按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
nmore like the den of some wild animalalmost the only furniture of which was a filthy iron bedstead； a wooden box to serve for table and chair； while an old tin did duty as a dustbin。
The inhabitant of this wretched den was a poor woman； who fled into the darkest corner of the place as our Officer entered。 This poor wretch was the victim of a brutal man； who never allowed her to venture outside the door； keeping her alive by the scantiest allowance of food。 Her only clothing consisted of a sack tied round her body。 Her feet were bare； her hair matted and foul； presenting on the whole such an object as one could scarcely imagine living in a civilised country。
She had left a respectable home； forsaken her husband and family； and sunk so low that the man who then claimed her boasted to the Officer that he had bettered her condition by taking her off the streets。
We took the poor creature away； washed and clothed her； and； changed in heart and life； she is one more added to the number of those who rise up to bless the Salvation Army workers。
SECTION 6。A PREVENTIVE HOME FOR UNFALLEN GIRLS WHEN IN DANGER。
There is a story told likely enough to be true about a young girl who applied one evening for admission to some home established for the purpose of rescuing fallen women。 The matron naturally inquired whether she had forfeited her virtue； the girl replied in the negative。 She had been kept from that infamy； but she was poor and friendless； and wanted somewhere to lay her head until she could secure work； and obtain a home。 The matron must have pitied her； but she could not help her as she did not belong to the class for whose benefit the Institution was intended。 The girl pleaded； but the matron could not alter the rule； and dare not break it； they were so pressed to find room for their own poor unfortunates； and she could not receive her。 The poor girl left the door reluctantly but returned in a very short time； and said； 〃I am fallen now； will you take me in？〃
I am somewhat slow to credit this incident； anyway it is true in spirit； and illustrates the fact that while there are homes to which any poor； ruined； degraded harlot can run for shelter； there is only here and there a corner to which a poor friendless； moneyless； homeless； but unfallen girl can fly for shelter from the storm which bids fair to sweep her away whether she will or no into the deadly vortex of ruin which gapes beneath her。
In London and all our large towns there must be a considerable number of poor girls who from various causes are suddenly plunged into this forlorn condition； a quarrel with the mistress and sudden discharge； a long bout of disease and dismissal penniless from the hospital； a robbery of a purse； having to wait for a situation until the last penny is spent； and many other causes will leave a girl an almost hopeless prey to the linx…eyed villains who are ever watching to take advantage of innocence when in danger。 Then； again； what a number there must be in a great city like London who are ever faced with the alternative of being turned out of doors if they refuse to submit themselves to the infamous overtures of those around them。 I understand that the Society for the Protection of Children prosecuted last year a fabulous number of fathers for unnatural sins with their children。 If so many were brought to justice； how many were there of whom the world never heard in any shape or form？ We have only to imagine how many a poor girl is； faced with the terrible alternative of being driven literally into the streets by employers or relatives or others in whose power she is unfortunately placed。
Now； we want a real home for sucha house to which any girl can fly at any hour of the day or night； and be taken in； cared for； shielded from the enemy； and helped into circumstances of safety。
The Refuge we propose will be very much on the same principle as the Homes for the Destitute already described。 We should accept any girls； say from fourteen years of age； who were without visible means of support； but who were willing to work； and to conform to discipline。 There would be various forms of labour provided； such as laundry work； sewing； knitting by machines； &c。 Every beneficial influence within our power would be brought to bear on the rectification and formation of character。 Continued efforts would be made to secure situations according to the adaptation of the girls； to restore wanderers to their homes； and otherwise provide for all。 From this； as with the other Homes； there will be a way made to the Farm and to the Colony over the sea。 The institutions would be multiplied as we had means and found them to be necessary； and made self…supporting as far as possible。
SECTION 7。ENQUIRY OFFICE FOR LOST PEOPLE。
Perhaps nothing more vividly suggests the varied forms of broken…hearted misery in the great City than the statement that 18；000 people are lost in it every year； of whom 9；000 are never heard of any more； anyway in this world。 What is true about London is； we suppose； true in about the same proportion of the rest of the country。 Husbands； sons； daughters； and mothers are continually disappearing； and leaving no trace behind。
In such cases； where the relations are of some importance in the world； they may interest the police authorities sufficiently to make some enquiries in this country； which； however； are not often successful； or where they can afford to spend large sums of money； they can fall back upon the private detective； who will continue these enquiries； not only at home but abroad。
But where the relations of the missing individual are in humble circumstances； they are absolutely powerless； in nine cases out of ten； to effectually prosecute any search at all that is likely to be successful。
Take； for instance； a cottager in a village； whose daughter leaves for service in a big town or city。 Shortly afterwards a letter arrives informing her parents of the satisfactory character of her place。 The mistress is kind； the work easy； and she likes her fellow servants。 She is going to chapel or church； and the family are pleased。 Letters continue to arrive of the same purport； but； at length； they suddenly cease。 Full of concern； the mother writes to know the reason； but no answer comes back； and after a time the letters are returned with 〃gone； no address；〃 written on the envelope。 The mother writes to the mistress； or the father journeys to the city； but no further information can be obtained beyond the fact that 〃the girl has conducted herself somewhat mysteriously of late； had ceased to be as careful at her work； had been noticed to be keeping company with some young man； had given notice and disappeared altogether。〃
Now； what can these poor people do？ They apply to the police； but they can do nothing。 Perhaps they ask the clergyman of the parish； who is equally helpless； and there is nothing for them but for the father to hang his head and the mother to cry her self to sleepto long； and wait； and pray for information that perhaps never comes； and to fear the worst。
Now； our Enquiry Department supplies a remedy for this state of things。 In such a case application would simply have to be made to the nearest Salvation Army Officerprobably in her own village； any way； in the nearest townwho would instruct the parents to write to the Chief Office in London； sending portraits and all particulars。 Enquiries would at once be set on foot； which would very possibly end in the restoration of the girl。
The achievements of this Department； which has only been in operation for a short time； and that on a limited scale； as a branch of Rescue Work； have been marvellous。 No more romantic stories can be found in the pages of our most imaginative writers than those it records。 We give three or four illustrative cases of recent date。
A LOST HUSBAND。
ENQUIRY。
Mrs。 S。； of New Town； Leeds； wrote to say that ROBERT R。 left England in July 1889； for Canada to improve his position。 He left a wife and four little children behind； and on leaving said that if he were successful out there he should send for them； but if not he should return。
As he was unsuccessful； he left Montreal in the Dominion Liner 〃Oregon；〃 on October 30th； but except receiving a card from him ere he started； the wife and friends had heard no more of him from that day till the date they wrote us。
They had written to the 〃Dominion〃 Company； who replied that 〃he landed at Liverpool all right；〃 so； thinking he had disappeared upon his arrival； they put the matter in the hands of the Liverpool Police； who； after having the case in hand for several weeks made the usual report 〃Cannot be traced。〃
RESULT。
We at once commenced looking for some passenger who had come over by the same steamer； and after the lapse of a little time we succeeded in getting hold of one。
In our first interview with him we learned that Robert R。 did not land at Liverpool； but when suffering from depression threw himself overboard three days after leaving America； and was drowned。 We further elicited that upon his death the sailors rifled his clothes and boxes； and partitioned them。
We wrote the Company reporting this； and they promised to