Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-30
Mission Women Pay a Visit Of
Lower
STRANGE SCENES, LAST NIGHT
The Noble Effort to.RecIaim Young
Women.
RECEIVED WITH COURTESY

earnest missionaries, who were bent on
holding out the hand of love and charity
to the unfortunate inmates.
The party consisted of half dozen wo-
men, two or three elderly men, who are ac
lively identified with mission work, and a
little group of newspaper men. They were
accompanied by Policeman Williams and
Policeman Warren, who had been assigned
to the duty by Lieut.. Anliss of the first
precinct. The leaders Of the expedition
were Mrs. Charlton Edholm, the evangelist
Of the Florence Crittenton Mission, and
Mother Prindle, the superintendent Of the
mother mission in New York. Others who
were in the party were Mr.. and Mrs. Geo.
II. La Fetra, the latter the president of the
Florence Crittenton Hope and Help Mission
OF this city; Mrs. Indiana Brook of the
Central Union Mission, Elizabeth w. Nc
Kay, the missionary of the newly estab-
who requested that her name be not made
pubic for personal reasons.
Treated Cautiously.
The presence Of the policemen was not
at all necessary, for their services were
called on only as guides, and everywhere
they went the women were received with
courtesy and polteness. Not once were
they met with jeers or insults. The expe-
d1tion was quite devoid of the sensational
incidents which sometimes mar such at
tempts at summing, for the women who
composed the party were all experienced
in missionary work and had no curiosity to
satisfy. They understood before they went
the horrible conditions they would find, and
the sole purpose of the trip beneath the
SUR ace was to urge the girls to leave
their present life, and to tell them that at
rs I'd street there Is home for them
where the door is always open, and there
is ever warm welcome to all who will
come
Earlier In the evening a meeting was
held at Hamline NJ. e. Church, where ad-
dresses were made by Mrs. Edholm and
Mrs. Prindle on the work Of the Florence
Crlttenton Missions and the methods pur-
sued in raising fallen women. Consequent
ly 1t was after 10 O'Clock when the little
party reached the first precinct station
house and were joined by Policemen Will
hams and Warren. Some doubt was ex-
pressed as to w!le Their such a large crowd
could gain admission to any of the houses,
but Williams told them to say where they
wanted to go, and he would see that they
got In all right The first house visited
was one of the "ariStocrati tic" places on
18th street just below the avenue. So far
from raising any objection the keeper Of
the mouse bade them welcome and promised
10 DO all she could to make their visit
success. She invited all the girls to come
into the parlor, but alb but two declined.
A Strange Scene.
The scene within that little brilliantly
lighted and gaudily furnished room was
one that will not soon be forgotten by those
VINO were present. In the corner stood the
two burly policemen, with heads uncovered;
beside them were the reporters. The two
young women, for neither was more than
twenty-five or twenty-three years of age
were attractive and understanding. ard
seemed only too glad to listen to what their
unexpected visitors had to say of the hone
and chances of salvation that were still
open to them. Mother Prindle and Mrs.
Edho'm kissed them both, and held their
nands caresslngiy, as mother might have
done, while earnest prayers were offered I'D
that they might see the error of their WAYS
and repent Then a low, sweet voice started
the hymn Jesus, Lover of NV Soul" An
joined H. and even the girls tried to sing,
but their voices were broken by sobs, and
their girlisE figures shook with deep emo
ton. Then Mrs. Prindle prayed again,
prayed long and earnestly that the girls
might remember the lessons they had
learned at their mothers knees and once
more live honest, upright lives. 1t 0as
pathetic in the extreme. The sweet, mother
~ women held those erring, Maynard girls
in their arms as they would have held their
own daughters, urging them to grasp the
loving hand of help that was extended to
them, and telling them that day or night,
sick Or well, they would always find well
come at the mission home. The younger
and prettier Of the girls seemed especially
moved by the appeal. She said she was
be only too glad to leave it. She promised
Mrs. Edholm that she would come to the
home, and the women left the place, beliey-
ing confidently that one, If not both. of the
girls had been started again on the right
path.
Begin With Men.
The second place visited was the largest
houses in the Division. The proprietress
came to the door herself, and made the
party welcome. In the parlor were gathered
half a dozen Of the inmates, for the most
part girls in the early twenties. Much the
same program was followed out here as at
the first house. There were PRAYERS and
hymns, and two or three of the girls were
soon in tears. The others hung off. and.
while they treated their visitors politely
enough, declined to discuss the matter saw
ing that they were very well satisfied where
they were.
They expressed regret that they had ever
entered the life, but, being once in, thew
saw no way out. An attempt to work on
the sympathies of the landlady herself fail
go, she said, she would help them to leave
and if they were in debt she would nav
their debts and give each of them so
bill to help her on her way. AS for herself.
$ hex, knew what she was wa doing and had no
opening for her in this life, she said. and
if, with the furniture she owned, she tried
to open respectable boarding house in a
ueCent part OIL the Town, the church peOpia
would be the first to hunt her out and drive
her away. She scored the men unmerci-
fully and blamed them for the condition
her associates now find themselves in. The
way to fight the social evil, in her opinion.
was to begin with the men who lead girls
astray. To begin with the girls is to start
at the wrong end.
The Success.
But in other parts of the big room the
were working with the girls
individually. Several of them received the
cards of invitation to the mission home.
ard with voices broken by sobs promised
to come. Then the little band sang, Il am
so glad that Jesus loves me-" and there
were tears in every ones eyes ais they left
the house.
The third place the little party visited g
known as one of the toughest in all that
tough locality. The landlady and three of
the inmates listened intently and tried to
: !