Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-28
DOORS OF M'KENTY'S
OWN HOME ALWAYS
OPEN TO SLUM GIRLS
Mission reacher Gives Best
He Has and His Daughter
Shares Her Bed With
Them.

Just about every newspaper reader
knows Bob McKenty, old-time detective.
former Director of Public Safety and
now the ruling power at the Eastern
Psnitentary.
The Tenderloin knows his brother
Thomas W. Mckenty, a preacher, i'll
charge of the rescue department of the
City Missionary Society of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, much better
Ask in the Tenderloin, DO you know
MCkcnty2" and the man with his trou-
sers frayed and his pockets full of holes
because they have nothing to carry will
reply, Which one do you mean-the one
out at the Eastern Pen or the one at
242 North Eighth street,"
on Eighth street is rescue mission,
and many a kiddie has been rescued
through it, II rescue means taking a
child off the street and giving 1t home.
The Rev. Thomas McKenty has only
a small house. He has a daughter of his
own. His wife formerly taught school in
Pittsburgh when her home town did not
sport that N" as a finale. She taught
school when old-timc school teachers
We're in fashion. She is teaching school
the same old way today, and she is be-
loved by a group of small girls.
Just not TO slight Mr.. McKenty, it Is
we'll to say that before he entered the
ministry and put frivolous things be-
hind him he was a fireman. That is all
done with, but he still carries the wide
set eyes and the heavy jaws of one OF
those fellows who does not know when he
is whipped.
There are no family names going to
be used in this narrative, and, although
each Of the girls attends a public school,
IL is not necessary to name tho school.
Some misguided kid might Just try
t. kid one Of these little kids in
question.
Alice, and she has a bully fine last name.
too II her father had not drowned it in
whisky glasses, is foster-daughter of
tho MrKeutys. She lived with the Nc
Eentys for several years. Her sister
Ethel, II years old is still living with
McNenty's own daughter, Alice, by the
way, Is Is years old,
Alice and Ethel her sister, lived with
their parents in a court in the Tender
loin during their infancy, They were
accustomed To see their father come stag
g'rnG into the house. They were acCus-
toned 20 see their mother upbraid him
and Get knocked down for talking Just
the truth but too much OF it. one night
the mother crumpled up under the table
from a blow and lay very still. Ethel
thought she was dead Her father knew
better; he had put over knockout
probably the first in his career lie had
never tried II against men in saloons,
Ethel and Alice had been going TO
McKcnty's Mission. To Mr.. McKenty
and mis- wife they sped. They had left
their mother. as they thought, lifeless
Their father was ravinE, The Rev. Mr..
Mckenty sent the police around TO the
little house in the court The mother
was cont TO the hospital, the father 10
the House OF Correction and the girls
went into Mrs McKenty's home.
One ~ these days when you, reader.
call Main or Walnut seventy umpty-um
and the exchange girl says, Please re-
peat" lust bet il is Alice. She is making
good with n telephone company
She has not only left the Mckenty
home. nut she has little house OF her
own She has her mother. She has her
father oCCa sionally She expects that he,
too. wtl. he a permanent boarder after he
dnds out how fue three meals day are
compared 10 scent whisky.
NoW for another.
Myrtle Is l2 years old. Her stepfather
was IN the habit of twisting her by the
chin and saying: Whose brat are you?''
Myrtle did not know the meaning OF all
this but she knew the meaning OF
knife in her stepfather's hands when
her mother was on the floor. Just 70
show that she vas made OF the right
stun. whoever her father might he, she
stepped between the blow and her moth
er Her hand was gsshed.
At the hospital while her hand was
being dressed Mr. McKenty met her. She
went home yith him and his wife.
There are many other girls who have
sat at the MCEentys' small dinner table
and who were later found homes. Some
ust mentioned stiIl board with the Nc
Keutgs and do nothing but study their
lessons,
That is wrong, for all Of them are
nos making Christmas presents for their
parents or their best friends. out, of
course. the best friends include the Rev.
Mr. and Mrs MeKenty.