The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
Bv NANoN TOBY

HAVE adventured since my youth,
some IS years or more, and my
varied career is sufficiently colorful
TO adorn a tale. AS to pointing moral
the unvarnished story OF my years
stands forth a potent sermon to those
who would gamble with fate or the
others who have sought profit by the
same fair or foul methods by which I
fought my way up from obscurity.
/ was born of common people, who
Were content TO remain indigent and
nliterate. I was a pretty baby and
grew into the hashy blonde type of
girl, but the pink and white skin, fluffy
hair and baby features gave no inkling
Of my character. AS a precoeious child
I gripped hard on a masculine strength
of purpose that savored of reinear-
nation.
We lived in rather a low quarter OF
san Francisco, and the moral filth of
. the surroundings precluded any childish
Innocence on my part. can not tell
you the process OF reasoning that
: brought about disgust for everything
around me; maybe it was born of de-
:. sire 1 cherished to hit back at every
man who struck a woman.
The climax came one day when, in a
terrific row. the man. after beating his
wife, threw his infant out of the win
dow The white face of that poor
manned baby has stayed with me
Though many a year. I knew then
g .oT
was no asking permission TO go; cut
myself loose from domestic moorings.
] went down into the town and my
fresh looks and youthful voice got me
a job in a music hall.
In the music hall 1 learned to believe
in social suffrage, and the belief has
been the bedrock OF my life structure.
1t is not possible here TO define in full
just what social suffrage means; suffice
to say that it is a reversal Of the time
worn decree that the woman pays"
This holdup game that social laws have
imposed on women never has appealed
TO me. I grant you that such theories
overthrow the ethics of womanhood,
but I have never abandoned them, even
though they have robbed me of the
sympathy of my fellow creatures.
Music Hall Morality
Ny debut at the music hall was only
remarkable for the nerve displayed in
doing my turn. 1 was still in short
frocks and did the child wonder" act
I piped my songs and learned some
dancing steps. 1 went well with the
audience, and after the turn 1 sold my
photographs at considerable profit. [
made many friends as went among
the tables, and both men and women
gave me money and presents.
progressed from one music hall to
another, always lettering myself
little Ny friends went on tour with
q melodrama, but before they left they
put a theatrical man in charge of my
business. He promoted my interest.
though I had to watch him like a hawk
TO keep him from cheating me- 1 had
grown into a striking young woman.
with a figure that made me a popular
feature among the music hall set and
the frequenters of the bohemian re-
sorts The living pace quickened, and
with the departure Of my two friends
the stodgy virtue of domestic existence
vanished for good and all was young
and keen for the fun and frolic of mid
night revels, and I was the type dear
70 the heart of the young-a handsome
good fellow girl.
Ny eagerness to learn made me an
apt pupil and / readily fell into the
ways Of the new set. There were
gentlemen in the lot, and among the