3
. THE STJXPAT OITCGOyiAy, PORTXAXP, yOTE3IBER 15, 1908.
vrj. t iv iixiv i nr Ann k
yoJ-Ct But ln tbo rush of old ladles ther 'Pa filiil i ililH'ilJn i
J&$L was blt 0f trasedy that broughtj iit fit If E 3 !l ilSliillli
Jf tears to the eyes of women and made j lis! 13 !&llUt' 1
NCji, the men who saw u feel Uk swear- j II'IM ll iSSll'lH 1
sation, each ln hie own tonpue "4 mnth , th'nM-fMhir,nd tvno now I l ' " 11 1 1 I 1 1 il llll 1 fllftl i v -I
1 - - r ' I II Bl w: T n I II II I 1 IKblB M. II
I
ITH i'YWCA-LADY
HUMOfl AUD PATt-tOi MINGLCD IU LON&LY
PASsenceas protected by portiand4
TRAVELERS ' AID SOCIETY -
THE YWC4i'ADrA'HEB CEiSK..
BT ANNA MTNOTT DO'KIN'G.
A mott interesting slugs on which lo
real living- bits of trajredy and com
. edy is the Union Station, Portland.
There are stray sketches from life that
start laughter and tears of a kind too
eI for the play brhlnd the footlights
with Its tinsel and paint. If you ever
want to forget the gohlins of care and
worry that are trying "to gtt you If you
don't watch out." and vt eo Interested
In other folks' lives that you can't re
member you haTS ona of your own. Just
spend an evening with the "Y. W. C A.
Lady." who Is an important personage ln
many of the passing scenes.
"I'm looking for Hulda and most not
tntes seeing her." remarked ths Travelers'
Aid secretary, as she sat at her desk ln
the waiting-room putting on her badge
and glancing over telegrams. . letters and
memoranda about people to be looked
after.
Questions about who Hnlda might be
brought to light a pleasing little romanoe.
A young Swede woodsman, strong,
straight and sound as the pines and firs
among which he worked had come to see
tier a few weeks agQt In tangled Bng
llh and Swede, with happy embarrass
ment, he told that his sweetheart was
coming to live In the little cabin he had
built out m the woods. She would make
the long Journey all alone to Join hira
and lie would be ready to meet her. But
If by any chance she should come when
he was away would the Lady take care
of Hulda? There was serious interna
tional conference over plans and then he
had asked for a card of the T. W. a A.
Travelers' Aid to send across the sea.
H was not here yet and probably she
would come tonight.
Convoy Ins; a Baby.
A leisure half hour gave time for goe
s'.p about happenings at the station. The
secretary laughed right merrily as she
showed a letter from a theatrical couple
playing ln a stock company ln Chicago.
They had left the haby with a grand
mother near Portland, but found it Im
possible to longer stand the separation.
Could the T. W. C. A. find some one com
ing to Chicago who would bring the child?
There were consultations with the grand
mother which ended ln a messftge that a
young uncle was returning next day to
tls university work and would take the
baby if some lady going on the same train
would help look after the youngster. A
canvass of the waiting-room found a pret
ty young school ma'am who was going
on that train. She laughingly declined
financial inducements offered but cheer
fully agreed to look after the baby. Ac
companied by the grandmother, the ath-:!-
um-!e strode Into the station with a
hilarious lo-months-old boy on his shoul
der and was Introduced to his assistant.
The child's sublime faith that his bottle
would be forthcoming when due could not
b shaken even when it developed that
neither of his guardians knew whether
oyster cocktails or castoria were the
proper rations for him en route. After
directions that would fin columns of
'Helps to Mothers." the parry depsrted
speeded by gay laughter of their friends
ani amious admonitions from the grand
mother. The baby turned to give a mis
chievous wink with both" eyes to the
T. M. C A. I-ady. He has not written
his memoirs yet so no one knows the tale
he could tell. The uncle reported a fine
trip but failed to go Into details, but
there has been a rumor that wedding
cards are to be expected soon.
earing s Girl From Hell.
Tales between whiles wera Interrupted
Yr a telgram from a conductor pn a train:
"No proof, but suspect girl running away.
tVme one me-t her." A policeman was
taken Into confidence for any needed help
and the Y. TV. C A. lady was beside the
train to catch the conductor's nod when
the girl, hardly more than a child, stepped
off. Showing her badge she offered as
sistance In finding friends or helping
make connections. "No." the girl said.
