The morning times., 1896-05-26
FOR THE MONU MENTTOELSIE
Eloquent Address Made by WON n
a at a Mass Meeting.
Funds Have Been Raised and the
Stone VIII Mark the Grave of
the Little Heroine

The meeting which was held last night
at MetZerott Hall under the auspices OF
the District w c. T. q. for the purpose OF
raising funds TO provide memorial stone
suitably inscribed for the grave OF Elsie
KregIo, was OF singular aud affecting in
terest. Tue promoters of the movement
have congratulated themselves on the re-
suits of the meeting, which will be made
public as TO its material consideration by
the executive committee III charge OF the
arrangements.
Additional interest was given to The
gathering by the presence on the floor OF
the father. mother and sisters of the victim
OF the tragedy.
The stage was made lovely with garden
and wild flowers. which were furnished
free CT cost by Mr. F. W. BoigianO, the
florist. The walls of the stage were draped
with the United states flag, among the dec
orations being the banners OF the Florence
Crittenton Mission, the W c. T. L. and the
Inscriptions, Faith in God" Love OF
Home" Hope for Native Land" TEN
perance aud Fidelity and others. The
robed choir under the direction OF Prof
Fontaine occupied places on the platform.
Mr.. Mctzerott contributed the hall aud its
expenses free OF charge.
The music was by the choir and by Messrs-
Flynn and Young, who sang several seiec-
tious in solo and duet. Mrs La Fetra, the
chairman of the executive committee, had
charge OF the decorations, which were
universally admired
Mrs. Kate Waller -Barret, whose note in
The Times some weeks ago gave an origin
and strong impulse TO the movement, pre-
sided on the stage with her were Mrs.
Margaret B. PIatt, preside ut Of the ". c.
T. u: Mrs. La FetTa. chairman of the COM
mittee on citizenship of the Worlds C. 7.
u; Mrs. Clinton Smith. Rev. DR.. L. NJ.
Kuhns Of the Lutheran Church, Miss Pike
of the D. A R., and Woman's Press Club.
The proceedings were opened with an in
vocation by Rev DIR. KuhHs, who referred
iu his prayer 10 the strength and purity Of
the young life which was so re ady 10 sacri-
flee itself to maintain its homer" and
trusted that such conservation would have
its weight in making al stronger and better
in convictions He alluded sympathe ticaHy
to the parents.
The scripturaI reading was by Mrs Gin
ton Smith, who selected a part Of the
fourth chapter OF the Epistie To the Corn
thiaus.-
Mrs. La Fetra made the opening address.
She said that she could not resist the
invitation to speak at meeting having
such a purpose as the present Her early
personal life made her feel keenIy the
suffering OF the Kregio family. OF whose
simple and blamcIcSs mode OF life she
Ypt A. ff,
question. or kindred crimes, she sand there
could be no hope of cessation until the
standard OF citizenship was raised
1t was OF more profit now, she contended,
to work for the living and especially D:
those who found life hard OF these there
are thousands in this city OF which she cited
instances of women tempted to exchange
their honor for a livelihood. Such state
ments were made TO her by virtgoUs and
trustworthy girls. There would be less
rescue work needed if conditions like these
could be removed. She adyerted 10 the
unequal pay of men and women for equal
work as one of the great evils of the day.
In closing she expressed her deep sympathy
with the present movement and wished
for 1t the full measure OF success
Mrs. Platt delivered amagnifcent address
in keeping with the occasion which she said
terseiy was to honor one who died for
rirtue's sake" This was right, Just and
fitting. The honor to virtue was thecorner-
stone of the happiness and dignity OF the
home and the true wealth OF a country was
the high sense of honor and virtue among
its men and women Three hundred new
kindergartens would be better than three
hundred additions TO the police force: more
schools would be better than more churches
whose seating capacity was not taxed; more
schools would be better than more saloons
whose keepers-not satisfied with six
days in the week-were in rebellion because
they could not keep them opcnoa Sunday.
The crime of the sale OF The liquor. was
a the bottom OF the present tragedy, as il
was of most others. She hoped that the
building OF a monument 10 Elsie KreGfo
would be as monument to Il changein the
social conditions viii ch made crimes
ike her death possibility, u shame and
reproach to our day.
Mrs. Platt took occasion TO score the
social system that outla wed the female
wrongdoer and to lioniZe her betra yer She
closed By a glowing tribute to her ''who
was loyal unto DEATH" and in III 'honoring
whom we honor all wonanhood.''
Miss Pike spoke on the lessons Of the
crime and enforced the idea that education
was nothing without morality.
Mrs. Barrett said among other things
that while the records OF the past were
filled with notable examples OF hCroism,
the spirit lived today, nor was it ever
better illustrated than by the story OF
Elsie Kreg!o. Mrs. Barrett described with
much feeling her visit to the home OF Elsie
kreglo and the scene OF the murder, where
everything was a suggestion to the girl
''be thou faithful unto DEATH sentiment
which she had learned from nature and her
innocent way of life.
Such lessons are learned best in the
country. where live the nobieSt and the
purest of our citizens. Mrs Barrett ad-
ministered scathing rebuke TO the state
ment that there was nothing heroic in
Elsie Kregio's death; that all women would
die to save their honor. That was not true.
because there were many who preferred
to live after the world knew of their dis
honor.
Toward the close of her remarks the
chairman thanked all who had volunteered
,bo . fl1