New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-03
DRUNKENNESS IN HOME
FORCES GIRL TO ACT
Young DresSmaker Tells Court
Parents Drink Up Wages of
Herself and Sister.
ASKS A FIGHTING CHANCE
Story Reveals a Family Circle
Where Squalor Reigns De-
spite Daughters Strug-
gle for Better Things.

Grace Fleming. eighteen. demands a
lighting chance. She says her parents
are not giving her this chance, and fur
ther, that she and her sister are sup
porting the family. So yesterday she
hailed John Fleming. her father. end FL
len Fleming. her mother. into court on
the charge of keeping a disorderly home.
Il owe a duty to myself | can't Eve
i'm a stye Home is crushing every drop
of decency in sister and myself" she told
Magistrate Nolan. who listened to the
story Of the girls struggle against
squalor while he studied the sodden
faces Of her parents.
II believe every word this girl mas
said,' exclaimed the magistrate. II ad-
mre her for her hrmnesS. and 7 uphold
her in coming 10 this court for sum
mons for her parents" Gazing at the
sorry father and mother. the magistrate
added: IF that girl were to follow The
force of Your example, she would prob
ably soon b. like you. This case shall be
Investigated.
Grace Fleming went from the courtroom
10 her work in 1ressmaking establish
ment at No is West l03d street. where
She has been earning s. a week for a
year. She has secured her employer as "A
character witness. and the employer OF
her sister Madeline, sixteen, who works
around the corner on Columbus avenue
also speaks highly of Grace. Madeline
stands with her sister in their fight FOR
decency
NO father or mother has the right 10
ruin the lives Of their daughters said
Grace. with her dressmaking apron
tucked up In my heart. | love my
father and mother. and | have fought TO
support them and bring them round to
raise us. with a chance TO do something
for ourselves.
"Once, year ago. priest advised ne
to cut loose from our home. ! would not
do II. for knew II wasn't any use. We
can't live on cold scraps that father and
mother leave after one Of their drinking
spells"
The young dressmaker then fercely
brushed her tears away, and blurted oui
Every mcasly little old cent of my -
and every cent of sisters three plunks
gone for drink when we get home. Say
amt il, now, Just amt It the worst YOU
ever heard? No wonder Madeline says
Damn 1t" Poor kid. YOU can't blame
her. She's heard more swearing tn"n
she's been given food to eat. We'll. ] urea
10 keep out Of court. TO save the disgrace
but they're too old TO reform.
u lust had to do IT, she Kissed through
her Gritted teeth.
At No. 10 West 1coth street tn" reasons
for the girls attitude were plainly VS.
ible This is the home. and the comb
lions I'm il ovcrcamc the caller. The signs
OF drink W re- about Father and mother
gave Grace a Hack character. ana sa''
she had not been home for week ~ l."
the time they were hailed into c"uI l.
They told how she ran around with yo'hE
men and never came home AZ night
And right at this crisis Madeline cam" Hl.
Don't dare 10 tell those lies on sister
she shouted. IN tell the truth. F"t''r
and mother drink everything we can earn.
lis shame to say It, but they have
gone so low they can't help II. ] stand
bv sister She is the only good one li'
the family. Not night has she been
away from home. She always sleeps
here. and she has tried TO make papa
and mamma better. But. Oh Lord.
what's the use? Look al them!
sister said IN court that father ana
mother drank. struck US cursed us win
words that ] can't repeat, and then gave
nc nothing 10 eat when We came home
from work. Well all that is true And
we can't stand IT any more. It's so aw-
fuI that don't care what the law does
10 me"