The San Francisco call., 1899-07-23
SORROW
DISGUISED IS
JoN--soME
81 ~HE SAD
INCIDENTS
As SEN
~ an
EYE-WIr

insolently given. woman, who might
have been judged pretty were II not
for her drunken leer, was reeling 10 re-
tain her place on q table She was
disheveled. intoxicated, pitiable. She
held beer glass IN her hands and with
dimming eyes tried with a glance TO
answer her escorts toast She raised
her hand, and as she toppled from the
table her companion caught her.
In the center OF the tent e young fal-
low was playing upon an accordion
ribaId tune. TWO women, surrounded
by group OF roistering apolauding
loafers, were stepping vulgarly TO the
music. The orgy had reached its cli-
max. The police looked on and were
satisfied that beer glasses were not fly
ing through the air and that no heads
were being smashed. The tent was al
most suffocating IN its heat Men and
women, who have been seen elsewhere
and under other conditions IN the city.
jostIed each other IN eager rivalry 70
watch the dancers. Chairs were over
turned and women jumped u0on tables
10 secure point Of advantage.
AS the music progressed the applause
became more riotous. Drunken voices
shouted words OF encouragement and
ment II seemed as Il an unexpected in
cident would interrupt the revelry.
party Of four-two men and two wo-
men-had been seated az table IN the
tent exchanging maudlin compliments.
Suddenly there was & scufle. Some
word, not particularly pleasant, had
been passed The women were in each
others hair. They were scratching,
pulling and swearing. Suddenly one Of
the combatants was forced backward
against q table. She received a vicious
blow and attempted 70 recover. The
effort cost her more than she expected.
She toppIed forward and fell heavily.
When they picked her up her face was
spattered with blood. 4 long cash in
her forehead explained the cause A
police officer rushed to her assistance,
her woman friend was hustled away
and the dance was not interrupted. The
music seemed TO spread q contagion OF
recklessness. In a few minutes most
OF the men and women in the tent were
dancing.
The women dancers were becoming
tired and q child took their place. He
was a boy who said that he was Il
years Of age, but looked older. In his
manner there was something that
should not have been there. He knew
too much OF the vtciousness OF the
night His face was prematurely old,
and as he danced he winked knowingly
20 an unhealthy looking young fellow
who nodded persistent approval ot tbs
dance.
The music became wilder. The ap-
plauding spectators become more dem
onstratiye. The boy entered with nerv-
Gus excitement into the spirit Of the
revelry. He was intoxicated. He was
one OF many boys, every one OF whom
was IN knfckerbockers, who had been
allowed TO enter the grounds and then.
under the very eyes Of the police had
gone from table TO table. drinking the
dregs OF whisky and beer glasses.
These boys staggered from table to
table One Of them sought 10 climb
pole Of the tent and sank heIplessIy 70
the floor. His boy companions reelAd
toward him, the ro!sterers OF the night
applauded and the police saw nothing.
It was a scene that probably never had
a parallel in San Francisco.
While the orgy was at its height, the
woman, who had determined 10 md her
existence with the night, gave 70 the
scene it's dramatic climax. AS he boy
was dancing 10 the quick movement ot
the music a waiter, tray laden with
glasses, passed into the tent The girl
saw him. She raised her skirts, her
foot shot toward the tray and the
glasses crashed TO the floor. For mo-
ment there was confusion, but out OF
il appeared the figure OF the girl She
was on the table dancing the cancan.
She was the brightest, most reckless
being in the place. She had in her
pocket the poison that was 10 end her
life.
In a few moments the music ceased
The girl was lifted from the table and
the boy, under the searching espionage
Of his unhealthy looking preceptOr,
passed his hat among his drunken adj
rnirers for vagrant niCkels The girl
left the tent. She took lingering look
at the glistening lights, heard the hum
Of music and laughter and saw the reel
ing figures OF men and women. In the
morning her mQther found her-dead.