OUR SISTER OF THE STREET.
By Miss Florence Mabel Dedrick.
Note--Miss Dedrick is rescue missionary for the Moody Church, Chicago.
She is devoting her life to the visitation and rescue of sinful women in
Chicago. She is heart and soul in the work and has been wonderfully
blessed in her efforts.
When asked to write for you, giving some of the experiences in the work
of rescue of our sisters of the street, and those who are victims of the
white slave traffic, I was more than glad of the opportunity of sharing
this burden which God has laid so heavily on my heart. I will treat of
conditions as I have found them in the underworld of Chicago.
What are we doing for our tempted sisters?
Are we going to let the white slave traffic have free and undisputed
sway without a word of protest, blighting and ruining the homes in this
fair land of liberty and freedom? Are we in Illinois, the State that
sent Abraham Lincoln forth as leader in the conflict for freedom of the
slaves of the south, going to let an evil, worse, yea, far worse than
that ever was, or could be, exist and triumph, and not rise up in arms
against it?
[Illustration: "THE GILDED LIFE" AS IT REALLY IS
All the fresh air these poor slaves get is in the back yard of the
dives, which is full of refuse, and where they are watched by colored
attendants]
[Illustration: "COME WITH ME, SISTER--THERE IS HOPE FOR ALL"
One who has answered the cry, "For God's sake, do something"]
The question, what are we doing for our sisters came up as far back as
Solomon's time, but has an answer been found? No! It was only when Jesus
met the woman at the well did a new life open up for our unfortunate
sisters. I plead with you do not draw away your skirts for fear of
contamination. Remember, the Master Himself allowed a fallen woman to
wash His feet with her tears and wipe them with the hairs of her head.
It was a fallen woman who was first to see the omissions and
deficiencies of hospitality forgotten by others. Are not fallen women
included within the scope of the Master's great commission?
Jesus said, another time, "Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no
more."
A woman may fall lower than a man, but this is due to her sensitive
moral nature. With the conviction that she is past redemption, doors
closed, no one loving her, people, yes, her own sex, ostracizing
her--she becomes hopeless, desperate, reckless. Can you blame her?
Again, let me recall to your mind, Jesus Himself forgave and renewed
repentant ones. Even when a woman had fallen to the depths of sin and
degradation He still called her "woman."
Not every girl who leads a life of sin and shame is by any means a white
slave in the full sense of the word, as the white slave traffic exists,
though truly a slave she is, for God is no respecter of persons and the
same judgment will be hers unless she hastens home to Father's House,
where room and to spare and warm welcome awaits her. Not many open
doors await her in this world.
An example of this is found in the case of a young girl in Mississippi
who, ruined, went from door to door to find someone who would befriend
her. Some have one excuse, some another. All said: "We cannot take you
in." Tired, discouraged, only one door open, and that the brothel, to
which she went.
It is said in one city of half a million people, as reported through the
press, they determined to expel 1,500 fallen girls from the city,
without offering them a place to go. When brought before the
authorities, between sobs and tears, these girls said: "Where can we go,
no homes, money, nor friends?" The reply was: "I cannot tell you, but
you must leave here."
Many ask: "Who are these girls who go astray?"--having an idea that it
is only the ignorant class who are down in sin. It is not so, and let me
undeceive everyone on this point, though many, many of the ignorant
class do go astray also. Satan is claiming our best, our VERY best girls
of education, refinement, advantages and religious training. In one of
the most notorious and elegant resorts, known as the -------- in the red
light district of Chicago, there are college girls, who have had every
advantage. Only lately, as I have done personal work there, did I learn
that these very girls were at times in such despair as to threaten to
commit suicide.
Within a few blocks of Moody Church was a girl, an elocutionist, a
musician, a sweet, stately girl of refinement, whose home has been in a
house of shame for the last five or six years.
Some girls come to me when in these resorts and say: "I used to sing in
Moody Church Choir." Others will tell you they went through every
department of the Sunday school, some were Sunday school teachers.
Members of almost every Church you will find among them. When these
facts are considered one cannot help but realize the need for action.
