The Washington times., 1920-08-23
WIFE GOES ON
AUCT|ONBLOCK
offers Body and Soul for S2,500
To Save Invalid Husband.
Praised and Blamed.

CHICAGO. Aug. 23.-The amazing
sacrince propoeed by Janet Ellison"
the young wife who offered TO sell
herself for $500 that she might take
ber invalid husband South and re-
store him 10 health, has provoked
much discussion here.
Some moved TO sympathy, pro-
posed that a humane way be found
to get the money in tho girls hands
before some dangerous proposal
reaches her. Many praised the wifely
love that moved Janet Ellison" to
offer herself to a 81, 800 bidder to save
her husband. Others charged her
with degrading the name OF woman
by her amazing ofer.
That a keen study OF the proposed
sacrifice had been made by civic
leaders who read her story was evil
dent.
HUSBAND A ACONsUMPTIvE.
The orfer was first made in a letter
to Frank Farnum, jr.. a lawyer, whose
name she had chosen at random from
Chicago directory. He turned II
over TO the Chicago Herald and EN-
aminer for investigation. Reporters
for that paper. in careful inquiry,
found the story true.
Janet" lives with her husband and
mother in small town about 100
miles from Chicago. The husband is
suffering from tuberculosis. The girl
supports him and her mother on her
wages OF $40 week. There is a
$4,000 mortgage on their home. She
hopes to obtain the money, settle their
debts and take her husband South.
II Will sell myself for forty-eight
l. l.. l.. H. hn r
proposal. "The bidder must be will
ing to pay the money in advance
"HEROIC" TO A CLERGYMAN.
Here is the comment made by rep
resentative Chicagoans on the young
wife's offer.
The Rev. John p. Buckingham. pas
tor OF st. James Episcopal Church:
ut is a heroic action on the part
OF the girl, and believe that be-
fore she would have to go through
with II some way would be found to
stop it. 1t is similar to the story in
the Bible. where Abraham was ready
to offer up his son and had his hand
raised in position to strike when,
through some action OF the Almighty.
his hand was stopped.
"It is no impeachment OF her
goodness to take this action, and |
do not believe that she actually de-
sired to do 1t, but that 1t was the
last resort. Some people sell them
selves when there is no need of 1t,
and do it only for pure badness. l
think this to be case of necessity,
and that she did not do ii because
she really wanted to.
Il think that her motive was good,
and do not believe that thera is any
man who would require her to so
through with her agreement in case
he decided to give her aid.
"INsULT TO DECENT PEOPLE,"
Mrs. Gertrude Howe Britton:.
There is absolutely no excuse for
proposal or action OF this kind.
1t IL an insult to the thousands of
decent people who will gladly help
this woman if her case is worthy.
She is contemplating sin to save
her husband, but ii is better that
she should lose her husband than
her soul"
Mrs. Harlan Ward Cooley:
MRS. Ellison has absolutely no
justiflation for her proposed sacri-
fee. If her husband and mothe r
love her she will cause them greater
suffering If she persists in this
action. ! doubt If the law will
countenancc such a procedure"
Mrs. Frederick A. Dow:
The predicament of this woman
is pathetic. She must have suffered
greatly before making such a de-
cision. She is mistaken. however, IL
she thinks there is no other solution.
There are many people who would
gladly help a deserving case"