davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
disadvantages
MTRON-HOUSE
cfDETENTION

| amt got it. deed. ] aint!' Look in
her hand I said to the officer. for I saw
that one hand was shut tight. So he took
her hand and gave 1t tap with his club
not hard. though-and she opened IT. and
there was ten-dollar bill all folded up.
Yes, ] have been hurt several times.
One drunken woman hit me between the
eyes and blackened them both. Luckily,
/ didn't have my glasses on. but / was
sight for quite a while. Another time
/ was kicked in the side, and was badly
hurt. Usually, though, we can see some
thing of that sort coming and can get
out Of the way and secure help In time.
When they become unmanageable they
are taken down and put in cell
the same as man. There Is nothing else
to be done with them
Mrs. s. J. Mcleod has been a police
matron for over fifteen years. She IL an
English Canadian by birth. but moved
to the United States after her marriage.
war, and has been dead many years. Mrs.
Mcleod has done her duty in her po-
sition as conscientiously as did the SOL
der whose name she bears. and has won
for herself a name for integrity and at
tention to duty. Like her two sister
matrons, who have also seen years Of
service, she has served at the different
precincts at various times, but now she
Is established at the house OF detention.
Asked if she preferred this place to the
station house. she replied that she had no
choice
'One place is the same as another"
she said. 1T is a matter of business
with me and 1 don't mind where / am.
Yes, / suppose I have had as many ex-
periences as most, but 1 don't think OF
them afterward. / don't say anything fol
or against them. / am here to do my
duty and I do it.
Mrs. Farling. one Of the youngest mat
rons. both In years and experience, once
had charge of an escaped maniac, and
her description of the night hours spent
In soothing the violent creature TO
sleep is most graphic. Though she
came into the department only In
July, she has had some exciting adven-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
ONE WOMAN IS ENTIRE CONGREGATION

when women as well as'men used to ride
to service.
Since Mrs. Walter took possession Of the
old place of worship she has had most
considerable help from the town council.
which gave its assistance in having in
truders moved away from the vicinity OF
the sacred building.
On the outside Is prominently displayed
a notice which says that no games Of any
kind will be permitted within the grounus
and that the birds are not to be disturbed
by any one. This means that the gentle
woman who is the entire congregation Is
that shares her tenantcy OF the place,
and that she is going to protect them
from interference of any kind.
Near to the meeting house Is mute
testimony of what has become Of the
Friends who formerly gathered every
Sunday in the edifice where Mrs. Walter
now worships alone. This is the ancient
graveyard. 1t is pretty nearly filed. with
more than a century's freight OF those
who in life were faithful supporters OF
the faith Of the Friends. Even now there
are occasional burials made there for
while the younger generation has been
drawn away from service at the Old
meeting house, the right of being buried
in the Friends ground is still one that
is insisted upon by those whose parents
belonged to the congregation.
Once a year there is a great occasion
in the little building and then the lone
worshiper of other Sundays has an
abundance Of company. for then is held
Roaring Greek monthly meeting. This
takes place in June.
Most OF the work of keeping the place
in order is accomplished entirely by the
one pair Of hands Of the sole member Of
the meeting.
Thus keeping alive this one little meet
ing house. and maintaining a religious life
where il would inevitably have been
snuffed out, Emma Walter really SYM
bolizes the condition of the Friends in this
country.
II Is sentiment that keeps alive the va
rious meeting houses that mark the
homes Of the faith in the new world.
They are all modest buildings, for the OBJ
lection OF the society to ostentation gov
erned the erection Of their buildings as
well as their speech and dress.
Philadelphia naturally has more OF
these meeting houses than any other city
in the country, though New England and
the middle west, especially Ohio and I,u-
nois, have their share
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07

NE woman comprising a congrega-
tion and worshiping alone in a
meeting house that once had it's full
quota every Sunday, is an evidence that
the gentle Society of Friends is becoming
decimated sadly in the new world.
Mrs. Emma Walter every Sunday morn
ing goes to the meeting house. at her
home in Catawissa, Pa, and there she sits
entirely alone communing with the spirits
according to the custom Of the Friends.
She is the sole local representative of
the faith that William Penn brought to
the new world, and which in the early
stages OF the country's development had
enough followers to make 1t one Of the
most powerful religious organizations in
the country.
But times have changed the religious
conditions that brought about a need for
such an organization as the Friends. 1t
was formed originally as an organization
OF protest at a time when 1t was perilous
to go against the accepted religious or
der.
But 1t was not warlke protest, for in
the opinion of its founders the true prac-
titioners Of religion did not give them
selves up to warfare, nor did they be-
lieve in the ponp and parade Of religious
observance.
What to other denominations was a
proper ceremonial DcCdUlc ulStdStclul "
the Friends. and so in their practices and
in their appearance they sought TO empha-
size their complete HUMILITY of chara ter
The Friends used no title. Even Mr."
and Mrs" were abandoned as forms of
salutation. and in the church observance
emphasis was laid on the need Of silent
communion rather than the parade of ora
tory or music.
But in the gentle life of the Friends
there Is lot the modern, hurly-Surly
world might we'll pause to admire, ana
the case of Emma Walter. who alone
comprises an entire congregation, is we'll
worthy of attention.
Alone and sustained only by her faith.
she is fulfilling the traditions of her peo-
pie She is no preacher. she Is no advo
cate. she is not attempting to make con-
verts Her whole life is centered in living
up to her Christian life as she was taught
it, Not any OF her fellow believers sur
vive in Catawissa, and so she is the sole
remaining Friend to go to the building
on First day. and make her prayers.
When, eighteen years ago. Emma Walter
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
rR5. SJrAcEEoD FATR0Y-
HOUSE DETENTION

