The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-03


efh.-Matthew 49,
In a little town up in the sixth dis
trict there is a broken-hearted mother.
A few weeks ago she had the COM
partnership Of a daughter, a bright
young girl apparently with a happy
life before her. But a serpent crawled
into the life Of the girl. and one day the
daughter went away to a larger town.
She had gone to hide her sin.
But it would not hide. The girl be-
came seriously Ill and was taken to a
hospital. Ten days ago the mother
was summoned to come at once to her
daughter. She came, but the daughter
could scarcely speak to her. The
mother was heart broken, but she
could do nothing. and last Monday she
stood beside the grave IN which
strangers were laying away the mortal
part of the daughter she loved. There
We're no services, no words of eonsola-
ton for the sorrowing mother, no
prayer. not a song to soothe her
anguish. Somewhere on the face Of
caused the girls misfortune but who
was too cowardly to help her in her
trouble. Yet she sealed her lips for
into the grave with her.
This is by no means an unusual
tragedy. Such things are of almost
daily occurrence. but the full tragedy
of them is seldom told. Lives that
should be just opening to a career of
happiness and usefulness are brought
to a terrible ending just when life
should be brightest. Last Mondays
papers cold Of a Nebraska girl, who,
weary of the peaceful farm life with
her parents and brothers and sisters,
went to town to work. A short time
ago she went 10 Kansas City, and last
Sunday she died by her own hand at
the altar Of a cathedral there. In an
adjoining column was dispatch telling
of the suicide of a chorus girl only
twenty years old.
A few weeks ago the Topeka papers
contained a brief death notice. It was
very short. but back Of it vas one Of
these heart breaking TRACED Seven
or eight years ago a, young daughter
was the idol of a Topeka family. She
was a girl Of unusual beauty, her fam
/ lily was well-to-do, and life seemed to
promise much for her. But in an evil
moment she fell a victim to the hattery
OF q young man VINO was Jlen DfOInl-
nent in Kansas but whose sin and
wrong doing have since ended lfe's
! ntful fever for him. He was brilliant
and fascinating, but constituencies.
and the little Topeka girl was led
astray by his wiles. Her parents, al
most wild with anguish. tried to save
her, but under his influence she went
| from bad to worse. Disease fastened
itself upon her. She became a victim
/ OF the drug habit and consorted with
the lowest of Outcasts. A few weeks
ago sin and disease had so undermined
her health that she was brought home
to die-and she was only twenty-five.
While the victims OF these tragedies
are not blameIess. what shall be said
of those who are their chief cause ?
/ Considering the terrible punishment
| that falls upon these unfortunates and
the anguish and sorrow that comes to
! their parents and friends, what punish
! ment is severe enough for the authors
of their misfortunes?
once in speaking of this class of hui
man cattle the Savior of men said:
cit We're better for him that a milestone
were hanged about his neck. and he
cast into the sea, than that he should
offend one Of these little ones
Surely that is putting it mildly.