Satan has entered our churches, as well as every other place. It is only
recently that our churches have opened to workers to even speak on this
subject, but thank God, they are gladly beginning to do so, since they
see danger staring them in the face. The time for prudishness, false
modesty, indelicacy is over; too long has Satan been aided in his onward
march in this way.
A sad incident occurred in one of our West Side churches. Seven or eight
boys, whom everyone considered pure, were found, upon investigation, to
have caused the ruin of thirteen girls. One girl, in telling me how she
had been led astray said she had only been getting $3.50 a week. Seeing
an advertisement for experienced workers at $5.00, she answered it. For
two weeks they kept it from her that she was in a house of shame.
A problem that must be met is the preservation of our American homes.
Let me quote from Mr. Moody: "Intemperance comes as a blight upon one
family in seven, but the evil of impurity threatens seven times as many
families, that is all of them." There are hundreds of towns and villages
where it is impossible to get a drink of liquor of any kind, while on
the other hand there is not a single town, hamlet or community of any
size where the evil of impurity does not exist to a greater or less
degree.
There must be co-operation on the part of the state, the home and the
church. What we need is a practical salvation, something more than
saying: "Be ye saved." The church can do what the state cannot, and vice
versa. Not only present, but future generations are in danger. Vice and
crime are being flaunted, as it were, and advertised in our very faces.
Every man, woman and child has a place in the battle.
It is girls whose ages are from 13 to 22 who are going astray, even as
young as 9 years; deceived, betrayed, led away, through wiles of
abominable men, whose business is to traffic in girls. Since living in
Chicago, many girls I have known gave birth to little ones at the ages
of 13, 14 and 15.
Let me give some figures: During the month of May alone in the two
syphilitic wards in Cook County Hospital, 140 men and 32 women passed
through. In Twenty-second Street Red Light district, by police
enumeration a few months ago, there were 1,100 girls living lives of
prostitution, farther South, 1,200, making a total of 2,300. This is
appalling, and yet this does not take in the whole city.
As many of you know, as far as can be learned, the average buying price
of a girl is $15.00. She may be sold for $200.00. If specially
attractive, anywhere from $400.00 to $600.00.
The conscience of these girls is by no means dead. Upon giving one my
card in the hospital, she said: "If I had only known it before; many
tell me about being a Christian, and another world, but I never could
understand it."
The cry of another sinsick girl was, amid sobs and tears: "Oh! it is
awful and sin has done it."
Oh, Christian women, mothers, give recognition to the fact; yes, welcome
it, that a fallen woman can be saved, and extend to her sympathy,
encouragement and love!
These girls are reached, not only through resorts, but in our city
prisons, police stations, courts, hospitals, and elsewhere. The rescue
homes are doing a noble work, especially Beulah Home, Salvation Army
Home and others. The Girls' Refuge, where the Juvenile Court cases are
taken, has girls of all ages up to 18 and 19--at present 140 girls are
there under Christian influence.
The superintendent of a rescue home recently asked 200 girls who were
there how many had been warned as to temptation and danger by their
mothers--not one had, only in a few instances had they been told to be
good while they were gone. Another sad fact, and, oh, how hard to
admit, is that a girl receives the most discouragement from her own sex,
and with this censure and criticism, is it any wonder our sisters do not
have any drawing toward Christianity?
One word of warning to Christian workers. Many take money from these
resorts, going in with the sole object of getting money, by selling
papers, or taking money when offered them.
One night, as I started to talk to a girl, she offered me money, and, as
I refused, she seemed quite surprised. I told her I was not doing the
work for money, I was interested in her soul's welfare only. She said:
"How is it some of you Christians come in here and take our tainted
money?" Oh, workers, remember the Gospel is without money and without
price! Do not forget these girls, down as they are in sin, they are
watching OUR lives, and it is this that counts for most.
Especially let me say: "The girls of today are the mothers of the
morrow, and as in the life and influence of mother rests the making of
men and nations, let us, with God's help, save the girls." Knowing the
price of a single soul, the burden of my heart is, that the minds of our
American people may be so stirred and awakened to the existing causes of
evils that are engulfing our girls, that we will each take our part,
appoint ourselves as a committee of one, to do all we can to stamp out
this monstrous soul scourge, and hinder and stop its further progress.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF CITY LIFE FOR A COUNTRY GIRL?