smile several incidents. In the case of
two girls who were brought TO the house
of detention not long ago she found mat
ter for amusement. The father of one OF
the girls had notified the police to look
out for her. as she was clipping and was
under age. The couple were apprehended
at Union station, on their way to Rock
vile. The girl gave her age sixteen,
and the man said he was thirty. widow
er with four children. When the girl was
brought 10 the house of detention she
had on short dress under long suit
that she had bought secondhand after
little thing. with a weak face and timid
manner. but she was determined to marry
the man with the four children, though
he was exceedingly poor.
When the girls father arrived he was
found to be a poor fellow who had never
before been in a city, for the friend who
came with him said that when the train
crossed the river he had exclaimed, upon
seeing a small tug steaming along,
There, just look! There comes a steam
boat 1t was the first steamboat he
had ever seen. Upon arrival at the house
he informed the officers that the girl was
only fourteen years Of age; that the man
was over forty, and his oldest child was
past sixteen. In the face OF this how
ever. the little girl declared that she
would run away again an marry i'm.
jist tn same"
The other girl was picked up together
with her prospective husband and a
friend because of their apparent youth.
The girl was sixteen and the boy twenty:
When brought to the house she cried
continually and refused to be comforted.
She declared that her parents had no OBJ
lection to the marriage. but that his peo-
pie did object. They had intended to
bring another couple, but the other girl
had been taken sick at the critical juno
ture and so she and her intended" and the
male friend had come anyway. Investi-
CATION proved her assertions to be true,
and a telegram from the father straight
ened the crooked path OF true love, and
the girl went on her way to the temple
Of Hymen.
when the boy brought the news to
her that it was all right" said Miss Wy
mer. the other little runaway was pres
ent. and / asked her what she did. Why.
said she, she jist went up an lain 'er
head on is shoulder, an cried an cried
'sif 'er heart d break. We'll, what did
he do?' 1 asked, merely because I liked
to hear her talk, she was so droll. Why
said she, tossing her head. he jist stood
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
BY HELEN HELP
Genevieve Who Longs to Be a Soul Mate.

will want to go back to his wife II he
has children ne will want to go back so
that his son and his daughter will con-
slider him a nice man.
If a man has no children he will want
to go back because a wife, even a half
way pleasant wife, is like your favorite
armchair and your old slippers-so easy.
Whereas, the sweetest soul mate that
ever soul mated has got to be treasured.
Frequently and oft that soul mate has
got to be reassured: and that takes gray
matter and the tissue of the affections.
What man wants when he gets about
so old-and they all get about old
rather young, my dear-what he wants
is rest and quiet. and feeling that he
is going to be considered and taken care
of. In short. he wants all the comforts
quiet. gyunt HUH or not grunt at all.
when his companion completes long
and spright!y monologue.
You can't grunt Huh" at a soul mate
She has got to be told that she has not
made a mistake, that he does not think
less of her because she has overstepped
the conventional code. That the fact that
she has so overstepped for him makes
her all the dearer to him. That she will
always be just so dear to him. That
he will never get weary. never miss the
things he has given up for her. never
blame her for the step they have taken,
which is and was. and ever shall be,
his fault. and his alone.
wen. just yOu Imagine tire dNcIdst
man keeping that up for any soul mate
on earth, You know he won't. He can't.
II Is beyond nature.
He is going. after while. to want
the children his true wife bore him.
He is going-sOme OF these fine morn
ings when his soul mate has wrinkles
about her eyes and her hair IN little
twist. because she Is seeing the wrong
kind OF visions too. maybe-he Is going
to remember that wife of his youth In
that springtime of life when he wooed
her. He is going to remember how
pinky-rose were her cheeks with the
glow of morning upon them. how dewy-
dear her eyes as she told him-oh, all the
thousand silly things she used to tell him
how honey-sweet her mouth in their
first kiss. He is going TO wake up to al
this some morning. and look across the
table al his soul mate and see every
little wrinkle about her eyes. And then
he will think OF the friends the asso-
ciates he has estranged-the best Of the
bunch. Of course-of the business he has
lost, even of the house and yard he used
to take such pride inland then will
come that tug OF longing at his heart.
When this comes-and come II will
he Is going to shy plate at his soul
mate. And she has got ii coming to her.
some megaphone-voiced angel with a
the sweet Genevieves OF this broad land
mate propos tion-girls. dear girls you
will be - that man WEAKNESS just as
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07

