The daily sentinel., 1909-01-07
STAR OVER
THE SLUMS OF CHICAGO
Cheer Carried Into Darkest Chicago
OFFERS of Help to the Fallen
Women-Kind Words to
hagdalcnS.

IL one OF the HeaulnS CnuicneS Ol y
+ Grand junction but now resid- j.
i. ing in another city. called our +
1. attention a day or two ago to +
+ an article that appeared recent +
1. ly in the Chicago Tribune and +
+ which tells a story that should J.
l. he read by all. 1t has mes j.
- sage for citizens in general and +
+ pastors and church members in i.
+ particular. The article follows: T.
I. !. j. + 1. + f. + I. +
Sometimes the Star of Bethlehem is
street lamp on the corner or the
door of clergy house.
1t seemed far enough from darkest
Chicago on Christmas eve, yet many
IA sorrowful Magdalen. sitting where
the red lights CLEAN in the Peoria
street bad lands. discerned it's bright
ray for the first time in years when
Dean Walter T. Sumner of the Pro
testant Episcopal Cathedral IS. Peter
and Paul passed that way.
In Levinsky's saloon. at Lake and
Green streets, one of the most motor
ious resorts in the city. the little min
lister preached one of the shortest
sermons ever heard. He entered the
back room of the resort just at dusk,
accompanied by one of the priests OF
the clergy house, and Detectives Bon
Street police station.
Two negroes We're lounging near
the stove. Two white women were
sitting at tables drinking. The place
was heavy with foul air and smoke,
and loud with the music of an auto
matte piano. The negroes started for
the door when they saw the detec-
tives, but stopped in amazement when
the smooth round face of Dean Sum
ner appeared.
He barred his head stepped into the
center of the room, and faced his
strange audience. The bartender
came to the swinging door and stood
wiping his hands,
II have come to wish you a merry
/ Christmas and tell you that | am
| your friend always" said the dean.
| 'If you ever are in need of friend,
/ if YOU are sick, or broke. or tired OF
this life and want to go home, why
come to me at day or night and will
help you That is all"
Then Detective Dempsey opened q
/ suit case and distributed gay Christ
I mas cards with the old, old story OF
| Nazareth written upon them. On the
] backs was the address of the clergy
/ house. The dean turned to go, lifting
: his hat in as oourtly manner as it
!
dies. Something stirred and mosned
in n dark corner. 1t was a woman
| old anu terrible to look upon. Her
head was buried in a shawl.
Tell her mean her, too. said the
| dean. and he passed over to her and
comforted her. A pretty card with
the message of hope was left in her
| trembling hands.
Farther down the street was the
house of the beginnings There were
light and frolic there and red Christ
mas bells hung from the chandeliers
| Giggles, painted checks. penciled eye
| brows and the swish of silk greeted
the priest. Again he stepped for
ward, but this time he varied his
| little sermon.
I'VE are sorry you are here, and
presume you are, too" he said. 81
suppose on a night like this you look
back to the days when you did not
think such life was possible. Just
a few years ago and some of you girls
were playing innocent-eyed at youI
mothers knee. There may be some
little mother tonight wonderine
where her girl is. You may be that
| girl. If you are and want to &c
home. come to the clergy house and
| will see that you are sent"
A young girl who had looked al
first with scorn in her eyes, rushed
out of the room choking with sobs
Another. regardless OF finery, sanl
into a big chair and wept.
So. all evening, the little process
| sion wended its way through th'
streets and alleys, bringing the light
mas eve.