z:L,
IN DARKEST CHICAGO.
IVORKINO IN THE SLUMS OP
SOUTH CUARK STREET.
fftro Tlrclcn Women Who Hare Dared
to light Satan on HI Own Hattle
ground Making New Men mid
Women. "
VERY street haa
Its necullnr chnrnc-
T(q p3 terlstlcs, but there
is one qunmy iuw
or Clark street,
Chlcngo, possesses
which seems to cov
er up every other
distinguishing feat
ure. The most strik
ing thing about this
locality Is tho dirt
Everything is filthy. Tho street, houses
and people all need ronovating. Tho
only thing half way clean, It would
Boom, Is tho ploco of Bky ono catches a
glimpse of overhead, and oven this Is
often soiled and blotted by tho misor
ablo chimno'ys which ladon the atmos
phero with their burdon of smoke. But
thero is on bright Bpot 1 til this
gloom. Below Van Duron street, near
Harrison, thoro is a houso which shows
clear windows, with neatly painted caB
ings, and tho pavement in front looks
enow whito compared with tho adjoin
ing stores.
Tho building is a one-story structure,
and tho announcement in tho window
reads that it is tho "Central Baptist
Church." Inside tho houso showB a
largo audionco-room, cheerful and well
lighted, with two hundred chalrB or
moro, which afford amplo seating ca
pacity for its congregation. In tho
rear aro three cozlly furnlshod parlors,
which aro used for social gatherings.
Tho church is thrco years old, and from
a dozen mombcrs It now numbers near
ly a hundred. Considering tho locality
In which it is situated, this is decidedly
oncouraglng. Rov. T. L. Smith, tho
pastor, is a man particularly adapted to
this work.. His sermons aro not ornate,
but thoy find their way to tho hearts of
his hearers. His congregation is a very
poor ono, and tho majority must bo
helped in various ways, but tho main
tenance of tho church is mado posslblo
through tho generosity of I. B. Enrlo,
tho owner of tho ground upon which it
stands and who, himself, built the
church. Ho gives tho uso of it free, and
also heats and lights it gratuitously.
Tho Contral Baptist Church is more
than an ordinary church. It is tho cen
ter for oxtcnslvo missionary operations
which aro carriod on in this dlBtrict It
1b tho fountain-head from which much
goodness JIowb into tho dark byways of
this Ill-favored neighborhood. Froml
nont in this missionary work aro Mrs.
Elvira B. Swift and Mrs. N. S. Bliss,
tlrolCBs workers in tho Blums of Chica
go, who have boen identified with tho
organization since its beginning. Meot
lnga aro conducted by them every day
in tho week and classes aro taught
whero girls and women learn to sew.
While ministering to tho spiritual wel
fare they do not neglect tho material
needs, and every form of distress ap
peals to them. Thoy visit the sick and
find employment for thoso needing
work, and In a hundred different ways
they help those Butfcrers.
Of course, every case that presents It
solf has a great big moral attached to
it They como to grief and want bc
causo thoy break a law, but that dooa
sot mako their distress any easier for
MRS. ELVIRA B. SWIFT,
them to bear. The mission Is carried
on from a nonsectarian standpoint and
every sect is welcome. At the Sunday
meetings thero is a motley gathering.
Nearly every nationality is represented,
and two Chinamen havf deserted tho
worship of their Josb, which Is carried
on across the street, to be regular at
tendants at tho Christian church.
Wednesdays aro held, perhaps, tho most
interesting of all tho meetings. It Is
then the women como together the
women of Uio neighborhood, with their
Bad, tired faces and their general air of
utter hopelessness.
They all bring their troubles Just as
people take their lunches to picnics. If
they forget them they go back after
them. It is a dismal littlo company;
and each face tells plainer than words
of tho bitter past After tho usual
prayer and song those who have been
Baved give their testimony.
"The Lord Is good enough fdr mo,"
declares one. "Now I've found Him
I'm going to atlck to Him."
