The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-12
Former CongreSSWoman
Takes Position as Maid
in Madhouse.

winnifred Mason Huck. former Con-
gresswoman and the first woman TO pre-
side over the House of Representatives.
got herself sentenced TO prison. -.
Guiltless Of any crime. she sought
answers to the Questions
Are our prlsocs humaner
Can girl, crushed by her fellow
This is the twenty-fffth story, written
BY Winnifred Mason Huck
Former Representative to Congress
from Illinois
ARRIVED in Kansas City
| esrly one rainy morning,
~ checked my bag at the sta.
ton and started out on a hunt for
the town, that is, the business sec.
ton of the city, which is some
blocks from the station.
I found the department stores and
the 10-cent stores. 1 longed to spend
little money, to have a little fun
1t had been so long since I had
dared to spend a cent beyond what
was necessary to live.
I'm day or two, I will get work, u
said to myself. And with that
thought 1 plunged into a 1O-cent
store to spend my money.
Never in my life did I enjoy a
little spree of spending more than
did that one.
1 bought beads, necklaces, pins
handkerchiefs, combs and other
things the girls were allowed to have
In Marysville.
One of the clerks gave me a candy
box to put the things in. This
mailed to the matron, Miss Lourey
who had been so kind to me.
started to look for work.
went from one store. to another.
applied in restaurants.
Back to Station
Finally I came back to the sta
ton, pleased to rest within it's beau
tiful waiting room.
1t is, by the way, one of the finest
railroad stations in America.
took counsel with the Travellers
Aid. asking for the name of an in
expensive but respectable hote,
Mrs. Ohaus was in charge OF the
aid bureau. She gave me hel
services with a pleasant air o.
friendliness.
She called the Y. w. c. A. by tele
phone and, finding that there was
no room for me there, she directed
me to the Park hotel, a small place
sitting up on a shelf overlooking the
station, just across the plaza where
the world war memorial is being
erected.
went up the steep hill and regis
tered there as Elizabeth Sprague.
Next morning ] was up bright
and early and on my way to the
Fernald Employment office, to which
Mrs. Ohaus had directed me.
A young woman was in charge OF
the office. I did not wish to talk Il
her about my Jail experience. A!
time and distance increased, I fount
it easier to avoid the subject.
1t was Miss Fernald with whom
was talking, and I soon realized
that she was older than her appar
ent years in ability. I finally die
tell her Of my past"
IT need work" I explained, "AnC
I should like to work in a store Of
restaurant"
There followed the usual ques
tons. She seemed satisfied. Then
exclaimed, But before you place
me, I feel that l should tell you
have been in Jail"
That's nothing" she said. with
little laugh, and then, after some
thought and a glance squarely into
my eyes, she added, mo one coulC
ever tell me anything bad about
you"
smiled, as I thought Of some o
the perfectly lovely bad things
some of the politicians Of Chicag,
would like to say of me.
And it is not necessary" she con
tinued, "to tell anyone else you hav,
been in jail"
Bitter Contact
was continually meeting thi
warning from women who knew
from bitter contact with the worl
that it would not receive my stor!
in the spirit in which they received
1t.
AS a result Of this interview will
Miss Fernald. I was established b,
o'clock that evening as a genera
house worker in a private SAM
tarium.
The nurse In charge took me t,
my room on the third floor. Besides