The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-11-12
TWO WOMEN TO
81 R MN G H A NJ
RESCUE HOME
SALVATION ARMY WILL PROVIDE
HOMES FOR THEM THROUGH
THE KINDNESS or CAPT. STE.
PHENS.

last night for Birmingham, where they
will enter the Rescue Home OF the
Salvation Army. The women have
been cared for by Capt. Steghens in
charge of the local army and sent to
Birmingham through his kindness. and
there they will find comfortable homes
and he well cared for.
| One Of the women, who has, during
the past few months attempted to
commit suicide on several occasions
while living in the restricted district,
handed to Captain Stephens last night
a history OF her life which is as fol-
lows:
MY mother and father were mar
ried quite young and were the parents
of sixteen children. My mother was
kind and submissive, while my father
was a drunlxard and naturally unkind.
| They were very poor and by the time
I could walk were in destitute circun-
| stances and there was nothing for me
to do but go to work. My father fin IL
| ~ deserted by mother and left Balti-
more, our home, and we never saw or
| heard Of Hmm afterwards. worked
! the best could in attempting to sup
port my mother, and finally she was
stricken with fever. became despon-
dent and ran away from home, going
to Scranton, Miss. where I got work
in a canning factory and sent my
earnings to my mother.
There I met my ruin in the person
of a young man who paid attention
to me- He placed me in school and
paid my tuition for three months. I
was only eleven years OF age. I was
then working as servant IN home and
the young man was kindness itself,
doing everything possible for me, and
this turned my head for had never
known Kindness before I fell in love
with him and compiled with his every
wish I realized my sad mistake while
was in school, but still it did not
bother me much, for my life was SO
much easier than it had ever been
before. After being in school three
months the young man took me to
Mobile and placed me in a house in the
restricted district, telling me 1t was a
boarding house, and promising to re-
turn and marry me soon. I never
saw him again.
"Weh, had started the downward
path and saw no chance of lettering
myself so continued, especially as [
was naturally weak. remained there |
for six months then joined carnival
company to have a good time. 1 was
taken Ill and then sent back to Scran-
ton to the people for whom I had |
worked. They cared for me and did |
all possible, but they were poor and |
the others of the city refused to lend |
me a helping hand at a time When
had determined to lead a better life. |
The respectable people instead Of as
sisting, pushed me further down, and |
finally disheartened and discouraged |
went back to Mobile and the old |
life.
'I remained in this life four years |
and five months when finally I met !
a young man whose family stood high |
and we went to Scranton and were
married. He prepared a home for me
and his people took me in as one of
them. We lived for more than a year
happy and contented and then the
devil again entered my life and ruined
a happy home. This devil was in the
person of a friend Of my husband and
I, thinking nothing Of the man who
had saved me, ran away from the
home he had given me, wiki this man
coming to Pensacola with him. Here
we lived for a short time and then
he went home. I would go to his home
city, once each week secretly, for he
was a. man Of prominence in his town,
and finally I saw that he had tired Of
me, and I ceased my visits. I then
realized to the fullest what a mistake
I had made and, without home or
friends, was compelled to again seek
the old life. I then became so thor
oughly discouraged that I attempted
suicide three times, burt some one al
ways interfered and saved me, though
[ ann still suffering from the effects
Of some Of this poison. /.
IT became addicted to drink and
7 cd |
up four different poisons and took all.
but again the doctors saved me, but
It left me paralyzed for life-and also
one of the most miserable and I'M
happy women living. I was on the
verge of making sure my death some J
few days ago when the Salvation Army !
-ook me in charge, and now I feel en- )
,ireIy different and will soon leave
with them to do better. This time /
nm determined to do right, for I have I
so much sorrow and pain, !
through my wrong doing, that I am
determined to walk the straight and {
narrow path now that one more OPP {
1ortunity is offered me. I thank God t
hat have fallen into the hands Of |
he Salvation Army and when / re- t
cover I intend to enlist in the work I
Ind try to assist them in saving others. Z
an conclusion I want to give all
iris a warning and trust they will {
reed and especially those who have
ZONES no matter how poor they may
,e. for it is better to remain pure and
i've on a loaf than to have the fine I
clothes that come at first to those I
vho sin. Good times and fine clothing {
an never regain in the happiness If
,orne and virtue. the dearest posses c
ion Of woman S
MAY the kind public please pray t
or me that 1 may be strong and fight {
IL evil temptations. a
Important. t
~. =. -.tAS that Cha m hArlaiTss | n