An old negress raises her voice and
says, "Dear Lord, I've been a groper,"
and then she tells the story of her
search for light
Ono of tho few happy faces was that
of an Irish woman who had been con
verted and who brought a sinning
friend with her. For somo reason this
woman viewed the proceedings very
stolidly. She was asked to give her
experience .but replied with great dig
nity: "I'm not used to speakin in public,
bat I guess my feelings la just as good
an somo pcoplo's who do a Bight more
UilklnV
This was a decided slap at her near
est neighbor, who had been n steady
speaker from tho start This woman
was not to be put down eo easily, and
she turned with righteous indignation
and literally shot n quotation from tho
Blblo nt tho unwilling ono to tho effect
that no ono should be ashamed to add
their evidence in tho good cause.
Having administered this rebuke sho
shut her lips with a snap and glared
over her spectacles as much as to say,
"Now will you bo good!" and tho of
fender was duly crushed.
An old negro mammy heartily
agrocd with theso last-spoken Bontl
monts, and leaning across from her
placo said:
"Yes, Indeed, that's bo, honey. If
tho Lord ain't ashamed of you 'tain't
your placo to deny Him."
Tho services nro only a part of tho
work dono by these earnest Christians.
Thoy go from houso to houso holding
cottago prayer meetings in the hum
blest and vilest places, asking no ques
tions about tho years that havo been
Hvod, but praying only for tho coming
ones, which aro as yet undofilod. Hero
and thero somo ono is recovered, somo
ono repents, which gives them encour
agomont to work on.
"One of tho first and best signs wo
MRS. N. S. BLISS,
notico in a person wishing to reform,"
said Mrs. Swift, "is that thoy move out
of this neighborhood immediately.
Honesty and purity and Clark street
don't Jlbo, I'm afraid."
Speaking of the way thoy wore re
garded by tho peoplo, Mrs. Swift was
glad to say that nover in her experi
ence had sho received anything but the
most courteous treatment "Wo have
yet to find a person so dopravod as to
rocolvo us insultingly whon we go to
tholr homes," Bho declared. "It is a
great Held down here In darkost Chi
cago, and there Is work enough for
many moro than are represented by
our feeble littlo band."
"Yes, wo often meet with ingrati
tude," Mrs. Bliss acknowledged, "but
that Is a part In a missionary's life
which it is best not to dwell upon. The
repentant ones make up for any disap
pointment we may suffer and the hope
ful letters wo receive from tho men
and women who have left their evil
ways and aro leading upright lives
moro than repay us for our labor."
Mrs. Swift and Mrs. Bliss work con
stantly together, devoting all tholr
tlmo to tho mission, and their aweot
calm faces aro well known to tho donl
zenB of thla district and they carry
overywhero with them assurances of
help and comfort. Moody's Institute
lends Its aid, while tho Baptist Young
People's Union also gives much-neodod
asslBtanco to thla little church. And
though tho good dono may seem In
finitesimal, who will say that to thoso
who listen and heed theso missions,
small and obscuro as thoy may appear,
will not provo vcrltablo wellB In the
desert
INFANT MURDERESS.
New Zealand Woman Die on tbo
Scaffold.
Minnie Dean, condemnod to death for
tho murder of Infants intrusted to her
care, has been executed In Auckland,
Now Zealand. She protested her inno
conco up to the last
Clemency was asked on account of
the murderess bolng a woman, but the
proof against her was so overwhelm
ing that no mercy was Bhown. On tho
scaffold Bho was hysterical and had to
bo almost carried to the drop. Just
before tho black cap shut out the
world from view she became more re
signed, but plteously exclaimed: "Oh,
God .lot mo not suffer!" The drop fell
and death was Instantaneous. The
woman prayed Incessantly toward the
last, but stoutly maintained that she
had no murder on her soul and had no
doubt that she would go to heaven.
Mlnnlo Dean's crimes were the scn
Batlon of lo3t year In Now Zealand. In
her prosperity she was patronized by
well-to-do scoundrels, who paid her
handsomely to become responsible for
tholr children. A mother's love, how
ever, Induced an errlug woman to seok
her child, who had been delivered to
the woman's care.
Minnie Dean had reported It dead
from natural causes, but the mother's
suspicions were aroused and detectives
were employed, when the remains of
a number of children were found of
ages ranging from a few months to
several years, burled In every conceiv
able place about the premises. The
woman was arrested and after a sensa
tional trial, was condemned to death
on the evidence of tho guilty fathers,
who were compelled by the authorities
to appear in court to assist the crown.
