The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-18
Out-Cast Women are Re-
claimed and Harbored.
A SAD LITTLE GIRL
Alone in a Home of Shame She Waits
for Her Mother, in the Mean
time Keeping Silent Lest
She "Speak TO a
Man."

Ever since a tragedy called the at
tention of the people of Raleigh to a
state of immortality existing of long
years like a cancer on the community,
there have been efforts of a public
and private character, directed at the
driving out of the nuisance involved
in the keeping of the houses by no.
torious and abandoned women.
At first the effort was directed to
the law and the authorities. The city
fathers were greatly conc armed an
parently. All the negro hack drivers
were before them in Secrete confer
ence, and it was supposed that the last
OF the disorderly houses would be
suppressed within a few days. In
spite of the precautions of the city,
however, the houses continued for
while in peace, after the shock had
worn off in a holder and more so1his-
ticated way. The police, of cou Sc.
know of the location of these houses
and the character of the women who
occupy them but there is a dearth of
obtainable evidence which is really
startling. If the law and the ordi-
nances of the city had been left to
have their way, the existence Of the
houses would have been forgotten.
However, the public clamor arrest
ed the attention of a band Of workers
who did not pause at pride, nor hest
tate at contamination. For weeks
they have been going to the red light
district holding meetings, singing
songs, appealing in every way within
their power to the creatures with
whom they had forced themselves into
contact.
Yesterday three of these women
were carried away from their abode
and quartered in the houses of work
ers who figure in the social problem
socially and not through the courts
of law. These women, poor creatures
Pearl and Ethel. All came from the
house of Pauline Thornton, which is
at the corner of Davie and Green
streets, in the city of Raleigh. place
known by all-eXcept the police-to
be the site of house where vice
reigns and debauchery has it's home.
To this place yesterday went the
pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist
Church, went in through the screen
door, in the glare of the day; called
about him the inmates. the Pearls
and the Ethels, and in the parlor on
the right Of the hall knelt on the per-
fumed upholstery and prayed. With
him We're the women, OutcaStS of the
earth, creatures degraded, stunned,
the mark of a pity that runs into con-
tempt. With these creatures the
preacher prayed and when he was
done there were converts in the house.
The preacher did not hesitate. He
struck for righteousness when the
iron was hot. The carriage waited at
the gate. The women were no long
ar abandoned
riage with the preacher. They were
driven to his home. 1t is there that
they abide t6night-Alice Lee and
Pearl" deniZens of the deep East,
trying tonight the novel anchor of
harbor that is safe without fear and
alarm.
The peaceful descent upon these
women was accomplished without fuss
or feathers, and it was only until the
late afternoon that the facts became
known. Then it was ascertained that
the house had been an object of the
charitably disposed during the day.
The seed had been sown and the
harvest had been ripe. In the morn
ing early Christian woman had
called and carried away with her one
of the inmates of the house. Later
IN the afternoon she returned with her
charge, they entered and religious SER
vices were begun. Actlng as a
proselyte, the former inmate pleaded
and exhorted with her associates to
the end that; they lead a better life.
Soon the Rev. Massee arrived, the
Rev. Sylvester Belts, a lady whose
name could not be ascertained The
company went into the house, filed
into the parlor on the left the white
faced boarders gathered around and
the preacher prayed.
What he said, how he made his ap-
peal, what he held out cannot be
known. AT any rate his hearers lis
tened. At the conclusion of the
prayers they rose and went with the
preachers. They shook the dust of mi
guilty from their gowns. They follow
ed in the wake of the outstretched
hands. There was q peaceable con-
quest of love of the house at the cor
ner of Davie and Green streets.
Alice Lee and Pearl-nobody knows
her by any other names-are at the
house of the Rev. Massee. Ethel, she
who went away early in the morning
with her woman friend and came back
to exhort, is stated to be at the home
Of Rev. Sylvester Belts. The house yes
terday was Quiet IT almost seemed