She had come to visit friends near Port
land and the man of the family where
she was going would be there to meet her
and take her home. "There he Is now."
she added, pointing to a man standing
near the gate who had a wholesome coun
try look that allayed suspicion. The
policeman was close by and talked with
the stranger who told the same story,
gave his name and address and showed
letters to prove his Identity. All looked
fair. The conductor must have been mis
taken. The man said they were going to
take the next car. which would go in
a half hour, to his home, and they started
away. Hardly were they out of sight be
fore a frantic telegram came from the
girl's father. The secretary and the Chief
of Police held hurried conference over
the phone and special officers were de
tailed for the anarch. The woman
snatched her hat and coat and rushed
away with the officer who had talked
with the man. There were- SO strenuous
momenta of effort to save the girl be
fore a message came that the runaways
had been found on a streetcar and taken
to the police station. The Y. W. C. A.
Lady waited only to telegraph the father
before going to get the girl, who threw
herself, with wild sobs. Into the vu of
her rescuer and was taken at once to the
shelter of the Y. W. C. A. home.
Some telephoning between Che father
and the Chief disclosed the fact that the
same man had lured an older daughter
U ruin only a short time before.
Arrival of Jlulda-
A train was announced as the- secretary
again entered the depot and she took her
usual place near the door through which
the travelers came. Among the last was
a pink-cheeked, flaxen-haired girl who
looked anxiously about. Each plump arm
hugged a bundle and in one hand was a
bit of pasteboard. She spied the yellow
badge and ran to Its wearer holding out
the card.
"Hulda?"" amlllngly Questioned the
watcher and the girl answered with vigor
ous nods and blushes and eager foreign
words.
In the throng was a frail wisp of a
woman, well past the allotted three-score
and ten. who came with trembling steps
through the gateway, piloted by a couple
of passengers from the same train into
the keeping of the T. TV. C A. Lady.
She was a ost leaf who had outlived all
her kin and was Journeying to old friends
In Washington who would give her a
place by thetr fireside. But her train did
not go tin tomorrow afternoon. TVTiat
could aha do? No others needing atten
tion the aged wayfarer and the girl were
made comfortable in the waiting-room un
til they could be taken to headquarters.
Spoiled Divorce.
Off' In a corner sat a pretty young
woman holding a year-old boy. rollick
ing with the Joy of living. From the
changing expressions of face, one fan
cied she might be having trouble with
herself. Snatching op the child, she
went over to the telegraph office a
minute, then came to the Y. W. C A.
lady with the defiant announcement:
"I've wired his sister where we are.
alavbe he'll coma. He can get hero aa
hour before my train." The girl was
leaving her husband, and going back to
her folks. She had started soon after
he went to work that morning, "be
cause he had been drinking and that
was enough to break any woman's
; heart. During the long wait this tale
of wo had been confided to women
around her, and they had sympathized
in Impulsive feminine fashion. The Y.
W. C A. had become interested and won
an unconscious confession of spoiled
girl tantrums that might drive any
man except a wooden Indian or a
scarecrow to distraction, and aiso
brought to light the fact that he had
never "been drinking" before.' "That
Is a serious matter," angrily asserted
the girl.
"Yes." said the wise little secretary,
"but It Is even more serlou for you
to break up your home. You'd better
go back to your husband."
"I'll not do it. He'll Just be crary
without me and the Baby."
As time went on she began to won
der If she' wanted to run away. He
might not come after her. There were
other girls. Then she sent the tele
gram. By and by an honest-faced. Im
petuous boy came, but domestic hostil
ities were eo strenuous that Cupids
face grew long, his wings drooped and
he might have fled the field had It not
been for the backing of the Y. W. C. A.
lady, who was pressed Into service as
umpire. It took diplomatic skill worthy
of a Prime Minister to restore peace.
One of the chief grievances seemed to
be a phonograph that the girl insisted
on playing every minute the man was
in the house, because he hated it so.
By way of concession, he got some new
records for that diabolical machine be
fore they took a train back to the de
serted little home.
Shopkeeper Pro Tem.
An old Italian woman was among the
Incoming travellers. Bewildered and
distressed, she wandered through the
station, looking for some one while the
secretary tried -to find an interpreter.
