The Washington times., 1904-07-23
LITTLE STORIES OF WASHINGTON LIFE
IN FUCKER ALLEY
(The Missionary's Story.)

I'VE have the wise A c. now, those
days are dead and done
When mission schools by methods In
spiratiOnal were run.
II was not IN Willow Tree Alley. nor
Tin Cup Alley. nor Bloomfield. nor Goat
Alley. nor Cat Alley. but In a neighbor-
hood combining some OF the character
lstics OF these purlieus. that the Ladies
Guild OF St. Ursulas Church decided To
establish a mission. For purposes Of tie
story it may be called Fucker Alley.
St Ursula's Church does not shelter
quite II 900 virgins. but there are a sood
many, and also a good many matrons
whose homes do not occupy all their
attention. and who find an outlet fer
their superiluous energies il the ladies'
Guild. The guild wished 20 found a mis-
sion school-a day school--Oy which chill
dren could be rescued from the siUms.
The members Of the rescuing party did
not intend TO plunge in themselves-not
after they had once looked at the job.
There were grown yoJtl OF both sexes
ir the alley who did not know their
letters, or much Of anything else that II
was proper for them TO know. At that
time there were several thousand emil
dren IN Washington who had never been
able TO get into schoolnous"s because
there were not scnoOihoUses enough
With such mass OF ignorance aad
other things, the ladies OF IT. Ursula ;
felt that il would be too difficult 10 cope.
So they wrote to the American MissiOn-
airy Association and imported Miss Mary
Clay. who had spent soIae twenty years
OF her life In mission schools. and made
her. not exactly the head o. the school
but the personal representations OF the
Guild Of Fucker Alley.
Miss Mary Clay was a trig, bright-eyed
woman with softly pulled gray mar
and seIf-reliant wavs. She had taught
IN a Kentucky academy where the boys
carried bowie knives in their boots IN
case of trouble; IN an Alabama shed
crowded with pickaninnies, where she
had to put up her umbrella when II
rained to keep her book dry; and she
had boarded around among the crack
ers'' In one-roOmed log cabins Her
new work promised some advantages
md to Judge by the crowd which filled
the room when the lady patronesses
came to the dedication service, the peo-
pIe we're not averse TO the school
Monday morning she had forty
scholars OF varying ages and complex
ions. and promptly decided that they
most needed instruction in the three
RS. with lessons in personal cleanh-
ness and behavior, and, for the girls
at least. she would have sewing lessons
she made them repeat the Lord 5 Prayer
every morning and the names OF TIE
Presidents in the afternoon. Her busl-
nessIike manner and unfailing kind
ness won her their liking before long.
Outsiders had their opinions. however
and expressed it. She was assalled on
her way 10 school by stones and torla-
to cans. Niger teacher. yelled the
white gamins. law, she's WHITE.
yowIed a negro hoodlum.
Miss Mary set her teeth. That Whlch
had not befaIIen her in the waste places
of the land she encountered under the
shadow Of the Capitol. But, she re-
nected, there was also police court
not far from that same dome, ana
thither she went for redress The judge
took an interest in the case and stopped
hostilities by intimating TO the worst
offenders that If he heard Of any more
trouble they would find themselves IN
jail
Things we're going smoothly. and to
the perceptible Improvement Of the air
and appearance OF the classroom, when
in sailed a committee from St Ursula 3
Miss Mary showed her copy-books and
patchwork.
"Ah, yes, it's very nice. isn't it?'' said
Mrs Holly.
quite remarkable" said Miss Pyne.
yes. indeed" said Mrs. HemlOch-
And we think it would be so nice for
all the children 10 wear white aprons.
Please tell them all 10 do so after .his."
But they haven't any," said Miss
Mary.
Our Evergreen Dorcas Society,
limited Miss Pyne-
ITO be sure; we'll furnish the aprons,
If they really haven't any," said Mrs.
Holly cheerfully.
And you'll sec that they wear them,
won't your pleaded Mrs Hemlock.
rather as If she expected Miss Mary TO