began her work, she found that the his
toric. meeting house had dropped into
disuse, and was not far removed IRON
the certainty of destruction.
1t had been closed for twenty years, !,
was surrounded with a growth of brush
and grass higher than a mans head, ano
a host of distracing influences removed
from il the worshipful atmosphere essen
tial to any church, but especially so e.
a meeting. house devoted TO the quiet and
thoughtful obServances of the Friends.
Mrs Walter lived in Philadelphia, and
il was while attending meeting there that
she learned that the historic meeting
house at Catawissa had been closed, be-
cause there no longer was any one there
who cared to worship or even to guard
and preserve the interesting old building
This condition seemed to her so regret
table that she determined to change her
ture that had seen the worship of heI
gentle people before the dawn of the nine
teenth century.
She went to Catawissa and was courte-
ously welcomed by the town authorities.
who turned over to her the key and gave
her permission to make needed repairs.
Her first act was TO put the roof in re-
pair and have done other work necessary
to atone for disuse Of two decades.
The house itself is still in excellent
condition despite its century and quar-
ter of existence. The board shutters and
window frames fit as closely as do those
of more modern construction. and the
narrow doors open on either side of the
necessary Partition of the early times. in
tended to keep the sexes apart during
worship.
Some of the benches inside the little
meeting house antedate the building it
self, having come down from the earlier
meeting house which stood on the same
site in 11t0 Pitch pine certainly shows
its enduring qualities In the long life
that has been granted to this venerable
and not well cared for structure.
On either side of the room is an anti
quated sheetiron stove, and when the
weather becomes too chill for the interior
TO be comfortable the custodian of the
building. Mrs. Walter herself, kindles a
little fire.
When the house was built II fronted on
the old Reading road, which wound its
way through the woods. But the house
has outlived the road. which is there no
more. The ground has been filled in
around the door so that only the top OF
the stone of the old-time horse block re-
mains i'm evidence-a reminder of the time
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07

right still with lis hans hangin' at is
sides, an let 'er bawl, that's all at he
did,
It used to be unnecessary for matron
to be present at the photographing and
measuring of a woman criminal. but or
late years il lis not permissible to do this
without a matron TO do the requisite
arranging Of the clothes and person One
OF the matrons said that she had known
criminals to draw their feet up so as IN
shorten them. and to allow their bodies
to droop slightly 10 make an incorrect
height. and ii used to be that the ON
GERS were permitted to hold her. but now
adays matron is the only one who
touches the subject.
Mai. Sylvester deplores the fact that he
is not allowed to have more matrons for
the police department The law is that
all persons arrested shall be searched.
but II is almost Impossible with the lin
tied number OF matrons provided by Con
gress. he says, to search all female pris
oners. The matrons are sent from No. I
precinct to search women who are ar
rested in other precincts, and are many
times obliged to leave prisoners at their
own station unguarded except by the OFF,
Ger outside. Often these are women rem
dered desperate by the thought Of their
disgrace or violent from drink. and need
to be watched constantly. Matrons are
not allowed to sleep while there is a pris-
oner in their charge.
There should be-" said Maj Sylves-
ter. ''matrons on duty at all the large
precinct stations at all times. The law
is that all persons arrested should be
searched and there should be a sum
cient force Of matrons to attend TO IT,
Il
women and faithful in the attendance
upon their duties. but they cannot per-
form the impossible.
Yes, the matyons must conform to the
same rules and regulations as do the men
of the police department, and they must
be women Of unquestionable character
Each one has been vouched for by ten
women OF well known repute and good
standing in Washington. There are many
improvements / should like to accomplish
for the police department and the in
creasing Of the matron force Is decidedly
one Of them"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
Sorry, Old Chap, Haven't Got a