A red cap man Joined ln the quest, but
It happened that no one of-her race
was within- reach. The Consul was
phoned to, but he was out of town, and
his wife sick. With coaxing gestures
fhe guardian of womankind persuaded
the frightened eTeature to accompany
her a little way up street to a small
oyster and chophouse kept by an Ital
ian, who sometimes gave aid ln such
emergencies. The woman told her
troubles to her countryman, and he said
he would take her to his home nearby
and find her friends later If he could
only leave the shop. To take care of
the woman or the business waa the
question fcefore the secretary, and she
promptly settled It by offering to run
the shop If he would only hurry back.
Her sense of humor stood by her; so
did circumstances. But ona customer
came. They held a- protracted conver
sation, each ln his own tongue and
without understanding a word the oth
er said. Then the chophouse lady pro
tem. invited him with many and varied
gestures to be seated and wait till the
head of the establishment and the cook
combined came back. The man evi
dently felt that' It was up to him to
watch this strange Americano, and
looked as if he feared foul play. When
the proprietor returned there was an
explanation and laughter, ln which the
woman Joined as she hurried back to
the station.
WayolMns a Ten-Year-Old.
A brakeman was waiting for her
with a little 10-year-old motherless
maid, who had been living with her
grandmother on a ranch In California.
Her father had sent for her now to go
to him ln Seattle. In her pocketbook
were a ticket, a little money and direc
tions telling her to go to a hotel and
then take .the boat tomorrow. The
child had never seen anything bigger
than a village before, and the Y. W.
C. A. lady might have gasped if she
were not so used to the hazardous way
in which folks start children out alone.
Just last week Bhe had taken under her
wing a -year-old girl who had been
sent to get her baby brother and take
him to Spokane. So she simply took
the father"1 address to write him of the
dangers toy the way. and to let her
know as soon as the child reached
home, and then added the little one to
her group of charges in the waiting
room. Stopped Too Often.
It seemed to be old ladies' night.
Ntne of them got off one train, and
during the evening there were 16 to
be looked after. "We usually have an
epidemic of some one thing." laughed
the watcher as a conductor brought to
her a merry old soul on crutches, who
had never been on a train before. She
took hold of the secretary's badge,
saying, "They told me if I saw a lady
with a piece pinned on her she would
take care of me." When told that she
would have to wait awhile for her
train, she exclaimed, disgustedly:
"There; Just as I expected. They kept
stopping at places snd people getting
on and off. If they'd corns right along
I'd been here In time for en earlier
train." She kept a number of fellow
travelers laughing while the Y. W. C.
A. woman looked after another old
lady who had forgotten where she waa
going. She had money tied up ln her
handkerchief for a ticket, but there
was nothing in her handbag to tell the
destination. She said, however, that
there was a letter from the daughter
to whom she was going In her trunk
and they, went off to the baggage
room to find it- Then a message was
sent to the Travelers Aid secretary
But ln the rush of old ladies there
was a bit of tragedy that brought
tears to the eyes of women and made
the men who saw It feel like swear
ing or fighting. A sweet-faced grand
mother, of the old-fashioned type now
almost extinct, sat apart dazed with
heart-breaking grief. Huddled up be
side her was a fine-looking, well
dressed man asleep from drink. He
was a son whom she had not seen for
12 years. In 'response to his loving
urging she had come to visit him and
he had met her here, where a change
was to be made, but while waiting for
her train he had also met some
friends. Stunned by the, shock, she
knew little of what was said to her
while her ticket was found and her
berth- engaged. With pitiful efforts
she roused the man beside her when
told the train waa coming and he stag
gered out with the baggage. His sub;
merged manliness came to the surface
while the Y. W. C A. lady was ten
derly helping his mother on the train
and he tried to thank her for the kind
ness. A brief lull gave time for some
funny stories about big families looked
after that might relieve Theodore
Roosevelt's anxiety about race suicide,
and also for a glance over the mail.
There , was a grateful letter from a
derelict girl found ln the station and
held onto until she was lured into a
decent life. She could not go back to
the little town from which she came.
Her aged parents must not know.
They believed her to be working for a
family. So a place had been found
for her here. The letter file was bulg
ing with gratitude of wayfarers who
had been guarded and helped. Many
of them were from foreign girls and
the quaint medley of words had to be
almost translated to an outsider.
Had Daughters of His Own.
This was Interrupted for a tour of
the waiting-room that spoiled the pas
time of a man whose gray hairs and
face lined by years testified that he
was old enough to know better. But
they do say that when the -microbe of
"mashing" once gets into the system
it Is liable to last as long as life. The
attraction was two little country maids
who showed symptoms of never hav
ing been away from home before.
