The San Francisco call., 1908-03-14
.JERF X. COOKE
BEGS AID FROM
GIRLS RELATIVE
Former Hampstead Rector Finds
Himself a Failure in
World Battle
Living in Comfort With Miss
WhaIey, He Wires Tale
of Sickness
I'VE VIII Win Yet Says Young
Mother, But Hears No
Echo From Him

Unable further to bear the burden he
took upon himself when he violated the
laws of his church, convention and God
by deserting his wife and eIoping with
Knodc Cooke, formerly pastor of one
of the most fashionable EpiscopaIian
churches in the United states. stepped
down from his isolated position yestcr-
day and begged aid from the ones
whom he sacrificed In order to attain
personal happiness.
I The task which he had undertakes
proved more than his strength could
overcome. The battle of life as a man
among men, for which he gave up home,
happiness and fame, has left him de-
feated and aesoIate. The laws of na-
ture and man which he defied have
proved stronger than himself and his
beckoned eloquent appeals from the pu-
pit of ST. Georges church in Hempsted,
Long island. were too delicate for the
workaday paint brush. Defeated, broken
and an outcast Rev. Jere Knode Cooke
stepped down from the pedestal of his
pride yesterday and through the woman
who is the mother of his child tele-
graphed to her grandmother, asking for
money.
ASKED ONLY A CHANCE
- -. .io,,,5 ,,;+, -Ieioretta
whaIey, and when discovered in hiding
in San Francisco asked for nothing
more than to be let alone and allowed
TO tight the battle OF life. The chance
was given him. The criminal proceed
ings in Hampstead. \. j., were dropped.
For few months he tried, but the
burly world of men proved far differ
ent from the exclusive parsonage of
fashionable church. The man who had
won success after success at lawn
fetes, drawing rooms and afternoon
teas was hopelessly beaten in the
sweat of ones brow.
Not that the world had treated him
harshly as compared to thousands of
others; but because he lacked the fight.
In his telegram to Mrs. Kezieh Whaley,
the girls grandmother. it was stated
that he and the baby were sick, but
this did not prove to be true.
He was found living In suite of
rooms in Masonic avenue. The apart
ments had been newly furnished pos
sessing an air of comfort and refine
ment seldom found in house keeping
rooms Floretta Whaley, tall, beauti-
full but a trifle gloomy, appeared in a
new navy blue velvet dress. Her blonde
hair was caught up with an expensive
gold comb. The baby's clothes. neat
new and undeniably pretty, were on
a chair.
COOKE SEEMS PROSPEROUS
Cooke himself. youthfulIy clad in
natty gray. tan shoes and vivid pecktie.
looked the very picture of contentment.
There was even jaunty boutonniere in
the lapel of his coat. The baby looked
pale and peaked Cooke said it was the
hot weather and the mother kissed it
convulsively, after the manner Of girl
Hmothers.
You teIegraphed you were destitute"
he was told. .'and in need of money.
Is that true?'
Il telegraphed for help he said with
quick. nervous gesture of his hands,
but He checked into silence and
the girl moved toward him to lean over
his chair.
Look here" he broke out. Il told
you in May. wnen you first found me,
that was able to fight my own way,
and now-now
We'll, now?s
We'll. find cannot. 1t isn't in me,
/ suppose. / have been a failure Just
made mess of everything"
The girl dropped her hands on his
shoulders.
We will win yet" she said. she
spoke defantly. and then changed to a
tone of defense
His training was wrong" she con-
tinued. mo man can change suddenly.
and we only need little help to tide
us over hard times"
sOthers want the same said Cooke.
only we are different from the others.
We cannot ask friends to help us. be-
cause we threw aside friends. We
laughed at the world-and the world
will laugh at US. Lately I have begun
TO realize that no man, however strong
he may be or however great may be
his incentive. can buck the world. 1t
is older than us and stronger"
WORDS FRIGHTEN GIRL
The girl looked frightened at these
words, as il seeing In them a lapse of