Minnie Dean's defense was that all the
children died from natural causes.
PCS iSv v5y
ffw
MARRIED TO A CHIEF.
STORY OF MAY TEMPLE'S RO
MANTIC DEED.
Sho Fell In T-oto With n Yonnc Clilof
nt the Ileiorvntlon School and Tlirre
Resolved to llevoto Her Life to Him
llor Death.
T has been scarcely
thrco mouths since
m!ii'l g) May Temple first
fftl ) saw him. Sho was a
visionary young
girl who had no
careful mother's
training and no
experience of llfo.
Sho had read a
.-SSsric- great deal, mostly
uooksoi trashy sort,
which fed her young fancy and
strengthened her already vivid imag
ination. Ho was tall, strbng-looklng
and straight as an nrrow. From his
dark countenanco shone moro expres
sion than is commonly seen in eso of
his race. Ho was a chief: a chief of
tho Papago Indians, and Mny Temple
first saw him at a school she had tho
curiosity to visit Adult Indians aro
not usually admitted to tho govern
ment schools, but tho ardent desire of
this Papago to bo educated and to "fol
low tho whlto man's way," as ho OX
DrOSSCd it. hmf nrnlloiwl Intan.n Inlir.
ost; exception had been mado in his
ravor and ho had beon received as a
pupil.
As May left tho room that day whero
recitations had been conducted and tho
chiof had especially distinguished him
self by spelling such difficult words as
"baker" and "shaker," tho young lady
droppod her handkerchief and this
"typo of manly dignity," as she al
ready styled him in her thoughts,
sprang to pick It up and returned it
with a bow and glanco into thoso blue
oyos. It was only a fow days after
ward that tho peoplo of Phoenix, Ari
zona, were electrified by tho announce
ment that May Temple, a young whlto
girl from tho east, who had Just ar
rived In Arizona on a visit to her
friends, had married an Indian chief
and gono to Hvo with him among his
tribo. What folly! What a mad in
fatuation! somo exclaimed, and then It
was forgotten In a later oxcltemont
Tho girl was not a fool, desplto tho
verdict of tho multitude; thero can
only bo urged In extenuation of her
net her youth and her nbsoluto ignor
ance of Indian llfo nt homo amid nat
ural surroundings. Tho discovery
camo to her as a tcrriblo shock, which
was an explanation of the mournful
event which later occurred. She saw
beside tho river, reluctantly flowing In
Ub muddy channel, her desert homo,
whore tho fierce sun beat with blinding
reflection upon tho burning Band.
Only occasionally upon this vast waste
was thero a mesqulto tree, whose light
foliage cast a littlo shade. Tho only
sign of industry was a patch of lily
cultivated corn bravely growing near
tho river from which It was Irrigated.
Tho whole energies of the camp seemed
occupied in keeping eomo miserable,
half-starved ponies, which had tired of
mesqulto beans, away from this tempt
ing bit of greenness by the stream.
Sho saw her homo with horror. Sho
supposed It would bo at least of adobe,
strong and cool; but It was a low
shaack constructed of weeds laid
against and bound to a framework of
polos. As Its leaves had shriveled In
THE PAPAGO CHIEF,
the burning sun, openings were left,
the wholo a poor protection from the
hot winds which blew across the des
ert Near this shaack the only sight that
reminded her of civilization were her
husband's nieces attired In her honor
for tho occasion in clothes given to
them at tho Indian school. Upon tho
ground sat her husband's mother and
aunt, two ancleut women, so browned
and seamed by sun and wind that they
resembled mummies. It seemed to tho
nervous brido as If from their withered
faces, with deep-set, beady eyes, leered
a demoniac expression. But her dis
gust was Increased by the appearance
of her fathor-In-law, a Maricopa who
had lived for many years and married
among the Papagoes. Ho came for
ward Innocently, although almost In a
state of nature. Tho Arizona braves
somewhat qutrago tho proprieties and
make tbo fact of tho tropical climate
and their poverty an excuse to dress
at home In very primitive style. The
brown skin of this old father of a noblo
chief was shriveled and hardened un
til it looked Uko tho hide of a rhinoce
ros. In fact it required a second glance
to determine whether It was really skin
or a fitted garment of clnnamon-hued
cloth.
