The San Francisco call., 1897-07-11

Ii il were not that there is so little cour-
age in the worId-and none will contra
dict, for lit is held that valor is the chief
est virtue"-tbis story might never have
needed 10 be written. Perhaps 1t Is only
because there seem TO be no opportunities
lor the use OF courage that the most OF US
shiver and shrink and are afraid of shad-
ows. But there were plenty of shadows
creeping stealthily after me as l made
my way laboriously toward Leayenworth
street in search of Mrs. Ida B. Hull.
''She is one of the bravest women l ever
heard of" said the gentleman who had
first spoken of her TO me. "She does
things that we men couldn't do and would
be afraid to do"
And considering the fact that he was a
man l thought she must be a wonder in
deed.
She didn't look it Just a simple, mid
dle-aged, motherIy woman, with face
that shone with kindIiness and eyes that
bespoke a soul OF strength.
Yes" she said as 1 seated myself in
the simply furnished parlor made attrac-
tive by simple decorations OF plant and
flower, eyes, my WORK is unusual. l have
even heard people say that it was unIady-
like and improper"
And. having faint idea OF the state of
things myself, l sighed with her, and
nodded and then laughed.
There was touch, after all, OF humor
about it. 1t must be deliciouslY ridiculous
to hear people say those things. Imagine
it, if you can-'improper'' to rescue hu-
man being from life of shame, "unIady-
fal- baT1 htyf ba hap CHI
Them bit of love and kindliness, and
make their poor minds happy.
For that is what she does, and it is no
easy task.
Il go about my work in thousand
ways" she said, "but / don't use much
tact-tact isn't useful among the Chinese.
a hatche: is much more effective"
ut would certainly seem so, but"
'Oh, only use it to break down doors
with" she laughed, mot on their heads,
although sometimes if l were a man l
should like to.
II always go at nighttime" she went
on; that is 10 say, when l am intent on
rescuing a girl. Oftentimes l have to go
TO number OF places, and if they will not
let me in after pleading or coaxing-and
they don't like to-why, 1 take MY hatchet
and lei myself in. One cannot always
stop for courtesy when one is trying to
save a soul.
"Then when once get in it is not all
easy. They will not let me get near the
girls if they can help it. 1t is an awful
crowd. talking as hard and as fast as they
can, and all at once they will crowd up
between the one that l want to reach and
myself They are all angry always, ex-
cepting those that are too far gone with
opium to know or care about what is 60
ing on. And. looking from the PROSTATE
figures to the evil, menacing faces and
narrow eyes of the high binders near TO
my face, L have oftentimes been seized
with such panic of disgust and fear that
l would become weak and my knees would
tremble."
Mrs. Hull is an interesting talker and
she expresses her ideas with vividness and
vigor, and yet it is almost impossible to
imagine her-sweet and gentle as she
looks-standing in the midst of a pack of
wolves. To brave the depths of the ocean
is trifle to the picture she had given.
To trust ones self 20 nature even in her
worst moods is not so hard. The pure air
and the glorious wildness are sort of in
spiration and men work miracles under