Part 39 (1/2)
Mrs. Armstrong said nothing whatever, but turned to the other form. In this case the name was that of a Manchester alderman, obviously a Jew--Moses Goldstein, of Goldstein & Hildesheimer, chemical bleachers.
In a flowing business hand the following remarks were written:
”Regrettable increase of crime due in my opinion to sudden wave of disbelief in Christian doctrines. Have questioned men in my own works on the subject. Record this as fact without pretending to understand it. Crimes of violence on increase among Jewish workmen also. Probably sympathetic reaction against morality, though as a strict Jew myself find this doubly distressing.
”MOSES GOLDSTEIN.”
”The famous philanthropist,” murmured Mrs. Armstrong.
The lady seemed dazed. Her usual calm volubility seemed to have deserted her.
”This is a terrible blow,” said Miss Paull, sadly, ”and day by day things are getting worse as figures come in. It seems as if all our work has been in vain. Men seem to be relapsing into the state of the barbaric heathen world. But there is much more yet. I will read you an extract from Mrs. Mary P. Corbin's letter from Chicago. You will remember that she is the organising secretary of the United States branch of the League.”
She took up a bundle of closely typewritten sheets.
”'The Friend to Poor Girls' Society' in this city reports a most painful state of things. The work has suddenly fallen to pieces and become totally disorganised. Many of the girls have left the home and returned to lives of prost.i.tution--there seems to be no restraining influence left. In a few cases girls have returned, after two or three weeks of sin, mere wrecks of their former selves. A---- S---- was a well-known girl on the streets when she was converted and brought to the home. Five weeks ago she went away, announcing her intention of resuming her former life. She has just returned in a dying condition from brutal ill-usage. She says that her former experience was nothing to what she has lately endured. Her words are terribly significant: '_I went back as I thought it was no use being good any more now that there isn't any Jesus. I thought I'd have a good old time. But it's not as it was.
h.e.l.l's broke loose in the streets. The men are a million times worse than they were. It's h.e.l.l now._'
”Another awful blow has been struck at the purity work. The state of the lower parts of Chicago and New York City has become so bad that even the munic.i.p.al authorities have become seriously alarmed.
Unmentionable orgies take place in public. Accordingly a bill is to be rushed through Congress licensing so many houses of ill-fame in each city ward, according to the Continental system.”
She laid down the letter. ”There is no need to read more than extracts,”
she said. ”The letter is full of horrors. I may mention that the law against polygamy in the Mormon State of Utah is on the point of being repealed, and there can be no doubt that things will soon be as bad as ever there. Here is a letter from the Bishop of Toomarbin, who is at present in Melbourne, Australia. A Bill is preparing in the House of Legislature to make the divorce laws for men as easy and simple as possible, while women's privileges are to be greatly curtailed in this direction. In Rhodesia the mine-captains are beginning to flog native women quite unchecked by the local magistrates. English magistrates----”
”Stop, dear,” said Mrs. Armstrong, with a sudden gesture almost of fear.
There was a craven, hunted look in the eyes of this well-known woman.
Her face was blanched with pain. She sat huddled up in her chair. All the stately confidence was gone. That proud bearing of equality, and more than equality, with men, which was so noticeable a characteristic of her port and manner, had vanished.
The white hand which lifted a cup of scalding tea to her lips trembled like a leaf.
The sisters sat together in silence. They sat there, names famous in the world for courage, ability, resource. To these two, perhaps more than to any others in England, had been given the power of building up the great edifice of women's enlightened position at the present day.
And now?
In a moment all was changed. The brute in man was awake, unchained, and loose. The fires of cruelty and l.u.s.t were lit, they heard the roaring of the fires like the roaring of wolves that ”devour apace and nothing said.”
Mrs. Armstrong was terribly affected. Her keen intelligence told her at once of coming horrors of which these were but the earliest signs.
The roaring of a great fire, louder and more menacing, nearer ...
nearer.
Christ had gone from the world never to return--Christ Whom the proud, wishful, worldly woman had not believed in.... They were flogging girls, selling girls ... the fires grew greater and greater ... nearer!
MARY, PITY WOMEN!
CHAPTER II