After this appalling scene May was
not surprised when the whole com
pany of assembled Indians started to
ward her vr'i'n sticks and stones to drive
iA?i i vj
MHW VI
AtWW.
.k Jill ,
iIBp
ker from tho placo. Sho rushed to Set
husband, but he, too, assailed her, and
now thoroughly terrified, the wretched
girl started to run across tho desert
away from her pursuers, who yelled de
risively, while dogs barked and tho
rmallest children, who, like tho eldorly
iather-ln-law. had no nnnarnl to con
ceal their nun-kissed skins, hooted
mockingly. Tho frightened bride, her
feet burned from tho fiery sands
through her shoes, her hair and cloth
ing dronched with perspiration, her
henrt beating as if It would burst with
a wild, unnamed fear, fell down at; last
exhausted, whllo her assailants cap
tured her and took her back to hor hus
band, who laughingly explained thnt it
was nn ancient custom of tho Papa
goes to so welcome a bride who was not
of their own tribo.
Ho added that tho Indians did not ad
horo to the practico bo barbarously as
when in tho savago state. There wero
accounts of brides who in former times
had been driven to their death. Tho
Indians regard this race as a ttst of
vlrtuo and endurance. From that tlmo
tho Papago chief regarded his white
wife with somo disfavor, whilo tho oth
ers openly manifested their disapproba
tion; for, as is known, the Indians
value and respect a human being ac
cording to physical strength. After
this pleasing introduction to Indian ex
istence, May settled down to a discov
ery of what mannor her life now was
and of tho habits and customs of her
PORTRAIT OF MAY TEMPLE,
pcoplo-in-law, who were still influenced
by tho traditions and superstitions of
their former savago state. Theso views
were no longer gilded to her vision by
romance and sentiment
Ono day a physician from Phoenix,
passing through tho placo where tho
Papagoes were campod, was detained
by tho head chief, who begged tho doc
tor to come into ono of the brush houses
and prescribe for a child sick with the
fever. As tho whlto man entered to
attend the child, he noticed within the
shaack the white bride sitting on the
floor. At this moment the husband en
tered, and the wlfo reached out a de
taining hand. "Stay with me a while,"
sho begged. Ho shook her off impa
tiently, "No, I haven't time!" ho an
swered indifferently. Tho doctor no
ticed the young wlfo press her hand to
her Bide and her cheek paled. Ho re
turned to the place where his horses
wero tied In tho shade of a mesqulto
and proceeded to eat a lunch and rest
before continuing his journey. After
a while an Indian came, and declaring
that tho whlto woman had suddenly
died, asked the doctor to return to tho
huts. They went back, but there was
nothing the physician could do for her.
It was quite clear to him that there had
been no disease, no appearanco of poi
son. Evidently tho heart had been rup
tured, caused by the strong, over
powering feelings of disappointment
and despair. As the physician rodo
away, he saw the young husband uncon
cernedly leaning against a mesqulto
tree, playing some Indian game with
sticks. His companion was an Indian
girl. They talked and laughed gaily,
and tho sound of their merlment fol
lowed the traveler down the road. It
was the first tlmo this doctor had seen
tho youthful wife; yet his was tho only
sad heart among them all. His thoughts
continually and Borrowfully returned
to the low shaack, In which lay tho
broken-hearted white girl, whoso life
had ended with her foolish dream.
Yet her Bpirlt was a forgiving one.
After her death there was found a let
ter she had written to tho Indian De
partment at Washington, to which it
was sent. It called attention to tho
fact that through some oversight tho
Papagoes had no reservation and were
homeless wandorers on the face of the
earth. They had held undlsputod pos
session without title of certain lands,
until the recent development of Arizo
na. With the Influx of white settlers
and consequent claiming of land and
water tor irrigation, the chances for
theso Indians to make an honest living
grew constantly less. They could offer
to the whites their poor, unskilled, un
desired labor, or thoy could beg and
steal. Tho petition was well written,
for the girl had had a fair education.
