Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-07-27
Lights Of Network
BY [. L. STEVENSON

nlteen years Of age. She is built
rarher slight and her big soft brown
eyes nave an expression as IL she were
a httle girl alone in a large and rather
terrifying world. At least that was the
Impression gained by q New York cou-
PIE who, taking an evening spin on
tne Jersey side, encountered her stand
ing oy the road with a big suitcase.
Ihey stopped and offered to give her
d hIt' which she accepted gladly.
Asked where she was going, she re-
pned Newton. AS that town was many
miles distant and it was getting dark.
the wife invited her to 60 home with
ner. The girl consented willingly. It
dlont make any particular difference.
she said. when she got to Newton.
On the way back to New York. a
stop was made at a roadside restau-
rant. The girl said she had had only
a cupful Of coffee so far that day.
The meal she ate verified her state
ment. After eating, she seemed to re-
TAX. Her name Ia Jackie Ray, she
said. She had been, brought up in an
Ohio orphange. When she had grad
uated from the eighth grade, she was
kept In the orphanage to look after 9TH
er children, though she wanted to 60
to high school. Finally, she was al
lowed to attend high school and earn
her own way. When the depression
came she couldn't earn anything, SO
her education ended when she was a
junior. Rather than remain in the
home, she ran away. Instead of be-
Ing fifteen, she Is twenty-five years
old, she said.
In her travels she has crossed the
continent three times and has been
from the most northern to the most
southern borders the same number of
times. She has slept in municipal
lodging houses all over the country.
She has also slept in fields and in hay
stacks. She calls her suitcase "home."
In 1t she carries clean clothes and q
small electric iron. She washes her
clothes at the municipal lodging
houses. But she can't iron them there
because that takes electricity. So she
does her ironing at gasoline filling
spa res, the attendants cheerfully CIV
ing her the privilege. In fact, she
classes gasoline filling station attend
ants as gentlemen. Truck drivers
come in the same class. The only
man with whom she'll ride alone IL
truck driver. They are glad of COM
pany and never get fresh.
Naturally, she has had many I'M
pleasant experiences. Several times,
when she has been unable to turn the
ignition switch. she has leaped from
ears going at high speed. Generally
that does not worry her because prac-
tice has made her expert. But there
are occasions when she hasn't time to
unload her suitcase. Then she loses
her ''home." That means that at the
next town she has to find a job and
work until she earns money enough
to buy a new suitcase and more cloth
ing.
It was true, she said, that she was
going to Newton. But she didn't Intend
to stay there. After a short visit she
would be on her way again. She has
no destination. She merely hitch
hikes here and there. She doesn't know
what is to become Of her. The wan
derlust has become such part of her
being that she cannot stay in any one
place. She wouldn't advise any other
girl to follow her example. There
have been many days when she has
not eaten. And there have been many
more when she wanted to stop and
rest. but had to keep on going.
Jackie Rays story interested me.
After my friends, who had picked her
M and sheltered her, had told me
about her, certain statistics relative
to homeless, wandering girls suddenly
became real. Oh, yes, there's one 9TH
er thing. She could have stayed as
long as she desired in pleasant home.
Rut after bath aud a breakfast, she
ouietlv repacked her suitcase and was
on her way.
Q, 1888. Bell syndicate.-WNu Service