The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-01
THE BELLE OF NEW YORK
A SALVATION ARMY GIRL THAT Is
ATTRACTING LOCAL ATTENTION.
Even Drunken Men show Her Respect
as cNe Passes Among
Them.

Travelling mon who make this city are
coming TO ask each other, when they meet
out on the road in towns where there is
little to talk about and lots of time to do
il i'm. if they have seen the Belle of New
York. at Indianapolis. The person of whom
they speak is young woman, pretty
young woman, who is a private in the Sal
walton Army post in this city. 1t is her duty
to make the rounds of the hotels and the
more pretentious downtown saloons, solic-
iting contributions with outstretched tam
BOURNE. Because she is good to look at
and because her gray uniform fits so neatly
and because her presence is so gracious,
a. few men, with the remembrance Of Edna
Mays Violet Gray in their minds, began
to call the Salvation Army lassie the Belle
Of New York" But 1t was not until an in
cdent in the lobby of one of the larger
hotels found its way into print that the
name fastened itself firmly on the comely
young woman with the tambourine.
1t was during the senatorial contest, and
before the Legislature convened. The hotel
lobby was crowded with politicians from all
over the State, and there was great hustle
and stir. Miss Salvation Army was reaping
a bountiful harvest of coins. Her person
of men-she solicits money to further the
work of the Army. and does it in just
out-of-rcach way that makes one feel she
is comforting a favor on him by asking for
money. On this particular night she was
working through the crowd, smiling on this
habitual giver, speaking a word or two TO
that, but stopping but moment with each,
except when she paused to hear from a
0f q
in London "a procession of $500 of your
people--all in uniforms" This caught her
earnest interest. At length she held her
tambourine before hewhiskered politician
from tout in the State" He looked at her
intectly, with one hand thrust in his pocket
We'll" he said, slowly, II gave up a
dollar and half last night to see The Belle
of New York at the theater, and 1 guess 1
can go twenty-five cents on the real thing"
He dropped quarter into the tambourine.
The young soldier smiled her thanks and
went on. She probably had not heard of
the theatrical Salvation Army girl, and
might not have approved of her II she had.
From this time on she became known as
the Belle of New York., and her admirers,
or rather, respecters, grew daily in number.
She entered a "levee" saloon one evening
and found crowd of gamblers and men
them nodding at those who contributed to
the rattle of the tambourine. Her reserve
was a marvellous monument to woman
strength. The bartender did not contribute.
Look here" said one Of the men, ''if
the bartender don't loosen up we buy no
more whisky" OF course, he called the
bartender by name.
There was on the young woman's face no
other expression than one denoting she was
waiting. The bartender held back his mon
ey. and the men In front Of the bar chung
young woman had been in the books she
would have exclaimed that she hoped the
bartender would keep his gold, for then the
poor slaves to the demon rum would drink
no more, according to their vow. But she is
a practical Salvation Army girl, In this life,
and she knew. the VOW was worth some
thing only SO long as the amusement con-
tinued So she waited. And the bartender
at last gave in. and tossed a coin into the
tambourine.
The fearlessness of this local Belle of
New York" was shown when she took ad-
vantage of an alleged willy Scot in one OF
the hotels during the winter. The willy Scot
was very short Scot with very long whis-
kers. He played vigorously bagpipe, and
marched to and fro In ecstasy at the same
time. He gathered quite crowd about
The last shrek from the bagpipe had been
uttered, and he was about to take off his
hat to collect what the generous gentlemen
gray with red-lined poke bonnet gently
pushed her way to the inside of the circle
and passed around it's inner edge. tambou-
rine outStretched. Her coup was applauded,
for it caught the theatrc admiration of TIE
men-she made a great hit" The willy Scot
hurried to get what he could, but the van
tage was not on his side. He was laughed
out OF the place. The young woman was as
cool when she entered the door.
The Statehouse knows her well, and there
she finds market for the War Cry, and OPP
portunity to encourage sales by talking
about her work The Capitol attaches have
found her bright young woman with a
full appreciation of what she is doing. One
n cd har
TO go into the saloons.
mo" she replied II am not. If drunk
en- man shows inclination TO modest me
there is always a sober one ready to pro-
tect me-"
And so she may be seen every night walk
ing swiftly from this hotel to that, parting
the swinging doors OF saloon here or pass
ing around the elaborate mirror-sheld of q
saloon there. and always with firm step and