The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14

mother would don her Oldest gown. place
pair OF goggles over her eyes, and, led by
the faithful Marie, would HE herself to
places where men make money easily and
spend it freely.
An accomplished musician. the mother
played the accordion, while the daughter,
who it appears is slightly lame, trilled
popular airs or perchance touched the
hearts of the passers-by with some ancient
but well loved melody.
blind mother and crippled daughter
made a combination which cold-hearted
brokers of Pine street and the business
men OF Front and Battery could not re-
slst. Ii from any cause whatever business
became dull, the couple would take them
selves to the sections OF the City inhabited
by the halfworId and there gather in the
coin OF sin and shame.
One day eighteen months ago Vannek,
who was following a similar vocation, and,
by means of an accordion and big pair of
green goggles, making fair if not alto
gether honest living, met Marie and her
mother. He fell in love with the girl and
after brief courtship the couple married.
The mother continued her calling alone
for time, and then departed with her
family for fresher fields. They are now
supposed to be in New Orleans.
Vannek and his bride enjoyed q brief
honeymoon and then the old business Of
month after month the wife trod the
streets of San Francisco soliciting aims.
Within easy distance followed the hus-
band to see that the "beggar girl did not
overlook any possible victims. Sometimes
Mrs. Vannek is seen with one crutch, and
then again she finds it to her interest finan-
cially TO hobbie about with two. She tells
the old story of eight brothers and sisters
and crippled father to support" and it
takes well with those who's hearts are cas-
lily reached. Every few weeks Vannek and
his wife visit the neighboring towns, re-
turning invariably with their pockets well
lined with coin of the realm.
Mrs. Vannek continued her City pill
grimages to within four or five days of the
birth of her child, this interesting event
occurring about five weeks ago Since the
child came Mrs. Vannek visits her old
haunts unattended by her husband.
He is content to remain at home doing
the cooking and washing, and incidentally
taking care of the baby. trusting to the
wife's honesty to turn into his greedy
hands her days earnings. The neighbors
say that if by chance the wife makes but
small accounting for the six or seven
hours OF humiliation through which she
has been forced to go, she is the recipient
of curses and blows.
at is a burning shame" said one of
Vannek's neighbors yesterday, ''the way
this great big, able-bodied man compeIs
his wife, who is hardly yet woman in
years, to go out and beg for him. If he
was not able TO work it would be a differ
ent matter, but the fellow is an expert ac-
Gordon maker and an all-round good work
man. If there is no law against such things
there should be. Vannek dresses well.
having the appearance of a business man
in easy circumstances. He beats and
cuffs his wife at the slightest provocation,
and she takes it all without murmur.
This is case for the police department or
the Society for the Suppression of Vice."