They sat happily munching apples and
fearlessly enjoying this glimpse of the
world, to them "a story without end,
each maid a heroine, each man a
friend." The man pacing back, and
forth near them oifered his knife for
peeling purposes and It was accepted
with frank smiles. With each round
of his beat he paused to ask questions
about their home. Journey and other
matters. A bright man of affairs,
tarrying to make connection, was ask
ing tne Y. W. C, A. lady what kind of
work the association did at the depot,
but while she chatted with him her
alert eyes were watching the girls.
She vtepped up to learn their destina
tion and assure them she would see
that they got on the right train. The
manner of the man as he listened made
her add as she turned away with a
friendly smile, "I wouldn't talk to
strange men." Some of the travelers
near gave each other understanding
glances, but the man was not to be
so easily suppressed and dropped into
a seat beside he girls to get acquaint
ed. The secretary quietly tendered the
little bit of information: "These girls
are under my care." Listeners wore
smiles of amusement. "I guess you
don't know who I am." stormed the
man. "No," was the low response,
while the woman's face flushed with
distaste for a scene, "and it does not
matter in the least who you are."
'Tin a superintendent of schools,"
he sputtered, producing letters to
Identify himself. "I have daughters of
my own."
"If you have you would not want
strange men talking to them," was the
reply.
He complained loudly to fallow trav
elers about a gentleman's being in
sulted like that and people not tending
to their own business, but the looks
with which they listened could hardly
be considered sympathetic. "Well, I'm
seeing things," remarked the man talk
ing to the secretary. "I'm for the as
sociation, for I, too, have daughters
of my own."
Bedtime at Last.
The last train in, and every child,
girl and woman cared for, the Y. W. C.
A. lady started for home with her
guests. A cabman who had lingered
hoping for a fare noticed the little com
pany and stopped his horses. He
knew the secretary, ss they all do. and
no president of a railroad is treated
with more deference from the highest
official down to the lowest janitor.
Isn't she under the self-appointed pro
tection of every man connected with
anv railroad?
"if you'll get In I'll take the whole
crowd to the association Just for good
luck." he called.
A city clock was striking 1 when
they paused In the hall to examine the
little bulletin board that told what
rooms were waiting for any stray
travelers. Soon the old lady, the
Swede girl and the child were tucked
away ln warm beds, and the "Y. W. C
A. Lady" went to her own room, where
the run-away girl sobbed in her sleep.
Choosing Hats for Children.
In choosing a Winter hat for the little
girl, let the mother be careful hat It
is very light. Often children wear
heavy hats that are uncomfortable and
unhealthful, yet in their Ignorance they
are not able to explain exactly what is
the matter. This Is especially true with
younger children, who cannot explain
the reason for their discomfort, yet feel
the discomfort Just the same.
Take Just as much care in selecting the
felt hat for the youngster ln regard to
weight as you do in regard to style, and
the child will be more comfortable and
happy. Many cases of nervousness have
been caused by disregard for the child's
comfort while she or he is yet too young
to complain.
Erin Mavourneen.
New Tork Eun.
(Written on beholding Ireland after aa
absence of many years.
Glory to God,- but It's rweet to behold thee.
Erin Mavourneen. pulae of my heart:
Fondly again to my breast to enfold thee.
Lowly and poor and enslaved aa tbou art!
Ah. the deep ploasure the Joy beyond
measure.
After the Ions years of absence ana
pain.
To clasp to my bosom my soul's dearest
treasure.
And aee the smile dswn in thy sad eyes
again!
Long have I pined for this moment of
meeting '
Long have I sorrowed for thee Car tns
main!
Mine is a love neither shallow nor fleet
ing Queen of my heart thou Shalt evermore
reignl
It may be tomorrow may bring thee new
sorrow.
For thou hast a Jealoua and merciless
fe; . . .
But I shall be near thee to comfort ana
cheer thee ,
And guard and rovere thee througn
weal and through wot,!
Across the wide ocean, to claim my de
votion. There dwells a young maiden, entranc
ing and grand; ,
Lately we parted In fervent emotion
Thrilling J the touch of her lingering
hnJ- ....
But thou art the nearest and fondest and
dearest
Thou art the love that my infancy knew!
Fate hath decreed thee a life the se
verest Erin, my darling, to thee I'll be truel