1909 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



747 



she stoutly maintained that she had been in this coun- 

 try more than three years, and that she was in a life of 

 shame from choice, and not through the criminal act 

 of any person. When she was brought into what the 

 sensational newspapers would call the " sweat-box" it 

 was clear that she was in a state of abject terror. 

 Soon, however, Assistant United States District Attor- 

 ney Parkin, having charge of the examination, con- 

 vinced her that he and his associates were her friends 

 and protectors, and that their purpose was to punish 

 those who had profited by her ruin and to send her 

 back to her little Italian home with all her expenses 

 paid; that she was under the protection of the United 

 States, and was as safe as if the king of Italy would 

 take her under his royal care and pledge his word that 

 her enemies should not have revenge upon her.! " 



Then she broke down, and with pitiful sobs related 

 her awful narrative. That every word of it was true 

 no one could doubt who saw her as she told it. Briefly 

 this is her story: A "fine lady" who wore beautiful 

 clothes came to her where she lived with her parents, 

 made friends with her, told her she was uncommonly 

 pretty (the truth, by the way), and professed a great 

 interest in her. Such flattering attentions from an 

 American lady who wore clothes as fine as those of the 

 Italian nobility could have but one effect on the mind 

 of this simple little peasant girl, and on her still simpler 

 parents. Their heads were completely turned, and 

 they regarded the "American lady" with almost ado- 

 ration. 



Very shrewdly the woman did not attempt to bring 

 the little girl back with her, but held out hope that 

 some day a letter might come with money for her pas- 

 sage to America. Once there she would become the 

 companion of her American friend, and they would 

 have great times together. 



Of course, in due time the money came — and the $100 

 was a most substantial pledge to the parents of the 

 wealth and generosity of the "American lady." Un- 

 hesitatingly she was prepared for the voyage which 

 was to take her to the land of happiness and good for- 

 tune. According to the arrangements made by letter 

 the girl was met at New York by two " friends" of her 

 benefactress who attended to her entrance papers and 

 took her in charge. These " friends" were two of the 

 most brutal of all the white-slave drivers who are in 

 the traffic. At this time she was about sixteen years 

 old, innocent, and rarely attractive for a girl of her 

 class, having the large handsome eyes, the black hair, 

 and the rich olive skin of a typical Italian. 



Where these two men took her she did not know- 

 but by the most violent and brutal means they quickly 

 accomplished her ruin. For a week she was subjected 

 to unspeakable treatment, and made to feel that her 

 degradation was complete and final. , 



And here let it be said that the breaking of the spirit, 

 the crushing of all hope for any future save that of 

 shame is always a part of the initiation of a white slave. 

 Then the girl was shipped on to Chicago, where she 

 was disposed of to the keeper of an Italian dive of the 

 vilest type. On her entrance here she was furnished 

 with gaudy dresses and wearing apparel for which the 

 keeper of the place charged her $600. As is the case 

 with all new white slaves she was not allowed to have 

 any clothing which she could wear upon the street. 



Her one object in life was to escape from the den in 

 which she was held a prisoner. To " pay out" seemed 

 the surest way; and at length, from her wages of 

 shame, she was able to cancel the $600 account. Then 

 she asked for her street clothing and her release — only 

 to be told that she had incurred other expenses to the 

 amount of $400. 



Her Italian blood took fire at this, and she made a 

 dash for liberty. But she was not quick enough, and the 

 hand of the oppressor was upon her. In the wild scene 

 that followed she was slashed with a razor, one gash 

 straight through her right eye, one across her cheek, 

 and another slitting her ear. Then she was given 

 medical attention, and the wounds gradually healed; 

 but her face was horribly mutilated; her right eye is 

 always open, and to look upon her is to shudder. 



When the raids began she was secreted, and arrange- 

 ments made to ship her to a dive in the mining regions 

 of the west. Fortunately, however, a few hours before 

 she was to start upon her journey the United States 

 marshals raided the place and captured her as well as 

 her keepers. To add to the horror of her situation she 

 was soon to become a mother. The awful thought in 

 her mind, however, was to escape from assassination 

 at the hands of the murderous gang which oppressed 

 her. 



One recital of this kind is enough, although in- 

 stances by the score might be cited which differ only 

 in detail and degree. 



Now, friends, when the government of the 

 United States, assisted by the legislatures of 

 the different States, succeeds in creaking up 

 this traffic so skillfully intrenched, there 

 will be more "wailing and gnashing of 

 teeth." Yes, there will be trouble — probably 

 bloodshed and murder; and I hope the move- 

 ment will have the indorsement of every 

 good man and woman — certainly of every 

 father and mother in the land; for the assist- 

 ance of such is needed to wipe out this aw- 

 ful shame on our nation and our civilization. 

 The pickpocket is a criminal and should be 

 promptly and severely punished. The high- 

 wayman who knocks people down in order 

 to get their pocketbooks is a villain, and 

 does not deserve to live unless he can be 

 soundly converted and made over again. 

 Some two or three years ago I told you of a 

 fellow who knocked down and robbed a lady 

 schoolteacher. She had just finished her 

 term and drawn her pay. By the way, if 

 there is any class of people in this whole wide 

 world who deserve our reverence and need 

 our protection it is the women teachers who 

 are spending their lives in trying to make 

 our boys and girls grow up to be good pure 

 men and women. Well, this fiend in human 

 form, probably under the influence of liquor, 

 brutally knocks down this refined and in- 

 telligent woman, and took from her by force 

 her hard earnings, and left her there, help- 

 less and bleeding. I remember wondering 

 whether the city of Fostoria, O., would make 

 up her loss or not; but they certainly ought 

 to be ashamed of themselves besides, for 

 permitting such things to go on inside of 

 their corporation. Of course the city (for it 

 is quite a good-sized one at least) was full of 

 saloons; and within the past week my heart 

 has sunk within me when I read in the pa- 

 pers that Fostoria had gone wet again. 



Well, this fellow who knocked this lady 

 down and got her money was not as bad a 

 man as the "procurers" who have an or- 

 ganized system with men and boys to waylay 

 our little girls. The word "hell" is an aw- 

 ful one. I have sometimes thought I would 

 not use it, but choose some substitute that 

 would amount to about the same thing; but 

 the recital of the infamy of the capture of 

 that little Italian girl makes me feel that we 

 have not only a need ot heavenhere. on earth 

 but we need hell also; and the quicker we 

 can get these villians into torments of some 

 kind the better. Let us work, and rejoice to 

 see the wailing and gnashing of teeth. 



Years ago, when I was a boy, and away 

 from, home I became pretty well acquainted 

 with a saloon-keeper. Perhaps I might as 

 well tell you that I used to go around there 

 every day and get my glass of beer. Well, 

 this saloon-keeper, away back at that early 

 date, unfolded to me a plan for building up 

 a prosperous (?) business. He was going to 

 send to the city and get a "barmaid." He 

 said it would cost quite a little to support her, 

 but he said he had some rich customers who 

 would help defray this expense, and she 

 would "draw " a great lot of business. Yes, 

 no doubt she would "draw " a lot of custom- 



