The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-17

man can get the prescription put up IS
often AS she pleases. One of the saddest
sights In that dreadful district sto see
young girls falling under the evil infatua-
ton Of thhe morphine hattt and to real
lie how little is done TO check Its sale.
1 became so addicted to It apd to drink
that / was rarely myself.
/ think I was almost insane there. i
used to sit in cafes, stupefied. until the
music. noise and lights were unbearable.
Through 1t all could see my mothers
face with the heart break In It. 1 hated
my life, realizing too late fits fearful emp
tIness, and three weeks ago / made my
first attempt to end IL. J. was sitting up
stairs at the Cairo cafe. with three com
panions, and I had enough morphine I'm
my pocket TO kill me. l don't remember
when 1 tried to take 1t. but ! do remem-
Der a woman's scream Of terror as she
knocked It from my hand.
After this / even despaired Of taking
my life, although so hopeless that death
seemed the best way out OF the darkness
One night I wandered into the mission
on Thirty-second street. They were sing
ing what Friend We Have in Jesus"
and 1t just broke my heart
Good women there. who once were lost
girls of the tenderloin. spoke to me. and
urged me to reform. Yet again the re-
solve came to break away from the hold
life, and / promised them TO come again
the next night.
But my thoughts were too bitter.
1 had fallen too low. What hope was
there for me!
These thoughts drove me TO the second
and last attempt at suicide.
That day stands out wildly. arose
early, faint and III. drank whiskey. and
MORE MORE MOREfw
then I took one dose of morphine ! VS.
tied the old haunts; tried to be gay.
but theh effort was a miserable failure.
A passing hand organ played Just a
Song at Twilight
A song had loved. I tried another drink
to deaden its tones. Late in the afternoon
I aEaiA went to the Cairo cafe, and this
time succeeded in taking the deadly drug.
I was fortified by drink and 30 wretehed
that I could not fear. have no idea
now much 1 took, but almost At once
felt giddy and Ill.
Somehow 1 managed 20 get into . cab
and told the driver TO take me to Harlem
NV desire was to die lin the cab. 1 re-
member no more until opened my eyes
in the New Y,'A hospital. All. the re-
morse an shame l there experienced.
attending me went TO my very soul. Right
there 1 determined to 60 home as soon a.
could
No outsider can fully appreciate the de-
spair Of a ''tenderloin" girl who wants 20
live straight. No descent houses are open
to her, but only the eyil places she has
known so long. It Is pitifui and terrible
I was weak and ill, and the future seem
ed utterly without hope.
Perhaps should have fallen again. put
lust then a good little woman whose hSs
Is spent in resculng just such unfortu-
mates as took me by the hand and
brought me here.
Now, when I'm well I'm going home.
MY mother konws I am coming and her
love q great and wide enough 90 forgive
Ali. without doubt Il II remOrse that
leads women of the tenderloin 10 drink
They are haunted By memories OF those
whose hearts they have broken. and even
in the midst Of the gayest scene fsmil-
far strain Of music OF passing word WIN
set all the quivsrtng heart strings throo-
hng with pain. Then We reach cut Wild
~ and take the drink and the drug.
Every girl in the tenderiOin today knows
that her certain end is misery unspeak-
able, but she lacks courage 10 stop.
There II nothing they fear more than
death. They have q dreadful horror OF
the PoSters asid or the DorEus or being
left % the care ~ stranger For THIS
reason many Of them have thsis live r.
sured, 80 that they may bs descsntlY bur-
ried.
There f. no reai pleasure IN the life
Il a an false and fsolioU from begining TO
end; ali deceit and SIN
Lei me ten6erlo4n 80. With tts rSos
songs, its niTrfless laughter. and wish
every poor boss girl rasrs could rsa1iss. -
I do that There's no Plaes Ike Hone.