The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-24
Mrs. Lease is GentIeneSs Itself
Alongside This Bean Eating
HOWIer From ssCuIturedOm''
Makes Her Voice Heard.
WAS A BATTLE ROYAL
Between Boss Hesing and Miss
Jane Caldwell.
The Lights in Willard Hall Had
To Be Turned OFF.

Chicago, Feb 24-Washington HesinS
believes that the providence of God di-
rected him to the noon meeting at Will
lard hall in order to give him opportu-
nifty to hear and answer a speech made
against him by Miss Jane Caldwell OF
Boston.
Mr.. Hesing made an address several
days ago at Willard hall and during it's
course he charged that the majority OF
married men who were In Joliet peni-
tertiary were there because of the ex-
travagance of their wives
Miss Caldwell, newly arrived in Chi
cago and known among the w. c. t L.
workers, graSped a chance to win fame
by taking the pOStmaSter'S words as the
text for a vehement diatribe against the
man and the truth of his assertions.
While 3djeotiveS were flying the thick
est Mr.. HeSfng walked into the hall,
and, unObSerVed quietly seated himself
in the rear of the room. Miss Caldwell
grew more and more violent in her ac-
cusations. She boldly announced that
she was one OF BOston's %, 600 old maids
and that no man ever had to stint him
self TO keep her in clothes, proudly add
ing that she had worn for two years the
dress in which she then appeared, a
faded, Shapeless, dark cOlored garment.
Warming to her task, she declared that
when Hesing said that women sent TO
prison as many men as wine and WhiS-
ky, he must have himself been drunk
This shot was more than the side
jumping excitedly to his feet, he began
to advance down the aisle toward the
speaker. The whiskers disclosed the
identity even to Miss Caldwell 5 unprac-
ticed eye, but she was unquelled.
$50, you're here, are you?" she said
cOolly. well, you've got my opinion OF
you What have you got to say about
it?" With that she descended the plat
form on one side while the postmaster
mounted at the other.
Mr.. Hesing was indignant at the rak-
fr7er I0 had roH in lie
tence declared that heavenly inspiration
must have sent him in to hear the at
tack. He defended his previous stand
warmly, asserting that the figures that
81 per cent of the married men at Joliet
were there through the reckless expen-
ditures of their wives were given him
from compilations of the prison records
of 20 years. The dramatic part of the
scene, which ended in the attempted
forcib1e election of Miss Caldwell from
the hall, was begun by her springing to
her feet and interrupting the speaker
To Mr.. Hesing's humble statement
that he had all respect for women, she
calculated a thunderOuS Amen and
when Lucy Page CASTOR called her to
order, she shouted that she could not
be kept silent.
mo Chicago woman would say that,H
said Miss CASTOR sternly.
Then thank God 1 am no Chicago
woman" yelled the now thoroughly
aroused Amazon.
An attendant was summoned to re-
Their than the entrance. Braced q this
coign of vantage she denounced Chica-
go, Mr. Hesing and the women OF the
Temple until the lights of the hall were
turned down as the only means of es-
Gaping from her. Even Mr.. Hesing was
a last siIenced.
The woman says that she is en- route
from New Mexico east to her Boston
home. She says that she was beguiled to
New Mexico by the promise of posi-
ton as teacher in a settlement of vege-
tarians. Dissatisfied with their idea of
morality, she aroused their dislike TO
the extent that they expelled her from
the settlement. At Ell PasO, Tex, she
says she borrowed money from the
mayor to come to Chicago. Since arriv-
ing in the city she has, according to her
statement. been stopping at the Isabelle
Lake Mission Home Her one great de-
sire last night was to be able to shake
the mud of ungrateful Chicago off her
feet at the earliest possible moment.
She longs for Boston, where, she de-
clared, people of her kind were well
coined