It contained no more than this state
ment of the affairs of the Papagoes and
a plea for their homeless condition. It
was tho last act of her life. No doubt
the letter lies unheeded among the mass
of correspondence on some official desk
or is filed away forgotten, and the one
whose duty It was to glance hastily
over tho contents of that beseeching
epistle could not dream of the tragedy
with which it was connected.
Hiked Into the Drink.
A Saco, Maine, girl was learning to
ride a blcyclo a few evenings since,
when she lost control of the machine
and went flying into a conveniently
near pond. Her screams brought the
desired help, and she was fished out
with her feelings badly hurt
IT WAS THE PIONEER.
OLDEST WOMAN'S CLUB IN THE
COUNTRY.
ldle fhyalologlcal Imtltnto or Ho. ton
llai Itecordi Dating Back for Half n
Century tut of Its l'reicut oni
con. (Boston Correspondence
ROANIZATION of
women by womon
and for womon is
conspicuous for It3
frequent occurrence
In this day of
tholr promlnonco In
tho now fields, and
it attracts little no
tice outsldo of its
select circle. Every
sort of an associa
tion with an ob
ject of somo kind for its cause of
being seems to havo beon thought of
and established. Tho deslro for tho
benefits and diversions which club clr-
clos givo to their members has spread
throughout tho wholo country. Tho
littlo mountain hamlet or tho fisher
man's vlllago has not escaped Its in
fluence. Whero thero is found a col
lection of homes, bo they over so hum
ble, thero will bo found tho periodical
gathering together of tho most ambi
tious souls of tho community, with
laudable endeavor toward a better
knowledgo of somo special subjoct
They may have tho merest social pur
poso as their object; whatever It Is It
Is a woman's organization, and it Is
not opposed, rather Is It applauded, and
often admired by tho fathers, brothers
and husbands. Theso aro willing to
admit that tho "club" Is a distinct ad
dition to tho vIIIoko life.
Just how great an addition and rollof
tho circle is to tho monotonous lives of
village womon can hardly bo estimated.
In such communities tho club la an
angol of mercy. It has infused llfo In
to dreary spiritless existence; it has car
ried help to homes whore lgnoranco has
held Bway, and it wreaked Its ven
geanco upon thoso who broko natural
laws, not wilfully, but becauso of for
getfulness and llstlessness, and be
causo environment led downward, not
upward.
But It is not of tho work and bonefl
cent leaven of tho woman's club as it
oxlsta to-day that 1b tho purposo of the
present writing. They aro suggested
for comparativo use only. In theso
days of toleration and solf-help It 1b dif
ficult to realize tho obstacles which be-
II W
PRESIDENT MERRITT.
set the pioneer of this great woman's
club movemont Suppose now, for ex
ample, a body of women organized to
study "anatomy, physiology, the train
ing of children and youth, the preserva
tion of health, the causes and remedies
of disease," and the like, should find
that after a year's conscientious work
the opposition to woman's thinking of
anything outsldo of "the eating and
sleeping of life" was ir universal that
but ono man could fej found who would
pray for tho sucaa& of tho undertak
ing! This Is Just what, however, tho flrat
handful of womon who wished to learn
how to live healthier and more hopeful
lives experienced forty-seven years ago.
It was in tho old Washington Hall
In Broomfleld street, Boston, on April
11, 1848, that Prof. C. B. Bronson gave
tho first of six lectures on tho "Laws of
Llfo and Health." The sense of wom
anly obligation In such matters had
hitherto lain dormant, but tho gonlus of
Prof. Bronson aroused it. At the close
of the course, thoso who had listened
determined to know more about the cit
adel of the soul and how to keep It.
They organized themselves into a so
ciety called the Lady's Physiological
Society of Boston and Vicinity, giving
to tho Inslrer, Prof. Bronson, the office
of president
In 1850 the society was incorporated
through the assistance of the Rev. Syl
vanus J. Cobb, and his wife became tho
first woman president. Mrs. Cobb,
who served three different termB as tho
chief executive officer of tho institute,
stands at tho head of the list of untir
ing workers In its behalf. To her en
thusiasm and energy was due the suc
cessful stand of the society against
such formidable obstacles as public
opinion and tno clergy. For at Its first
anniversary the Rev. Dr. JenkB of Bos
ton was the only minister of the Gospel
to bo found who would offer a prayer
for the society.
