Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-10-31
c.' Stcryette
THE OTHER SIDE.
BY VeIma Caldwell-MeIVilIe.

1t va, some days after Aunt Mel
midas story of the blind tramp that
the school ma'am said one evening,
suddenly looking up from the pile OF
spelling papers she was correcting
What you told me of Joe reminds
me of a case that came under my
notice a while back Under flaming
headlines the daily press announced
the death of noted criminal, Polk
Wells, in the Iowa penitentiary, going
on to outline his career of crime,
breathing righteous satisfaction in
every line that so great a sinner no
longer cumbers the earth. knowing
the other side of this mans life for
the last few years the rehearsal, with
out one eXtenuating word, rather
heated me as Mr.. Smith says.
You see l have long been inter
ested in the orphanage at Council
Bluffs, Iowa, known as the Christian
home. 1t is a grand institution, its
like to be found nowhere else on
earth. 1t is supported by voluntary
contributions; is non-sectarian; ad-
mits orphan children from anywhere;
gives them schooling, food, clothing
and love They are never let out save
by adoption and what is strangest
and best of all, families are never
separated. AS high as five children,
brothers and sisters, have been adopt
ed into one family. 1t scarcely seems
true, but it is"
You don't say, la Duz!" cried Aunt
Melinda pausng by the table, arms
akimbo and lively interest mingled
with incredulity in her face.
Yes, and the manager holds that
this is one of the keys to the phenom-
inal growth and success of the instltu-
ton. However, there is another fea-
ture that interests me even more ana
this is the college for afflicted little
ones. You know right here all our
state societies and institutions are
weak; there are no provisions for the
deformed and sickly children. NO
one will adopt them and there Is no
place for them. Well, at the Christian
home is a large beautiful house set
apart for them. provided with mother
Ey nurses and everything to make the
?ittle sufferers easier and happier
Some wonderful cures have been eff
fected here and of course many lit
tie soul gone from them to God. There
was one, Willie McCourt, a terrible
sufferer, and yet his patience and well
Christlikeness, | may say, were so
noteworthy that people came from far
and near to see him, and there is a lit
tie girl there now have her picture
and she's dear little thing-par-
alyzed. She can only move as some
one moves her, but she Is so sweet
and happy; wants to sing the hymns
the others sing but her poor niue
paralyzed throat
But here am rambling on aboUt
wrong with the school ma'am's throat
as we'll for she chok"d here and Aunt
Melinda seemed taking sudden cold.
But here Cam rambling on abouJ
the home when it was Polk Wells l
began to tell about said the school
a'am, after little pause and with
quite unnecessary severity
Melinda; only seems to me I'd rathen
hear about them blessed little lambs.
Anyhow how many Of them be there?
About two hundred and fifty in the
average family and the capacity Is
taxed at that. There is a publishing
house in connection from which
weekly and a semimonthly paper are
I ,r3I my u. l.
dress changed on one of them and
have it sent here; the other will
nave for mother
90 it is indeed a wonderful thing
and all the work of one selfsacrificing
heroic man, Rev. J. G. Lemen; but
mention of him brings me around %
Polk Wells again. for it was through =
visit to the former to the penitentiary
that the latter came to have another
side to his story, suppose.
Rev. Lemen gained q power over
the man at their first meeting and ere
long the convict publicly professei
Christ. From that time on to the end
Of his life some years later he lived
M to his profession. doing humbly
and faithfully his allotted prison
duties and putting In his spare
moments making wonderful things out
Of horse hair to be sold for the benefit
Of the home. Once he made an entire
bride out of white horse hair and sent
Il as a private gift to Rev. Lemen.
Again he made cane AMI it was con-
sidered one Of the most unique and
ingenious articles ever made byhuman
hands. can not remember how
many colors Of hair were in ii, nor can
Z tell the particulars though knew vi
about it at one time
He fairly idolized Rev. Lemen and