Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-03

Il read the letter Of Dr. NJ A. in The Star
OF last week with deep interest. have an
incident for the young lady who wrote in
reply. Some years ago l knew charming
young girl of this city. Her parents We're
plain but excellent people members of a
well-known church in our northwest sec
ticn. The daughter was connected with
the same church; had attended it's Sunday
school from early childhood. She married a
young man who drank beer. He was init
mate with family who kept a saloon near
the church. Visiting said family with his
young wife, she soon began to sip with
them the friendly glass of beer. With
her new ha bit, disSenSIOnS arose between
the pair. One day there was a quarrel. In
her excitement or dependency she that
evening visited with some young man the
Scheutzen Park. the noted beer garden
then kept near the end of 18th street. Mid
night found her in the power of some of
its 'habitues, drunk. The very next day
she entered noted house of ill-repute. A
beautiful little boy, left with the father,
Gied In few months saved by good
Providence from a lifelong shame. 1 saw
her about year afterward. She had co:l.e
home to see her old father die. She told
me OF her mental agonies, OF the wretched-
ness Of those associated with her in her
evil life. How many of them would gladly
lead better lives, but society frowned them
doWn-all avenues seemed closed urged
her to try. She made an effort: remained
hopeless. Her old acquaintance gave her
the cold shoulder l saw her at a church
picnic by the side of her mother. No one
but the pastor and the school superinten
dent took friendly notice of her. They
passed her by on the other side 1t made
my heart ache with fear. Sure enough she
relapsed. For several years I have lost
sight of her She may have gone the way
who go to beer gardens without suspicion
of evil to think before they go again. Had
rot the parents of wheeling girls better
consider this matter well?'
More Testimony.
Another correspondent, after reviewing
briefly the "Dr. NJ. AS original state
ments and Young Lady's' reply. says:
Il have visited this garden myself. l
saw and heard one young girl, still in her
teens, call for and drink a mint julep, while
other girls were drinking beer and mixed
drinks of various kinds. The good and
the bad were Unfortunately mixed, and
one weli-dressed, gentlemanly-appearing
man was noisily drunk.
There are other gardens of this sort in
and about Washington; the bicycle has
developed them. and bicycle parties fire.
quent them at all hours Of the day and
night. have met parties of well-dressed
girls and young men, five and six miles
distant from the city, wheeling cut to these
places after 10 o'clock at night.
There are other dangers resulting from
the bicycling habit besides those that
threaten our girls. Shortly after the Di-
vision was broken up last spring two at
tractive-looking young women from that
quarter located near one of these gardens,
in the suburbs, on a road largely frequent
ed by bicyclers. They are both expert
wheelwomen. Being observed one day in
company with two lads not over eighteen
years Of age, the question was asked them,
What ere you doing with those boysT
Oh was the reply, we catch them on the
wheel out here
"a gentleman of wide travel and large
experience once remarked in my presence,
Few men are morally strong enough to
withstand the temptations that beset them
while travelling separate from their fami-
lies and away from home Now, this being
true Of men, is there not some cause for
concern in this daily and nightly wheeling
OF our boys and girls away from home,
mixing with all sorts and conditions of men
and women, after the free and easy manner
of tho road2O