The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-26


one of the cross streets Come with me
one evening, and 1 will convince you"
Done, Mr.. Rake" said 1; "'Tis bar
gain. You shall show me the Tenderlon.''
Come with me then. Just use your eyes
and ask questions freely as you will.
Come now, hurry up, for away down the
street see a type-the first one for you to
study. Hurry after herl l will keep you
in sight. Seel She has a shawl over her
head and something under her arm"
Running along the slippery street, sliding
and getting my footing again. overlook
the woman. Her eyes were very red, and
she looked cold and pinchad At sight of
me she held out her hand and began to
whine II was young like you once" she
whimpered; cant We give me a dime?" At
this the blue coat on the corner looked our
way. And before could answer a word
she had slipped away and was lost around
the corner of Seventh avenue, where the
awnings and the uncertain lights hid her
from sight
Whats the matter?" said my friend, the
Rake, coming across the street to join me.
"And who was she?'
"Oh, never mind,' said I; "she was a wo-
man, and a woman in distress. If you can
overtake her give her this dollar" slipping
tiny treasured gold piece in his hand
keep the dollar then; you won't see her
again. l know her. She once had money
and jewels and good clothes-better than
yoursi"
But where are they now?"
You'll find them in the pawn-shops, and
the money spent. 1t doesn't take the wo-
men of this part of the .Tenderloin long
to get rid of their money. A few glasses,
little gay company and the moneys gone
In month-a day."
There's another woman skulking along
the walls of tho houses. Has she the same
story to tell?'
Yes; just the same story. There are 500
of them homeless. They are the shadows
of the Tenderloin. You see them here and
there and everywhere, but always very
miserable and crying. They will gradually
drift down town, and new ones will take
their places. Seei There is another and
another! They are living in Railways and
alleyways. And their evening pot of beer
is all the comfort they have. But come to
gayer scenes on Broadway. Shadows are
1iresome."
'Wait a minute. MISS" called out a
hoarse voice, cant yer divide up on yer
Teller? l seen yer catch on. And l guess IL
there's anything in it, 1 am in with yer.
Anyways If theirs the drinks"
Poor thing, come away! She's drunk"
said the rake who seemed to read the Ten
derloin like an open book "She was
beauty once and so rich that they would
have found it hard work to reach her with
the law But she got to drinking and now
she's the lowest. She was the belle of
= Seventh avenue when my father was
Rake. But come across the street. We will
enter the dance"
Across the street we went to where there
were faint sounds of revelry escaping from
the windows. And up flight of stairs and
then another, until we reached the third
hall where the music was very loud and an
air of revelry prevailed
AT the sight of the Rake we were eagerly
welcomed. like old friends, and were ush-
cred with a scrape over to a table where we
could watch the dancers. How tightly the
windows closed and there are thick
H. H. H. Al. 49,, 7 80. l,A
Rake.
Yes, OF course You see they are watch
Ing these dance houses especially. They say
they violate the excise laws and permit
revelrous dancing"
"Well! They certainly do" said I, as my
eyes fell upon a girl who stood alone in the
middle of the floor and who, encouraged by
loud clippings, was about to do a waltz
edition of the danse du ventre. ''They are
bringing us drinks!"
Have a glass just to be sociable," said
the Rake. "You can't look at the Tender
loin unless your eyes are frightened by
look into what comes out of a black bottle
or a white one. Here they are bringing
champagne for us. Here's to Tenderloin
glass of cham"
Lifting the glass to his lips, the Rake
drained 1t and then was ready for his share
of the applause.
And now a lively strain struck up on the
plano. Lets waltz" said the Rake
done hereabouts."
''That couple" indicated by the Rake, had
clasped each other around the neck and
waist in the middle of the floor and were
whirling with velocity greater than Tyn-
dalPs runaway glacier. Now, catch on.
said the Rake, holding out jerky arm.
And away we went among the dancers I'M
til we brought up dizzy and Keeling by the
piano.
SAY, young fellow, will you get me a
glass of something wet? Or will you ask
tho doorkeeper over there to send me over
glass of the stuff? It's in the bargain, SO
he won't ask you to pony up for 1t, said
the piano player, calling the Rake to MIN
and motioning toward the doorkeeper.
l stood minute by the musicians elbow
and watched him play. His hands were
we'll formed and his fingers almost delicate,
They showed good breeding. His face, too,
though hardened, was not PAD, ana ne dto
not look dissipated.
..Do you like your work." asked. for l
had discovered that everybody seemed to
be acquainted, and 1 did not want to be
unsociable.
a little surprised, and thought he colored
up.
IT don't care for It particularly" he said
In an accent as refined as l have ever
heard anywhere, but what Is man to do?
am a musician out of job. This pays
pretty well, is as certain as death, ana
doesn't require any practice"
But have you no ambition? You play
remarka bly, well. Surely this is not the end
of oil for your
rbe musician played louder for q minute,
and his voice was husky when he spoke.
go away from here. MISS" he said. Don't
stayi The air of q Tenderou dance-house
is not good for anyone-even the health
lest Yes, / had ambitions once, but they
IRE all gone now. And say" he called af-
ter me, take a word of advice, and If you
have little brother a boy of your own,
don't let him be a musician. Dont'-for
heavens sake, don't-unless you have got
money enough to give him lift ,pnt4 src
gets a start In the world. -ft-wII lead him
his music will-to q Tenderloln dance
place. And then comes the cham-and the
ruin. Goodnight miss!"
Talk 10 the Fairy some other time, Mr..
Rohe," said l. ST don't like 1t here, and
don't want to stay"
'Oh, don't go now" pleaded the Rake.
They've got an old fellow In here Win