Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-08-15
SHE is AN ARTIST,
Grey Hair and SpirItuel Face Help Really
Clever Woman Fakir. She Was In Grand
Rapids Monday.
From Monroe Co. Democrat.

From Monroe Co. Democrat
An old and ever true saying is the
one that tells us that "all is not gold
that glitterS." 1t is equally true
that while large majority of Sunday
school teachers are women, all women
are not Sunday school teachers. Pro-
ceeding little further along this
line OF reasoning it may be said that
while all specimens Of neatly dressed
comely featured and dignifed acting
femininty are at all times to be
admired, truth compells us, to say
that they should not of necessity be
trusted implicitly. While this is a
melancholy statement it is neverthe-
less too true, as number Of business
men of this city can testify. Last
Monday forenoon there arrived in
Sparta a woman whose general ap-
pearance would pass muster anywhere
Her face, her dress her dignified bear
ing, graceful conversational powers
and frank, easy manner were all
characteristic of the lady. The
woman was apparently about thirty
five of forty years, of age, with re-
gular features of more than ordinary
beauty, hair slightly tinged with gray,
dress stylish and neat with absolutely
no attempt at display, and manner
dignefied and correct. The woman
called on a business man of the city,
craved private interview, which was
granted, and proceeded with her
story, which was in substance as fol-
lows: She said she should be perfectly
frank; in the first place she desired IT
fully understood that she was a lady
n CD of on hoI
been employed as piano player for a
which was stranded in Madison, she
was unable to collect the salary due
her and was without funds; she lived
in st. Paul and was trying to get
home; had gotten this far and desired
the business man to assist her on the
way, saying she could not do promis
cuouS begging and hoped she would
not be compelled to repeat her sad
story to another man in town
etcetera. The business man was
touched-in fact he was touched twice,
first by the story and then by the
woman, who thanked him sweetly for
an oblOng strip of q. S. paper with a
V in the upper left hand corner.
After she had gone satisfied feeling
stole over the business man. 1t GER
tainly was sorry plight for lady
to be in. He didn't have money to
burn, but he could spare the five in d
good cause. He had done good deed;
he had ''helped the weary traveller
on her way" and his soul was filled
with peace, which few hours after
ward was turned to wrath when he
learned that he was only one of many
to whom the same song had been
sung, and this wrath was only par
TALLY asSuaged by the knowledge
that others had been touched" by
that 'I'll be perfectly frank with
you' story. The woman gave her
name AS Mrs. Elliott, said she was a
widow and claimed to be a musician
of ability. She was not we'll. she
said, and was unable to do any kind
of hard work, but there are those in
this city who are of the belief that
she is pretty 'strong." So far as /
have been able to learn. the woman
secured in Sparta sixteen dollars in
money, her dinner, hack fare paid to
the depot and ticket to La Crosse.
The same train that brought Mrs
Elliott to the city brought letter to
r. S. Dodge from his brother at
Columbus, saying woman of her de-
scription was working the towns
along the Milwaukee railway, so that
he was prepared for her when she
called on him, but before that time
she had already done pretty fair
business In Sparta.
The belief is pretty general that
the woman has an agent who visits
each town in advance of her, ascer-
tains the names of men likely to be
touched by the pathetic story, and
leaves written instructions which she
gets on her arrival. while he goes on
to lay the wires at the next stand"