The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-28
A Door of Hope Opened
for Them in Boston.
Nocturnal Tour of the Dance
Halls in North Street.
How the Work of Rescue From Lines
of Shame is Carried On.

| Boston, Feb. 2S.-From the dance halls
| of North street, reekiny with the fumes
| of liquor and tobacco, resounding with
the squeak and twang OF piccolo
and harp, to the Florence Crittenton
| lighted, well-heated rooms and its gen.
eral air of cory and homelike cheerfulness
| what a contrast.
Yet from the former to the latter Rev.
M. X. Deming and mother FairchDd are
! doing their best TO induce deluded young
| girls to go.
They are reaching out in all direction
| their helping hands, and With tangible
results for the present and high hopes
| for the future.
The home has been established less
| than two months, and there are now is
women therein, working about the rouse
in the daytime and enjoying the pleas
ures of the parlor and reading room and
other comforts i'm the evening.
Life has taken on new meaning to
them, and they do not seem to want To
go back TO the old existence, for they are
happy in the new.
A reporter called at the home last even
ing and took lcok through the differ
ent departments with Mr.. Deming There
is a kitchen in the basement, on the
street floor a chapel, business offices and
sewing room. On the second floor Is
coy sitting room, with periodicals and
books, and the dining room, and on the
floors above are the sleeping looms
meeting in the chapel was I'm progress
when the reporter called last evening, and
the girls joined in singing the hymns
But Mr.. Deming has room in the home
for GO, and as there are now but is, he is
constantly trying to draw more young
women within its influences.
Last night he made what might be
called one of his "reaching out" trips,
and the reporter went with him. Incl
dentally big policeman made one of the
party.
Before starting out Mr.. Deming tucked
lot OF cards in his pocket, terming them
his business cards, bearing pr.nted invita-
tions to wayward young girls to become
inmates OF the home, stating that they
will be welcomed, cared for and shielded
from harm by those who will love them
and seek their good.
Mr.. Deming also carried letter to
woman isss North street dance hall from
Maggie Fitzgerald, formerly well known
In thesNorth End, but now happy and
earnest worker in the home.
The woman to whom the letter was ad-
dressed was formerly an inmate OF a
North street dance hall that has lately,
through the efforts OF Mr.. Deming and
Captain Gains men, been closed up.
The woman has gone TO another dance
hall, and thither MIR. Deming turned his
steps LAST night, panied by Officer
Patterson and the reporter.
Down through Hanover and Fleet
streets, pushing through knots and
crowds of swarthy Italians and rollicking
sailors, through North street, teeming
with bigger and noisier crowds, past half
open doors, through which came the
sound OF music and the rhythmical tread
OF dancing feet.
Here is the place at last, and at the door
is the woman TO whom the letter so kind
ly sent Is addressed. She goes inside with
Mr. Deming's party. A few inquiries. put
by the officer and the letter is delivered.
A look OF unutterable rage and hatred
comes oefr the womaD's face. The lie ter
is reminder OF the good and the bright
side of this life, which she is making
every effort to put behind her, rs she
seems TO hope, forever.
A scornfui word or two to Mr.. Deming,
two or three quick strides to the stove
and the letter, stripped to fragments, is
consigned to the flames.
Nothing daunted, but with smile on
his face, Mr.. Deming goes about among
cards OF invitatonA Most of the women
receive them with an air of listless in
difference, glancing at them for mo-
ment and then transferring their atten-
tion TO their male companions.
The fiddles striSe up, another set be-
gins to form, and Mr.. Deming's party
makes its way TO the open air again, only
TO pass along the street a few steps and
enter another "hall. - where a dozen or so
couples whirl and jump TO the tunes
ground out by Wheeling accordion.
One after another eight balls were visit
ed and much the same scene was enacted
in each as at the first one, except that Mr..
Deming had no more letters TO deliver.
He moved about, giving a card to each
girl, and here and there stopped TO add
word of personal appeal One thing was
notlceable-none of the cards was thrown
away while Mr.. Deming was in. the ball,
and in many cases they seemed TO be read
through. Mr.. Deming was almost i'm
variably thanked by each one receiving
card.
In one of the dance hall visited are
foor sisters, who came frcm a Maine city
only few months ago, and with one of
these M. Deming had long talk, saying
afterward that he should make further
effort and hoped ultimately to inducs
bcr to become an inmate of his home.
"Just about how many of the cards de-
livercd on this trip do you expect to Eear
from, Mr.. Deming9" said the reporter
IN bidding him good night
"There's no telling about that was
the reply. "But my idea is partly this:
When these girls are put out of the dan e
halls and are homeless and iorsaken, then
the idea of the refuge at 3 Greene street
may take hold upon them, aad they will
come 10 u.s." That they may do SO, and
that Mr.. Deming's efforts may be crowned
with great success, is ceTta inly tre hope OF
every good man and woman IN the city.