The Ordway new era., 1906-08-17

,ooklyn,-It was a quiet day In
pollce station. Brownsville was
wing itself and the matron of the
Ion had a whole hour to talk. with
one interruption to wipe the
from the eyes of a small. dirty
induce him to tell the address
kls home and send him on his way
er the guidance of big, strong
Scoat. And the matron, when she
has n few things to tell. In
Mrs, Cox says, with her good
ehuckle. that she thinks she will
ke a book of her experiences to
ke her rich after she retires from
lob Of matron. The boys" have
tested It to her. The boys" are
bluecoats. every one of whom in
oslyn, knows Mrs. Cox and has n
! for her or a word of guying
kn he meets her.
Duties Of a Police Matron.
ktoxication is the usual charge
\ which the woman prisoner is
Knitted. with occasional charges
|hei,, OF assault. an attempted sui
and now and then n woman whose
Us have committed some bigger
b.. homicide or infanitcide.
kiever the charge. they all pass
bugh the station house on their
to the jail or tho penitentiary,
the matron has them In her care.
gets them fresh from their mis-.
beanors and with the stain OF their
pes new upon them. She is the
and often the only ministering
d they know. for 1t Is to the task
nlnistering that most OF the ma.
Is. womenlike, give themselves.
more heartiness than to the
bnleal tasks OF their office.
/ | sat In the comfortable little
f,ment OF the matron. flooded with
fnlng sunshine. each Of the homely
fc,s In the room. and even the pic
z on the walls, seemed to have
|ething TO whisper of the stories
have been told in those rooms.
Pie depravlty they have looked
?. Of the pltiable wrecks OF WON.
pod they have seen pass through
room to the iron-barred cells be-
!. or some OF these crippled
ltures and their stories the matron
ne. Fourteen years of the life
not calloused her sensibilities but.
Pad. sharpened her sympathies,
Tor all the endless stream that
les her way she can listen to each
|heir stories. pity them and hold
a hand TO help II they have not
/ too far TO be beyond helping.
|etimes the judicious, quick inter-
(ion OF the matron can do a great
TO check young offender In the
pward course; at any rate. q
word never hurts even the most
Young Girls Saved.
Pe night two young girls were
|snt Into the station house for in.
Fatlon. fresh, dainty girls.
yea In the finest Of evening gowns,
pea with long coats. 1t was New
rs eve and n bitter cold night.
matron was used to the unusual.
The presence of girls such as
I IN her lodging house made her
and wonder. It was only lit
"Mie before the sleep of intoxica-
wore of and the girls woke to
realization Of their surroundings
'ne horror Of it. Finally. they
calm enough to tell the matron
all happened. They had been
10 Manhattan to a dance with
10Y friends. 1t was so icy cold
'ne escorts suggested before they |
"a the bridge to take something
slm them. and they stopped in q
and drank what the men or
\ LOT them. Unused to taking |
'uian's, as soon as they struck |
old air out OF doors the drinks |
\ 10 their heads and they knew
|, n.tie else Of what happened un-
Wy walked to find themselves in |
police station. What had hap
\ was that the two escorts, find
themselves burdened with girls
xucn Intoxicated to know what |
uappening to them, had opened
! s0or OF tenement house, showed
IN and left them there. The
nad fallen Immediately to sleep |
,s" Sus OF the occupants OF the house
,S,,ns .a over them, had reported to
IsOnce and had them taken to the
1 ~ It was a hideous night for
sris' used only TO the niceties
..sanements Of life.
e ~ the next morning came. with
ssltaole s,aaole appearance at court,
y 'tsssoed not to be taken In the
NJ. tAsason with the other prisoners
- = matron secured The pefmis-
I \ sne sergeant 70 take thsm to
4 nell In the car, and arranged |
N W1vQtA hAn~AAA ~ - -, n A..