East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-10-01
NEW YORK LETTER.


New York, Sept. eff the theo-
logical experts are short of material
to sustain their doctrine of total de-
pravity they must look into the case
of Frederick Hommel OF this city.
Mrs. Frank Hommel. wife of a truck
man, died last week, leaving two little
children, Harry, aged II, and Mamie,
aged s. Toiling as he Is early and
late, the widowed Hommel decided
that he could give little time to his
home, and proposed to move to small
Ter apartments. But little Mamie said
she could look after things, and finally
persuaded her father to keep the old
home Every morning the father left
80 cents for food, placing 1t under
the bureau cover.
Last week the children were sur
prised to receive visit from their
brother Frederick, 20 years old, who
had not been home in five years. Ac-
cording to his father, Frederick had
spent his life In dissipation, making
his home in lodging houses. Freder-
lex demanded money from the child
ren, and the coin which was to buy
their meals was turned over to him.
Another day he came and the brave
little couple gave up the price oftheir
bread without whimper, keeping the
fact secret from their father. When
the brother called last Wednesday
morning he found only 40 cents under
the bureau cover. Hommel the faith
er, had been short of change. Freder-
lex demanded that Harry make up
tho qhcfstaua ha
the elder brother departed.
The children broke the news to
Hommel that night. The enraged
father searched the city for his son,
but finally gave up the search and
turned the matter over to the police,
getting out a warrant for the arrest of
his son. AS specimen of total de-
pravity this case has had no parallel
lately in this depraved city.
Fraudulent Beggars.
There have never been so many
beggars in. the streets as at the pres
ent time, some of them presenting
very pitiable spectacles. The impulse
OF passers is to give. especially If the
persons are from the country. Some
of the beggars are undoubtedly genu-
iilN N'ap~o u hioalfoS, anu al ulllt Ntlil-
porary relief is, without question,
great blessing to the recipient. But
some cf the cases are the very worst
kind OF fakes. One of these was ex-
posed in the court room the other day,
greatly to the astonishment Of the sit.
ting magistrate. who was at first dis
posed to sympathiZe with the beggar
In his arrest.
The officer who had made the ar
rest, proceeded TO show the magistrate
what fraud the man was. He SEEM
ed stopped and crippled; from his
back protruded a lump. One arm
was bandaged its entire length, and
strapped to the body. The fingers of
the other hand were drawn up like
talons. His face was distorted, as IL
he had been injured In some fright
full disaster He was weeping copi-
ously. The officer ran one hand un-
der the prisoners coat and hauled
forth an old coat neatly rolled into
bundle. The lump on the mans back
disappeared. Then the policeman un-
strapped his bandaged arm and show
ed that it was sound and strong. The
bent hand and twisted fingers were
Strengthened and the transformed beg
ger was presented to the court.
Ten days on the island, and get
him out of my sight quickly" ordered
the magistrate.
Wives May Work on Sunday.
The writer of these epistles made a
discovery on Sunday last, which he
hastens to communicate to the theo-
logical world, never having seen any
mention of 1t. He was attending an
Epworth league meeting and there
was displayed huge copy of the Ten
Commandments on cloth. His eyes
rested on the commandment regard
ing the observance of the Sabbath
day, and he kept reading 1t over and
over. Finally 1t occurred to him that
there was something lacking.
Reading once more slowly, he said
TO himself: here is everybody pro-
hibited from working on the Sabbath
day, the sons, daughters, man SER
wants, maid servants, etc" but where
are the wives? And he went into IA
patient search for the wives. but no
wives were there. So he looked into
the Bible, and 10 and behold, no wives
are there either. Now, were the wives
left out because 1t was intended that
they should not he condemned for the
work their husbands make them per-
form on Sundays? The ancients thot
very little Of their women, II being left
for modern thot to put them on a
higher plane.