The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-19
ADDRESSES MADE BEFORE
THE WOMAN SUFFRAGISTS.

The regular monthly meeting OF the r.
/. Woman Suffrage association was held
i'm tho rooms of the Metaphysical asso-
citation. Hoppin Homestead buildiug,yes-
terday afternoon.
The president, Mrs. A. c. Dewing, was
in the chair, and called the meeting To
order at 3 o'clock, after which came the
usual reports.
After the disposal OF the reports, Po-
lice Matron DR. Mary A jerks of Paw
tucket. was introduced as the speaker OF
the afternoon.
Dr. jerks spoke in a most informal and
interesting way of some phases of her
work
Her recital from beginning 20 end was
OF a character which would certainly ap-
peal with special emphasis To- all human
itarians First of all Dr. jerks is her
self n humanitarian. ss we'll as "A gradu-
ate physician of the Eclectic school of
Therapeutics. I'm beginning her enter
tanning narrative Dr. jerks called atten-
tion to tho fact that the work in which
she Is engaged IN not one which most
persons would enjoy. ON the contrary IL
is one in which the shadows of life pre-
dominate and where misery and sin seem
ever apparent. Dr. jerks told OF ieav-
ing lucrative practice. I'm this city, 20
enter upon the work to which she seemed
called and for which she was specially
fitted. II believe this work is that OF the
master ar well as any other form OF mis-
stonarv labor" said the speaker
II believe in service no matter how
lowly: ] believe. too, that this is wom-
ans work I do not know OF any work
that brings us so closely I'm touch with
s.faf fls.a ltNr
for the unfortunate as does this police
matron work" At this point Or jerks
gave a number of practical examples of
her work which proved 60 oil who heard
her the great Importance OF II and the
need for police matrons Ia every city IN
the country
She described how these depraved wo-
men are frequently brought 10 her direct
from their drunken brawls with scarcely
any clothing ON. without shoes often and
sometimes with only the covering of
blankets about them. These poor Great
ures she said"are brought To me utterly
helpless aud I am obliged 10 care for
them until some degree OF soberness re-
turns Then out OF n stock Of second hand
clothing which l constantly keep on
hand. hastily improylse a wardrobe for
them"
Dr. jerks said also that often whom
these women are recovering from pro-
and wretched II IL then that she mins-
ters to such as these with food brought
ofttimes from her ow~s' able and with but
klndlv words that sometimes lead 10
better life
Or jerks told also ~ the many lost
children brought 90 the station 80 her
from time 10 time when she feeds and
comforts them until the arrival ~
friends In all such wavs "a these are
the words ~ che Nazarine of old real
izod. "Innsmuch az ye did q unto one of
the least of these my children. ye did it
unto me" rFeE |
''Woman's irnuencs IL power. de-
clared the speaker MY own influence
has heen very great and this thought ls
my only recompsnse.
In the course % her talk Dr. jerks told
~ many delicate cases where young girls
had como under her charge whom only
y woman could minister 10 woman Gn
ciosiuH sIi' made strong apDesl ~ wo.
nicn not ~ shJf fhelr unrortnnsts sis