After an experience in rescue missionary work for women and girls, not
only in this city but in New York City and Boston, there is one
conclusion which I am forced to come to and more and more is becoming an
undeniable fact.
It is this, that our country girls are in more danger from white slave
traders than city girls. Were I alone in making this statement, I should
not hesitate for one moment in what I have to say, but others agree with
me in this, among them being United States District Attorney Sims, who
has written much on the subject of white slavery. One reason for
reaching this conclusion comes from the personal hand-to-hand and
heart-to-heart touch with these girls themselves. The country girl is
more open to the enticements of city life, being more truthful,
perfectly innocent and unsuspecting of those whose business it is to
seek their prey from girls of this class.
A girl reared in the country is not taught to suspect everyone she
meets, unless a rare occurrence presents itself, and when involuntarily
the defense instinct asserts itself. While, on the other hand, the city
girl has had it drilled into her, as it were, from the time she could
walk, that she must regard people with distrust, not speaking to
strangers anywhere, accepting nothing from anyone, her own people being
the only ones she should make confidants of.
Mr. Sims says: "There is a definite but undefined danger in the very
atmosphere of the city for the girl or young woman, which demands a
constant and protective alertness, while on the other hand, life in the
rural districts is comparatively free and unrestrained." Again he
states, and through his investigation of the white slave traffic has
reached the conclusion, that the best and the surest way for parents of
girls in the country to protect them from the clutches of the white
slaver is to keep them in the country.
While this may be the safest, surest, easiest course to take, it would
not be advisable in all cases, for many girls have an ambition and aim
in life, which they are seeking to attain, and the city offers
advantages for this development which the country does not, and we
should not seek to put obstacles in her way, but to protect her in
carrying out her purpose in life.
But if circumstances should seem to compel a change from country to
city, the only safe way is for parents to accompany their girls and see
them settled, though this would have its disadvantages, as many parents
are just as ignorant as their children regarding the perils of city
life.
A TIMELY WARNING.
Parents who do not believe in the warnings given on these lines but say,
as many do, "Wait, time enough when they are older, then let them find
out for themselves; experience is the best teacher," should remember
this: Ignorance is not innocence, and it is but the preface to the book
of vice. To parents is given the first and greatest opportunity of
fortifying their children with the true armor of knowledge and purity.
More than one girl with whom I have talked in resorts in the Red Light
district, when questioned as to how they came there, would say, "Oh,
mother thinks I am working, a good position." I have said, "Does she not
ask you?" "Oh, no, mother never questions me much," and in many cases
they would say, "I send money home and"--think of it--"that has
satisfied mother."
WHAT IS HER MOTIVE FOR CITY LIFE?
There comes a time in nearly every girl's life when her cry is to go to
the city, and I think I can speak from personal experience here. It may
be necessary through force of circumstances, or to develop herself along
the line of her cherished ambition, or a thirst for knowledge. If it is
to satisfy the desire for mere personal happiness and enjoyment and
craving for excitement, I say, "Beware!" for here it is many slip and
are lost.
She sees no danger, even though some warnings may be given, it is hard
for her to realize that she, herself, will be in danger, she will tell
you that she is able to take care of herself, forgetting her
surroundings will be vastly different. She finally sees the danger when,
alas, too late. I found an instance of this in a resort where a dear
girl said one night, "we are the fools. It's a broad door to come in but
so narrow to get out of here."
A HIDDEN DANGER.
The danger begins the moment a girl leaves the protection of Home and
Mother. One of these dangers, and one that seems to be well nigh
impossible for parents to realize, is the fact that there are watchers
or agents, who may be either men or women, at our steamboat landings,
railroad stations, everywhere, who seek attractive girls evidently
unused to city ways, try to make their acquaintance, using inducements
and deception of every conceivable kind, offers of helpfulness, showing
her every kindness.
I remember so well one dear girl whom I found in Cook County Hospital,
brought there from a brothel, sold, led away, deceived, from another
town, on the promise of work, who said to me, "Every one in Chicago
deceives you. No one told me the truth until I met you. You are the
first real friend I could trust."
Girls are offered refreshments, either to eat or drink. Many are secured
in this way and the girl has realized when too late, her refreshing
drink was drugged, and she is a victim, a prisoner, and her life ruined.
