The Story of Elsie in New York

She was living in the suburbs of New York when suddenly she found herself in the beating heart of the city.

At that moment a pleasant man, his face tanned by the sun to an attractive brown, wearing a broad hat, was passing on his way to the station. He is Hank Ross, owner of the Sun Farm in the state of Ohio, and here he is going back to it after his visit to the great city, heaviness filling his heart, for there on the farm bitter loneliness awaits him. He had come to New York hoping to find in it his life's partner, but its girls had disappointed him. Suddenly he felt his heart leap in his chest... He had seen Elsie's soft face and her bewildered stance, which showed that she too felt lonely. His country instinct told him that she was his promised life's partner. He knew in his heart of hearts that he would love her and surround her with every means of comfort and care, and make her the happiest woman in the world. And he saw his farm adorned with two sunflowers where before there had been one solitary flower.

His loyalty to his feeling moved him to turn about and walk toward Elsie, after lifting his hat to her. Elsie, looking at him with shyness and admiration, saw only the handsome features of his face and his frank gaze. At that instant one of the burly policemen set upon him, seized him by the collar of his coat, and shoved him toward the wall. A short distance away a thief was coming out of one of the buildings carrying a sack full of silverware — but what is that to us now?

The policeman was shouting:
— Trying to flirt with the girls while I'm here? I'll teach you to accost women in my district! Go on, march ahead of me to the station house!

Elsie sighed as she walked on, after the policeman had dragged the farmer away; she had admired the blue of his eyes set in the frame of his tanned face. She headed south as she walked, thinking herself in the district where her father had worked, hoping to find someone to direct her to the firm of Fox and Otter.

But did she really want to find Mr. Otter? She had inherited her father's independent streak, and she wished she could find work without anyone's help.

She saw before her a sign that read: "Employment Office," and she went in.

It was a room full of girls sitting waiting their turn, and around them elegant, well-to-do women looking them over. An elderly lady in a black silk dress came up to her and said:

— Are you looking for work, my dear? I like your looks — won't you work for me? I need a companion more than I need a maid. After you finish tidying the house you will read books and magazines to me, and you shall have room and board with me, and I will pay you thirty dollars a month!

...the feeble-minded. Think, my girl, before you touch the price of candies stuffed with spirituous liquors!

And Elsie said sorrowfully:

— I didn't know that! But... I have to live! Good Lord, what am I to do?

The lady answered:

— Leave this work now and come with me, and I will show you!

After Elsie had told the shopkeeper of her intention to leave the work, she put on her coat and followed the lady to the street, where the latter stood beside a luxurious carriage.

— Look for other work, my girl, and do your part in the war on strong drink. Then the lady climbed into that luxurious carriage and quickly disappeared.

Elsie set off walking, saying to herself: "I suppose I shall ask Mr. Otter for help in the end, and I am sorry for it... but... what is to be done?... I had wished not to ask help of anyone..."

She stopped speaking, for she had caught sight of a sign near one of the doors that read:

"Fifty girls wanted to sew theatrical costumes at good wages."

Before she could go in, a man dressed in black, dignified in bearing, blocked her way and said to her:

— I beg you, my dear daughter, do not enter this house of the Devil!

Elsie, her patience worn out, said:

— Good heavens, it seems the Devil is behind every job in New York!

The solemn man replied:

— He is here in the guise of costumes. The theater is the road to ruin and destruction. Will you expose your soul to perdition by helping others to destroy themselves? Do you know where the theater leads the actors and actresses once the curtain falls?

Elsie answered:

— To the revues, sir... but... what crime do I commit by earning money from my skill with the needle? I must find work, or else...

The man cut her off, saying:

— I beg you, my little child, keep away from the house of sin and evil.

She said naively:

— I care nothing for this work if its results are as you say... but... I must find work to live by!

He said to her:

— God does not forsake His servants! Come, my daughter, and attend our religious lessons every Sunday afternoon. May the Lord keep you, and may God's peace be in your heart. Farewell.

She continued on her way and entered the industrial district, where she saw on one of the brick walls "The Artificial Flowers Company," and beneath these words, on a fresh additional sign: "Five hundred girls wanted to learn the trade. Good wages. Apply on the first floor."

She approached the door, around which a crowd of women had gathered, when one of them, wearing a straw hat, came up to her, saying:

— Listen, my girl, do you want work?

— Yes, I must find work...

— And I tell you: no!... I am the head of the labor-boycott committee here! We are 400 girls thrown out of work because we asked for a raise of 50 cents a week and that the overseer shave off his mustache! Your looks show you are a gentle sort, and it would be a shame for you to face the wrath of the boycott committee! Listen... would you rather look for other work, or do you prefer

...cheeks, breathless, her eyes shining with the fleeting sparkle of the stars! She was truly beautiful!

★

How I wish I could stop here in this story of mine! I shall stop here, and let God's curse fall upon it... but... I must finish it... I did not create it... the whole of the matter is that I am only retelling it to you!

I wished to stop here, after sending bouquets of roses to the wise policeman, and to the lady who devoted her life to rescuing girls in search of work, and to the one who fights intoxicants in pieces of candy, and to that heavenly angel who barred the evil in the making of clothes for the theater, and to all those who paved the way for Elsie to reach her father's chief, her rescuer from poverty! The story would have been splendid that way too. But... a few words must be added to finish the story.

While Elsie was contemplating herself in the mirror, Mr. Otter went off to a corner, drew aside with the telephone, and asked for a number — do not ask me what number. He said:

— Listen, Oscar... I want to reserve the usual table for this evening... What?... Yes, the table in the East Room, north of the planter... yes... two only... yes, the same drink, and the wine with the meat... Listen, I'll break your neck if everything isn't just right... no... not the usual girl... of course not... she's new... marvelous... she's like a luscious pear, Oscar... like a pear!..."

I shall end the story now, weary reader, with a single sentence! I shall end it with words from the words of the Greatest Master!

"She is lost, my Lord. She is lost, O institutions and associations. She is lost, O men of religion. She is lost, O all you reformers and men of the law, you who were born with the spark of faith in your hearts alongside the reverence of money in your souls." And she is lost among us every day!