The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-14

would be our object in keeping Florence
mere against her Will? we receive no
compensation Tor assuming charge OF
her and she is not capable OF doing
anything for herself in the way OF sup
port by engaging in the employment
performed by OunerS here. she is
uittident. helpless girl VINO has been
deeply Wronged and We have given her
a shelter at the request OF both her
and her mother. She remains with us
freely and is at liberty to go or stay as
she chooses"
Asked how the girl first came to the
institution the mother superior said her
mother had brought her there. In an
SWer to questions the mother superior
explained that the girls mother. in
company with another woman, had
called upon her about receiving the
girl and she had told them that it
would be impossible unless the girl her
self consented to the arrangement.
They had asked if the girl was brought
to the institution would she be re-
ceived and had been told. under these
circumstances, she would. Later the
two women had brought the girl and
she had been received as an inmate OF
the place.
When asked by the reporter II FLOR
ence Hope could be seen, the mother
superior said it was not customary 10
allow inmates OF the institution to DE
interviewed. but that as she considered
this an exceptional case, she WOulo
gladly give the girl an opportunity to
speak for herself. 1t was but proper,
however, the mother superior SAID, that
the interview be carried on in her
presence, as visitors and the inmates
of the institution were. never allowed
alone in the reception room. The con-
versation with the mother superior had
z,rrT1
opening from the main reception room
to a smaller apartment adjoining, and
in a few moments Florence Hope APP.
peared at the opening.
Eyes. I am Florence Hope" she SAID.
cor rather that is the name by Wnlcn
I am known here, and am staying
here of my own free will
Did you enter the institution OF
YOUR own accord?" asked the reporter.
mo, l did not" answered the girl,
but since being here and coming to
full realization Of the conditions IN
volved in my case, l am glad to remain
here until / can go to my mother. l
was brought here by my mother ana
the wife of the druggist referred to in
that article. I had been importuned
by both of them to allow some one to
adopt my child, and upon my refusal
the druggists wife told me | would be
prosecuted for disorderly conduct and
non-support of the baby il refused
to do as they wanted me to. Finally,
my mother told me to do as l liked
about giving up the child, but nothing
was said about sending me to the
House Of the Good Shepherd. One
evening the druggists wife and my
mother asked me to go with them to
see a sick friend, and when I realized
that I had been deceived 1 found my
self at this institution. / was then in
4A11
place was to be my future home. My
mother did not come in with me, but
remained outside in the entrance while
I entered with the druggists wife. She
knew she had deceived me, and did
not want to face me when | had
learned the truth. At first I was angry
and did not want to stay here, but L
was advised and Influenced until I
finally agreed to remain. It was rep
resented to me that my seclusion would
prevent a scandal, and would protect
my own name. When the two mem
beers Of the grand jury were here l
told them l was willing to stay here.
and did not care to leave to go anOnS
strangers. I am waiting for my moth
er to provide me with a home, when I
shall go to her. Until then I am con-
tent to remain here.
LAS for Mrs Hill she has no interest
in my affairs further than the fact
that she is caring for my infant. She
did come here to see me and wanted
me to leave here and prosecute the
man who dishonOred me in order that
he might be made to contribute to the
support Of myself and child. He is a
married man and has a family. 1
could gain nothing by such a course,
SO concluded not to follow her advice.
I am treated we'll here, and the mother
superior told me / am at liberty to
leave whenever I choose"
At the conclusion of the girls story
the mother superior was asked if she
had been restrained against her will
when she was first brought to the in
stitution, and replied that naturally
the girl had refused to remain when
she found she was to be separated from
her friends but after being reasoned
with had given her consent to the ar
rangement. The mother superior sta
ted that the girls mother had been no
titled that strangers were endeavoring
to persuade her daughter to leave the
institution, and had been asked her
self to take the girl away.
The last grand jury as a body was
invited to visit the House of the Good
Shepherd to thoroughly investigate the
management, but the invitation was
overlooked.