HUNGRY FOR A LITTLE COMPANIONSHIP.
After coming to the city, homesickness may overtake a girl and even if
in some cases warnings have been given, she may forget, throw off
restraint and pour out her heart freely to those of whom she knows
nothing, but in this unguarded moment the mischief is done.
One little realizes the longing in a girl's heart, who is alone in a big
city. The following incident brings out this point:
In a brothel one night I was talking with a girl who was playing with a
little pet dog. As I continued to talk to her, all at once she said
looking into the dog's face, then into mine, "This is the only friend I
have and if I feel blue and discouraged, he will climb into my lap and
try to comfort me."
Another danger still, and a serious one, is our lodging houses of today,
many of which are houses of shame, hidden from public eye. Let a girl
just coming to the city beware of these for in many, many instances, I
am very sure, it is just such an existence, no home life. Coming in
tired, lonely, no one cares about you, you may live or die and few would
know it, so to speak, unless you were in a Christian home, which are
only too scarce in the lodging house business, though thank God for
some. Unprotected she is here, not knowing who lives in the next room
to her.
Boarding or rooming rather in one place, taking meals in another, is a
great danger and one which her mother should guard against. Boarding
houses are not much of an improvement, though in many cases a little
more home life.
Another evil and serious danger, and only another of Satan's waiting
rooms, is the entertaining of gentlemen friends in her room--true, this
little room is the only place she has--and here is one of the
birthplaces to immorality and temptation constantly before her. Much
danger might be avoided if every lodging house had a parlor where a girl
could have some home life and entertain her friends occasionally.
Oh, may the parents who read this, make sure your child has Christian
influence and surroundings. It may cost you extra money to do it, but
better far to cost you something than to have her life blasted and
ruined.
DANGEROUS AMUSEMENTS.
Without a moment's hesitation, I would say after much investigation, one
curse of our land today is five-cent theaters. Many nights have I worked
outside of these, and investigated inside, and have seen these pictures
not possible to describe in words, and have seen children mere babies,
of every age, flocking in and out of these theaters, many of them with
older people or guardians with them, many entirely alone. More harm is
done here in one night than could be undone in years.
Ice cream parlors of the city and fruit stores, in many cases combined,
largely run by foreigners, are where scores of girls have taken their
first step downward. Mr. Sims states that he believes the ice cream
parlor even in the large country town is often a recruiting station and
feeder for the white slave traffic.
Do not get the idea that we mean that all of these are connected with
white slavery, but some of them are and wise parents should be careful
on these points.
There are restaurants selling wines and liquors where many young girls
go as waitresses, which hold dangers for any girl.
Also, let me say here a word in warning. Look out for the signs Satan is
putting up all over our cities like this: "Ladies Entrance," "Family
Entrance," which has been the "entrance" of many a precious girl to a
life of sin.
The amusement parks are now becoming a serious menace to our young
people. Shut up in a small room, hot and stifling, a girl gladly accepts
the chance for an outing. All over these places Satan has his agents
stationed, seeking victims.
Advertisements are another temptation in store for the country girl. It
is in these days the devil's own invention, such alluring, attractive
offers.
One girl told me she owed it to this that she was a "white slave." She
said she saw an advertisement in the paper for experienced servants for
$5.00 per week. She was only getting $3.50.
She went and found out to her sorrow after a few days that she was a
prisoner in a house of shame.
A life full of subtle and fierce temptation is the life of a
stenographer and oh, how many here are led astray by those who should
protect them. One will say, "What is a girl to do? From all you have
said, she would not dare to go anywhere."
One of the most fascinating allurements of city life to many a young
girl is the dance-hall, which is truly the ante-room to hell itself.
Here indeed, is the beginning of the white slave traffic in many
instances. A girl may in her country home have danced a little, but
here, 'mid the blazing lights, gaiety and so-called happiness, she
enters. She is told she is awkward and will become more graceful, no
harm in it. You know the rest.
Had I a daughter or a sister, one of the places I would warn her against
when going to the city would be some of our large department stores, not
all, thank God, but alas, too many of them.
