STEALING OR WORSE.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 36, 10 November 1911, Page 14

STEALING OR WORSE.

" 1 Have no Tears Left."

A recent "Worker" car-toon depicted a young woman reaching out for the lifebuoy of prostitution to save her from the clutches of the Ogre of Capitalism. Some perverted minds objected to truth being drawn and written about plainly. That will not deter the "Worker" from revealing facts as they are, and using plain language to tell plain truth.

Following is from the, New York "Call," and should give the "unco quid," who abstain from the very mention of evil something to think about: —

"The choice between stealing: -arid, prostitution that faces so many_ women to-day who desire to., live independent lives was vividly brought out yesterday in Jefferson Market Police Court, when Miss Dorothy G. ■ Palmer, of 69 Hamilton Avenue, Yonkers, was charged with buying clothes and ornaments and having them charged to her wealthy neighbour, Mrs. John K. Lovell.

''Miss Palmer is 19 years of age, and is a refined-looking and pretty girl. She was arrested in a Fifth Avenue department store. She made the following statement- in court: —

"A girl must be up-to-date to get work. Even the most ordinary employer wants the young woman who works for him to wear silks and satins, pretty hats and silk stockings. I could not'manage it on -5 dols. a week and keep my stilf-respect. That is why I stole.

"I am not the sort to cry over spilled milk," she said. "My crying days are over. I have no tears left. 1 may smile, but there is an ache under the smile. I have lived ten years during the past two. lam only 19 years old, but I feel like a woman of 30, and -I know what a woman of 30 knows."