The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-21
LIVES LIKE animal.
Homeless Girl Leads qIdfe of Abuse
Since Christmas.

New York, March 21.-Nearly
famished and with only a few rags to
shield her from the weather, Mary
Schemers, a homeless waif, fled into
a bakers shop on North avenue, As
toria, early this morning, closely pur-
sued by a mongrel cur.
The child, for she is only 5 years
old, though want and privation have
indelibly scared their marks Cel her
prematurely aged face, has been since
last Christmas without a roof to cover
her head.
became a drudge for the neighbors,
patiently taking the abuse which was
frequently hurled at her and eagerly
devouring the scanty scraps of food
which were given. Sometimes she was
allowed to sleep in the house where
she had worked. but more often than
not her labors being finished she was
driven into the streets to seek what
shelter she could find
At night, huddled in drafty hall
way, huggirg her poor. scanty clothes
around her, she lay shtvering till the
dawn announced the coming of a new
day with all its horrors, or again
creeping like some poor. hunted ami
NAL, into a dog kennel she slept with
her headd pilIowed on the animals
shaggy coat.
As morning broke she went the
rounds of the tenement houses, beg
RlDg TOT DredQ ana III
ing the various household duties till
she almost dropped from exhaustion,
only to start the weary round again.
This morning was only the beginning
of another of these sad days for Mary,
but it ended differently The baker,
into whose shop she ran shrieSing from
the dog Gained her fears, gave her
food. and then sent for the police, and
the poor little friendless waff was
taken in a patrol wagon to Hunters
Point police station.
After she had been fed and warmer
clothed by the matroE, by dint of gem
tic questioning she told her whole pitt
full story though the suffering through
which she had passed had so blunted
her intellect that sometimes she be-
came absolutely incoherent, and only
uttered meaningless sounds in reply to
her Questioners.
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children and Mary .Schen1ers was con-
veyed to that institution. Before she
left the station, however, the policemen
took up a collector for her and it was
the first time in her poor sad life that
she had ever been spoken to kindly
In the superintendent office of the
society a reporter saw Mary Schemers
after she had slept comfortably and re-
ceived a warm bath 81
MY mother died when I was years
DID," she said, land then some time
later my father married again. My
treated me cruelty She
used to make me stop down in the cell
lar when my work was done, throwing
my food to me down the steps. 1 re-
my father speaking to her about
the way she treated me and asking her
why she did not let me play with her
for she was widow when
my father married her, but she used to
turn on him and say ftsserved me right.
that I was getting all 1 deserved, and
then I was treated worse than ever.
some time after my father died
Ind it seemed to me that the only
friend I had in the world had gone my
married again. She used
20 make me work till I nearly dropped |
had no clothes except some rags
had picked up and in the coolest win |
ers / had to go into the yard and |
hop wood or run errands and I had