Many girls have a great desire and ambition to work in a store in the
city. Unless it were a positive, absolute necessity, I would never allow
her to do it, unless I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she
possessed great strength of character. I hesitated in writing this but
I felt I must or God would, indeed, hold me responsible, for parents
have no idea of the girls who are ruined behind counters.
When told the small salaries they will receive and a girl says, "Oh, I
cannot live on that," the answer is, "We will see to that, we will
provide another way for your support," and there is begun the downward
career.
Fathers, mothers, did you ever stop and ask yourselves, how can these
girls dress themselves the way they are required to nowadays in these
stores and do it honorably on the salary that many of them receive? It
will bear investigation.
A serious cause for the downfall of many girls is the small wages which
so-called Christians are paying, which is barely enough for mere
existence.
One father, not long ago, after some striking warnings, wrote saying he
had been aroused to inquire after his little girl, her letters had been
more and more infrequent, he was a trifle anxious, and wished her
address looked up.
At a glance it was known at once where the girl was, the location being
the center of Chicago's Red Light district.
When rescued, it was a girl with a blighted, pitifully wasted life, a
sad return, indeed, to the old home. Once a pretty, pure, innocent girl.
I find a majority of girls gone astray are from the country towns,
villages and hamlets. There is need for the small communities to awake.
It is through the lack of education of the fathers and mothers along
these lines, particularly in the rural districts, that Satan has been
aided in his onward evil march. Some one has said, "No reform will ever
be successful till people know the truth." Until then there will be no
decrease in vice.
The closed door of a father's home is the reason why many go deeper down
in sin. A sad mistake here many parents make, refusing forgiveness, when
your child may have made just one mistake. Are all parents following the
example Jesus Christ set before us?
There is a point in a girl's downward career, just at the beginning,
that she may be rescued on the rebound, as it were, and untold suffering
saved her, for she is very tender at this time and easily influenced.
An instance of this and the steps by which a girl travels downward is
found in that of a very dear, sweet girl, brought up in a Christian
home, whom I found recently. Trouble at home a year and a half ago and
she left. Her father forgave her and corresponded with her. The mother
would not. She worked about a year with a prominent firm, then in a
department store. Through illness, she lost her position. Tempted in
different ways, going to a high class wine room, so-called, then on the
stage as a chorus girl. She did not enjoy it; suffered all the time.
Finally, through God's own way, lost this place. Found her in the
hospital, weak, but able to leave, but nowhere to go but to hotel life.
I took her to friends and a happier girl you would seldom find,
especially to receive a letter from mother telling her to come home. She
could scarcely wait and her one cry was "to see my mother." We were able
to have her return to her home in one of the neighboring states. Rescued
just at the danger point, not a bad girl, but naturally innocent, unused
to these hard experiences.
Some will say, "What is a girl to do? Must she be deprived of all
pleasure? For from what you have said, it is not safe for a girl
anywhere."
I do not wish to hinder any girl from attaining her desire and ambition,
or having pleasure, but I do say with all the force I can command, that
all these things spoken of, yes, and many, many more, are all serious
and great dangers which when a girl is just starting out in life,
ignorant of all this, if unguarded against, will be her ruin.
Discretion and wisdom must be used, and if so, there are plenty of
places where a girl can find amusement which is pure, holy, elevating
and uplifting. Most of the danger is hidden and our object is to bring
to light these secret lurking places and expose them to the gaze of an
alarming public. Many go through safely in answer to mother's prayers,
warnings, advice, and careful watching of dear ones, thus being firmly
established in character and morality. If one seeks to walk with their
whole heart "in the straight and narrow way," these dangers will be
avoided.
ON THE STREET.
On the street, on the street,
To and fro with weary feet;--
Aching heart and aching head;
Homeless, lacking daily bread;
Lost to friends, and joy, and name;
Sold to sorrow, sin, and shame;
Wet with rain, and chilled by storm;
Ruined, wretched, lone, forlorn;--
Weak and wan, with weary feet,
Still I wander in the street.
On the street, on the street,
Still I walk with weary feet;
Lonely 'mid the city's din,
Sunk in grief, and woe, and sin;
Far from peace, and far from home;
No one caring where I roam;
No kind hand stretched forth to save;
No bright hope beyond the grave;
Feeble, faint, with weary feet,
Still I wander, "on the street."