In viow-of the fact that the object of
the association was to bear lectures
upon the evil of physical sins and tho
morality of health and how to help tho
sick and. suffering, one can only ques
tion the clerical wisdom of those days
tn opposing such laudable designs.
Nothing daunted the good purpose of
Its founders, however, and tho work
went on, soon fulfilling Prof. Bronson's
condition; "That the manikins and
models used In tbo lectures should be
long to tho society when 1,000 members
wero duly enrolled."
A library was started tho first year
of tho Institute's existence, and, grow
ing constantly, has offered valuablo
privileges to Its members over Blnce.
Hero referenco books and all publica
tions that deal with health topics can,
bo found.
Two women who aro undoubtedly
tho oldest clubwomen In tho country,
or, perhaps, In tho world, Mary V. and
Lydla E. Randall havo maintained
their membership continuously since
tho first enrollment a period of forty
Bovon years. They aro now Mrs. M. E.
R. Jones and Mrs. L. E. Hutchlngs.
Prof. BronBon was tho first and last
malo president; he has been followed
by only ten other Incumbents of tho of
flco, five of whom wero physicians. Dr.
Salomo Merrltt is tho present presi
dent, now filllns her seventh year in
office. Sho has given tho usual annual
courso of lectures from eight to twelve
in number, throughout her term. He
subjects havo been on "Fundamental
PhyBiology and Hygiene," and sho has
mado them thoroughly practical and
SECRETARY BABCOCIC
plainly scientific, presenting them lna
way not found elsowhero outsldo oi
medical colleges.
Tho instituto has never failed In all
its forty-soven years of oxistonce tc
givo tho courso of lectures, covering
physiology, hygiene, sanitation, nurs
ing, emergencies, moral development,
and allied subjects. For a number oi
yoars tho Moral Education Association
has given in connection with tho insti
tute, a courso upon different phases of
moral questions.
Tho fee of ono dollar admits a new
member to all tho Institute's privileges,
provided she has received a two-thirds
vote of the mombcrs present at the reg
ular meeting. Those not members may
attend lectures by paying ten cents
each time at tho door. Members glva
away large numbers of tickets to per
sons unablo to pay and who aro desir
ous of hearing tho lectures. Tho so
ciety supports a room at tho Helping
Hand Home in Boston, keeping it sup
plied with all necessary conveniences.
Many prominent ministers havo beet
numbered among tho list of lecturera
before the Institute during tho last
twenty-five years, Bhowing what prog
ress has been made toward over
coming tho old-time prejudlco. Dr. Dlx,
Dr. James Freeman ClarL. Dr. Chan
nlng, Wendell Phillips, Dr. Edward Kit
trldge, and many others have lent their
knowledge and Influence to tho society
during their lives. Among tho women
noted for culture and progress who have
been heard from Its platform figure tho
names of Lucy Stone, Mary A. Liver
more, Dr. Mary S. Blake, Mrs. Charles
Woodhouse and Mrs. E. L. Brown. In
the earlier days of the society, back in
the fifties, aro such names as Mrs. Rolfo
Mrs. Klttridge, Mrs. S. J. Halo, and
many others.
Latter-day progress has developed a
spirit of co-operation, not only among
the Boclety's members, but among other
women's clubs, and the Institute finds
Itself approached from various quarters
for help and co-operation in the study
of subjects for the promotion of knowl
edge among women.
The instituto has established evening
VICE-PRESIDENT SMITH,
meetings for the benefit of teachers and
business women. In 1890 a lecture fund
was started, to enable the society to se
cure the finest lecturers when remu
neration alone could enablo them to
do so. A committee has been formed to
co-operate with other associations and
facilitate work of common interest. A
few legacies have been received by the
society, enabling it to add to its library
and collection of illustrative apparatus
and engravings to be used at lectures.
The present officers of tho society are:
President Salome Merrltt, M. D.; Vice
Presidents Dora BaBcom Smith, Mrs.
Ellen R. Rice; Recording Secretary
Miss L. F. Babcock; Corresponding
Secretary Mrs. A. S. Bryant; Treas
urer Mrs. H. E. Emery; Librarian
Mrs. C. A. Eppler.
If you havn't much you can double,
it by being thankful.
J&