Sorry, Old Chap, Haven't Got a
Cent"
the easy-going man with the one or two
superfuous chins.
This boy had that do-you thing sewed
up in a canvas bag. He wrote the ritual
and the bylaws for 1t. He knew every
kink of It and played each and every kink
right here in little, old Washington. Trou-
BILE is that the other fellows to whom he
handed the prong won't own UP. like 1 do.
1.-THE way he handed 1t TO me the last
time was thusly
He met me on the street one day when
I was on my way to my tailor's to order
a suit of clothes. had forty bucks in my
nankeens wherewith to pay for the
clothes in advance. The suit was going
to cost just those forty metallic men.
"'Where you goin', matey? the do-you
boy hailed me.
II told him.
He asked me If l meant to stand there
and acknowledge that l had forty whole
iron dollars in my pajams.
II told him yep.
mace for you. say. for W? said he to
me.
No more use,' said I to him, than it
would be for you to successfully seek to
ma,e from the Greenough statue Of
Mister G. Washington
wen. said he a two-spot would come
in so handy that could use it almost for
an augur or an adze or a pickax or some
thing
NIX on the two. said l. If 1 had
all the twospots you owe me now. I'd
spend the winter on the Riviera
He took it gayly enough. He was
gay boy believe me. I liked him, too. He
was the original do-you kid. but l just
nachully couldn't help liking the son Of
a gun.
Say he said to me in a reflective sort
of way. as he trudged alongside OF me
on my way to the tailor's. dye know
that ]. too, need a suit of clothes?'
'Thasso" said /. Highly unimportant
il true
Ives, need a suit the worst way, said
he. chirpily. Now, I'll tell you what.
shipmate. I've got the bulliest little
scheme ina ginable. You know, of course
that the tailors in this mans town are so
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07

he won't ask me for any deposit-hel,
make the suit for me on tick, as a simple
matter of fact
We'll. that didn't look so bad to me.
IL only meant that my do-you mate
should have hold of my ten-spot for a
few little minutes. And so I pulled out
my little forty-dollar wad and stripped
one of the tens off and handed it to him
BY this time we had reached the tai
lor's. The hull thing went through with
clatter up to the moment when, in ac-
cordance with the pact. 7 reached for my
roll and said 'Aw. shucks find that
I've only got $50
MY do-you friend was at that moment
looking out OF the window. l began TO be
worried. I walked over to him.
Say, old man, do you happen to have
ten on you? said to him.
/" Sorry, old chap, but L haven't got a
nickel he stunned-yep, stunned is the
word-me by replying. just like that-a-
way.
Then, with some kind Of mumbling
about man being on a car out there that
he wanted to see. he beat il. Did / ever
get that ten? Foolish question No. 1905
76o.''
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07

was his plain. everyday wife. She. II
this sorrow and trouble, has her owl
self-respect. the support of all right
thinking people and the blessed love O.
her children.
But what will you have?
You will have, IL so be you have q
sense of justice. only that taste OF myrrf
in the mouth, that feeling Of II am, get
ting what i earned
If you are one OF the many, many
weak ones. you will have such horror o.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
Ra 5ARAH FEn1N1F1bL
r1ATRON moi PRECn1CT TWENTY
YEARS IN THE, SERVICE -

lures with prisoners. One woman. a good
looking and well spoken white woman,
apparently young, tore her waist almost
of her while she was trying to search and
quiet her The next morning she was
very penitent and promised to send her a
new hand-embroidered waist to replace
the one ruined.
II think one OF the most pitiable things
is the young girls who are brought I'm here
Some of them are mere children. You
would be surprised at the number of
Young girls. many OF them simply foolish.
who are arrested for lettering around the
streets with women known to the police.
Nearly always one visit is enough for
them I'm glad 70 say
Mrs wehrie is described by the ser.
geant in charge at the house Of detention
as "a born matron." She was for three
years caretaker of st. Adams parish
hall and chapel. and is very highly re-
spected there. Her husband was mem
Der Of the Washington police force. sew
eral years before his death, some years
ago. She is especially fond of children
and mothers the little ones who are taken
to the house OF detention from the streets
She was rocking a three-year-old white
boy. who had lost himself in the second
precinct, as she told Of her work.
81 came IN the same day that Mrs
Farling did she said, with her CHEEKY
smile, land I really like the work.
don't have a bit of trouble. because l STOP
to consider that these people who come
in here are human as well as 1. I like
children and am always glad to see one
COME in, though don't mean to say that
I'm glad when they are lost, or anything
like that" She laughed heartily. Didn't
that sound funny?
II had three myself she added, softly
land they all died when babies. I rock
the black ones to sleep. too. / give them
a bath and put them in clean night
gown, and then I rock them to sleep
Anything that is little and helpless ap-
peals strongly to me-
"Matron. bring down the boy" called
the sergeant from below. 'ais father:
come for him.
Hes asleep. and 1 was just going e
put him to bed" called Mrs. Wehrle. The
father came up, accompanied by Sergt
Bode and then began the difficult task Of
waking the child. This was finally &C
complished, and he kissed the tender.
hearted matron with a good will before
he departed with his parent. still very
sleepy.
Perhaps it is because she is young and
not worn by her experiences that Miss
Wymer sees the lighter side of her work
At any rate, she recalls with humorous