The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-17
one ERR|NG SISTER
Returns From the TenderIOin
to Tell the Story.
RAN AWAY FROM SCHOOL
To Become Famous as a Great
Actress.
RAN AWAY FROM SCHOOL

New York. Aug. 1s.-Ten years ago. In
the little town OF Riverton. N. J.. upon
the banks Of the Delaware river. lived a
beautiful, laughing girl OF fourteen. Her
name was Florence Richardson
Her parents idoiized her. and she was
the sunshine of her home.
Her beauty was so rare. and her talents
so marked. that friends advised higher
grade Of education than could be obtain
ed In the quiet Jersey town In which she
lived. Her mother turned instinctively to
the seclusIon and safety of a convent
home. and st. JoseDh's, of philadelphia.
was her chcoice.
For two years the girl male great Fro
grtss. and advanced RAPIDLY IN her stud
les.
Then suddenly she took the manage
ment OF her young life into nsr andiscip-
lined hands, and one day this letter
reached her mother:
"Good-by. ! have left St. 10 to 80 on
the stage. Don't fret. You shall yet be
proud of me. Forgive your
FLORENCE"
A careless letter, written in the vanity
and pride of a foolish girls heart. 1t did
its fatal work, for the mother haS since
become broken hearted. and tears and
sorrow have swept the happiness from
the little home.
Six years oga Florence Richardson was
first seen In the "Tenderloin.
Three weeks oga she tried to XIII her
self. A few days ago she tried q again.
A cabman brought her, unconscious TO
the West Thirtieth street police station
and Sergeant Daily sent her to the New
York hospital. Her first words when she
came to herself were:
"I didn't mean to do It," wall OF
shame and regret.
Haggard. worn and III in the refuge at
Fifty-third street she tells her own story.
which carries its own moral. IT In
terrible warning to other girls who are
tempted to leave home for the false al
lurements of the tenderloin.
Florence Richardson thus writes Of her
experience:
From the time left the convent my
life has been a misery.
I tell my tragic story that II may
prove a warning and an aid to other girls.
I have nothing to lose by telling the his
tory of my nfe in the "tendreloin' and
perhaps my bitter experience may cause
some hopeless, misguided woman to re-
nounce her evil way.
II Is hard to remember Just why ran
away from the convent. was 30 happy
there, and my vacations were all spent at
home, where had every reasonable wish
grattfled. Our house was on the river
bank, With big trees in front. and I often
used 70 watch the old captains hauling
in their sad nets.
It all comes back to me now, but then
1 was careless and young.
I wanted to be famous. I thought l
could become a great actress wear beau
tiful gowns and have hosts OF lovers.
So one day I ran away frorm my
peaceful convent home.
Ny first appearance was in q comic
opera in Philadelphia, but ISilad not voice
enough to be very successful. After that
I took q leading part in a second-rate
company of the 1.-TWO Orphans"
While with this organization I met the
only man 1 have ever loved. and after
three days acquaintance we were mar
ried and went to Europe on our honey
moon. This was a long period OF happi-
ness, of peace of mind, Of Joy at being
his wife. We were gone nearly year.
After our return we lived IN New York
in a beautiful home on Sixty-third stAeet.
For a tine all went wen. We loved
and we were happy. He had led fast
life before he met me. The recollections
of the tenderloin chung to him and he
took me there
I thought It must be lovely to Be 30
CAV. and soon was infatuated by the
tinsel and fash. knowing nothing OF the
sordidness and evil underneath. Then 1t
was that I took my first glass OF wine.
7 shall never forget #. II made the world
so bright; It dissipated all sad thoughts.
and. alas, I kept on taking 1t more and
more.
The man loved 100 late. saw my dan
ger an dtried to check 1t. but no. 1 was
started. and the easy side on the down.
ward path was begun. Those days /
wanted coinstaut excitement. loved the
glitter and morbid fascination or the ten
derloin. courted admiration ana my
whole nature underwent change.
Soon I became Obvious omT pretty
home and its duties. and one day. two
years ago. I was deserted.
This calamity sobered me for the mo
ment. and the horror of Il all appalled,
me. For the first time / thought OF my
mother. and read over again my last let
ter. which said: "Come home darling. or
my heart must break"
For DAYS these words rang in my eras
and sounded above every soulless laugh
and foolish jest Penltent and eontrite.
determined to 60 home. but That very al
ternoon met q girl knew. and the Old
foundations oyercame me.
From that day al thought Of refornA-
ton left me. and Iplunged downward q
the bottom OF the hill Of misfortune.
degradation and shame took up mJ
home In the tenderloin. on Thirty -nfrst
street Ny remOrse was unceasing' and
to drown Il / drank constantly.
Finally one night tried morphine and
| after the FIRST dose was rarely ever -fFes
from It's Effects. Il deadsaed my ssnsoal-
ities, and my only comfort was to III
and forget
You would be surprised 20 know how