The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-13

becoming grace. She entertained at
her home and spent the summer
months at fashionable lake resorts Her
husband was proud of his wife and the
two beautiful children which bright
ened his home.
Now If this woman ever turns her
thoughts remorsefully to the past her
metamorphosls must seem like q ter
r1ble dream. Overcome by an appe-
tlte for strong drink, she has dropped
lower and lower on the social ladder.
until she is today a deserted outcast
Home, children and husband are gone
and not even the semblance to the
once attractive woman of fashion and
refinement remains to the unfortunate
creature whose days are spent in
drunkenness and debauch among the
lower class of negroes and thieves.
Death took the fair haired daughter
from the parents at the age of seven
years, when the mothers downward
career began. The son lived to shed
many bitter tears over his mothers
shame, when he, too, left this life
stricken by the death of his children
the husband devoted himself to re-,
claiming his wife. Several years of con
slant loving care, during which he toll
Grated shame and disgrace, ALWAYS re-
iuslng to separate from the mother of
Els children, resulted in only the fur
ther degradation of the woman and
elght years ago Harry Smith, as he
was known by his friends, died, thew
say, of broken heart.
Wholly unrestrained after the dea+b
OF her husband, by the influences
winch had formerly brought about
temporary reforma ton, the once ra-
spected mother and wife gave full rein
10 her ungovernable passion for drinlr
ana sank lower and lower. Policemen
VINO had at ether times found her in n
drunken stupor in doorways and al
leys, instead Of calling a carriage and
sending her home to the husband wbo
would minister to her kindly, were
forced to summon the patrol WAGON
ana now Minnie Smith has become ono
OF the most familiar figures of the M
nee court, utterly depraved and Nv
hesltatingly pronounced by the author
the city. Ia
II. Y. Smith was for nearly tvantv
years the secretary of the Northwest.
ern Fuel company. His wife was Min
NE harrow, born and raised in ST
Paul, the daughter of widowed
mother when she married Mr.. Smith.
from his ample means the husband
purchased commodious home In the
fashionable residence part of the citv
soon after his marriage, and installed
MS wife amid every comfort and even
luxury. Their life was happy for some
years, during which they were blessed
with son and daughter
The children We're the luster of the
home, the boy the pride of his father
the little girl her mothers most che,
fshed treasure. The first sadness dark.
ened the happy home when the daugh-
ter s1ckened. Despite the tenderest
care and the aid of the best physical,
the little girl died
From this day the mother was a
changed woman. Her husband found
her in strange moods and the son fire..
quently shrunk from his mothers
harsh words. One day the husbands
eyes were opened. He came home TO
find his wife In a state of maudlin in
toxication. The boy met his father at
the door with the statement that
mamma is so SICK Tears ran down
his face, but he did not realize whv
his fathers eyes dimmed
For a long time the mothers fail
ing was closely guarded secret. The
husband strove to break her of the
destroying habit but without success.
In the course of events the mother took
to absenting herself from home for
several days at time, in order to
crafty her passion undisturbed Then
the husband called on the police
PatrOlmen were quietly Informed