T. U. felt
the great need of some place where they
might work with these unfortunate women
and try to tempt them away from their
sinful lives. The house where the tragedy
occurred was for time deserted, and a
committee went to inspect 1t, to see II it
could not be secured for such purpose. But
it was found that there We're already sew
eral applicants for the property, and an
woman, who had been given the refusal
This failing. the ladies went around the
corner to number 405 14th street, and there
the Hope and Help Mission" was opened,
January 1. 1887. The first year over one
hundred women and girls sought refuge,
rest and hope from their dreadful burdens
In this comfortable home, and many of
them were converted to Christian lives
Since that initial year the mission has had
many abodes. always increasing in size. but
often in searching for houses to rent the
projectors and managers have been refused
when the nature Of their enterprise was
made known. Many hundreds of women
have av-iled themselves of the privilege
offered, and the doors have never been
closed. .-
The Recent Consolidation.
Until recently the home Of the mission has
been at 604 H street. but when it was plan
ned to enlarge the work and to accept the
offer Of Mr.. Crittenton to aid, if the name
of his mission establishments were adopted,
new quarters had to be sought. The house
on Sd street is probably as well adapted to
the work as any in the city, and was OBJ
tanned for a comparatively small rentals75
menthly, of which Mr. Crittenton pays So
The mission has seen many dark DAYS at
times being on the verge of closing for the
lack of funds, and at others being amply
supplied with money and goods with which
to run the house One year Congress ap-
propriated $1,000 and now an ARRANGEMENT
is made with the District Commissioners
whereby the mission receives annually $500
from the contingent fund provided for
were about 81 400, and for this sum an
average Of eighteen persons were supported
This year there will probably be an average
OF thirty women and children under the
roof of the mission, and consequently the
expenses will be greater and the need of
private contributions will be more pressing.
| Rooms are furnished by private enterprise,
and this is a great aid. Mrs. ]. s. Garrison
has already furnished one room on the
| fourth floor Of the Sd street house, in me-
moriam. There is another room that Is fur
nished by the ladies of the First Congrega-
ticnal Church, under the direction of Mrs
s. NJ Newman. 'r - so ~ +'i"
House Well Filled.
There are now about twenty-six women
| in the house, some of them remaining there
| all day, and others working out in some
kind Of service. As far as possible, the wo-
men are encouraged to be self-supportine,
| and to this end all who have employment
are charged a small sum for board and lode-
| iEg, amounting to about one-third Of their
wages. This gives the mission slight rev.
enue, and instills wholesome principle in
| to the minds Of those who take refuge here
Women with babies find this place great
l blessing. They are encouraged to bring
| their little ones with them when they seek
refuge at the mission, for 1t Is feared that If
| these women can rid themselves of the re-
| spOnsibility of their children they will the
| more readily drift back to their old lives
and that the tender ties that bind the
mother to the babe are often sufficient to
| hold the women to upright lives.
So the nursery Is an important feature of
| the mission on Sd street. It is a large
| sunny room, rather bare of furniture Just
| now, and. most pitiful to relate, almost
chair. cripple in the service, which is q
| constant bone of contention among the
| children who are old enough to care for
| such playthings. If the managers Of the
mission, and especially the cheerful young
woman who has been assigned to the care
| of the nursery, conAdIhave the use of q very
/ small fraction Of the thousands of toys
| that are yearly throEMiaway as useless by
L Tie CuluISl VI WSd1tuA6I pATcutS, the lit.
| tie ones at the mission would, indeed, be
| happy.
| Vital PrOblehAs.
But there are more important things at
the mission to consider than toys and play
things. The problems solved there are real
and important. They sometimes involve
| the most desperate circumstances the most
| pitiful tales and experiences. They REQUIRE
| the most delicate handling, the very ,surest
tenderest treatment. The matron now In
l direct charge Of the daily life at. tha, mis-
| sion. Mrs. Elizabeth K. Fleck has had
| about two years OF experience here. and
has proved herself most competent to direct