The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 12, 1906, Page 5

By Annetie Moore ‘ s sad picture of motherhood the barred Stillwate 10 would fail Stella er is unnatural for it? | who . s y innocently sk the ne that fell in shat s tiny body through the row window of Stella ough to stir in the human San irned to the first i wondered which had er disaster to society— f this vast area of es and the suf- ands as a result of on those fateful s, or the birth of that one tiny babe penal servitude of its dis- t seemingly devoted mother. 11 be the re: fluences upon the child?” I had since wond Nine months ago the people of the Stella Brennan. of the night the neighbors of the Bren- April| nans were startled out of their peace- { ful sleep by the reports of three shots, }Three innocent children were hurrled |into eternity its of the pre- | fourth—a boy, who has since recovered —was {njured. ed in Minneapolis, and I have |Mrs. Brennan's stepchildren—that fur- 4 what fate has In store | nished a damaging story to the court r . Btella Brennan's prison-born in-|which found the woman guilty of mur- |der and sentenced her to life imprison- ment at Stillwater. THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY | Northwest were horrified by the details of the case of Mrs. Stella Brennan. Well do the people of Minneapolis re- call the terrible event of last October— the murder of three children in the | home of James Brennan in the northern part of that prosperous city. They were the stepchildren of Mrs, During the dark hours by those shots, and a It was this boy—one of STELLA BERINANS - " PABY —oves > Mrs. Brennan was shot, and by her own hand, so the circumstantial evi- dence at her trial showed, notwith- standing a contradictory story she told on the witness stand. One thing saved the woman from the death penalty, which might have been better for her, and that was the fact that she was about to become a mother. Her counsel had hoped this fact would save her even from prison life, but the gourt regarded her offense too seriously. When Mrs. Brennan left the county Jall for the penitentiary to begin serv- throbbed with pity for the child which was to be born In the depressing gloom of a prison, and if the truth were told, for the expectant mother too, even though she may have less than a year ago deliberately planned and success- fully carried out a plot to rid herself of three stepchildren whose only of- fense was that they won love and at- tentlon from their father and thereby created hatred in their stepmother's heart. Motherhood—reverenced by all man- kind from the world's beginning and a favorite subject with painters who have devoted their best efforts in faithfully dapicting on canvas a representation of its sacred significance and exquisite charm—here makes an appeal alone through its unutterable pathos. The mind shrinks from grasping the full wretchedness of such an event; all the finer feelings are shocked at the thought of a child being born within prison walls. Any one who has within him a spark of the divine spirit which kindles sym- pathy and pity for fellow-beings un- fortunately situated cannot contem- plate a young mother serving a life sentence in a penitentiary for the crime of murder. Picture, as I have already done, the mother’s joy in the birth of a child, turned to misery at the thought of its prison-darkened future, without compassion for both—for the one whose life certainly is ruined past redemp- tion, and the other who is innocent and unconsclous as yet of the forfeit of happiness it will be compelled to pay if it lves because a prison staln rests upon {ts birth, In the face of all the treatises that physicians have written upon the fate- ful influence of prenatal environment one realizes with a shock that the mother of this little penitentiary chlld has been associating during the six months before her child’'s coming with sullen-faced prisoners, with the trage- dies of their lives engraved in heavy lines about their mouths and eyes, going about thelr work with never a smile to lighten thelr tasks or {llumine the gloom of the prison factories. The mind dwells now less upon Mrs. Brennan in her prison environment and more+ particularly upon her little daughter. An infant deprived of a chil@'s first and most sacred right— that of being well born, robbed before its birth of its just inheritance of spir- itual and mental qualitles, It {s beginning its struggle with the world under the most pathetic and tragic circumstances that imaglination can portray, but happily obltvious to the fact that its life is already blight- ed by its mother’s crime, and that as years unfold they will bring an over- whelming burden of shame and sus- ing her sentence many a mother heart Daughters of the Rich and Their phrase is a mispomer; there | Perfect and educate her in accordance WE talk about the idle rich; the|thing that can make her physically really are no idle rich people in America today. rogant and purse-proud rich there may | cier. s v |when she has been graduated from | college she is & radiant creature, theé en compered with the|finest product of modern civilization. he,-forming the minority and pointing & “contrast w h vast - multitude of well-to-do-women end men who have galned wealth with- out losing the virtues that distinguish Epod people everywhere. Even those { form the lower stratum of the £X:rt sét, who are vulgsr and pushing &nd have no claim to consideration be- yond their bank sccount, ere not idle. Far from it. They are as restless, as eager and es busy in the pursuit of pleasure as any laborer in the world can possibly be in the pursult of hon- est bread. The daughters of the rich by rea. son of ‘the excellent care that sur- rounds them from the cradle belong to ‘what may be called with reason our bighest eristocracy. No princess of royal blood is more carefully educated, more zealously surrounded by every- aim to do with herself? | for any station. presented to soclety and she may at onge, if she choose, become a reigning belle. the ultimatum goal of a mother's am- bition for such a daughter. ican mother is not very anxious to get rid of her daughter, and tells her not to be in hi enjoy a long, bright and triumphant career as a daughter at home, before she takes on herself the responsibilities of the wife, and withdraws from her position as reigning princess to be the sole queen of her own home? The girl herself in cases thwarts her mother’, and amazes her father by a downright determination, to work precisely as if she had no prospects and were com- pelled to labor for her own wsupport. | with the most advanced ideas than is the girl whose father is a successful Wasteful, haughty, &r- | merchant, railway magnate or finan- She has every advantage, and W hat does this ddughter of the gods She is fitted She shall presently be Marriage in the Old World is The Amer- te. Why should she not majority of inclinations She argues that her brother when he leaves college goes into business or a profession, and that he is the object of criticism if he postpones doing so longer than the limit of a six or twelve months’ vacation. A young man who should content himself as a dilettante, who should pride himself on being an idol of society, and live a butterfly ex- istence would be regarded with a mix- ture of amusement and scorn. Thq girl | claims that she {s & human being just as her brother is, that she has received practically the same education that has been given to him and that she wants to make use of it as he does. Her mother does not need her, servants can do whatever is necessary for the com- fort of the most elaborate home, and the young woman whose brain has been developed by serious study is not con- tent to sit down and let her tools rust. LR ) It i{s Impossible not to sympathize with this view. Hnergy and ambition are in the air we breathe. A girl who has a pronounced talent for business is not happy if obliged to spend her time over embroldery or cake-making. Bhe not only feels that she has gifts that may be used successfully out in the world, but she thinks that the pleion for which the child can in no friction, the competition and the activ- ity of the outdoor world are interest- ing and profitable. They seem to be ‘worth while. The problem that should bid her pause is an ethical one. In a suburb not far from New York there resided three years ago on the same street two glrls, one of whom had a fortune, the other of whom was dependent on' her daily work for dally bread. Both had business ability. Hach had studied bookkeeping, each applied in the same week for the same vacant situation. It was given to the rich girl, probably because she was rich and bore a name well known in business circles. Had the rich girl not applied the position would have been given to the girl who needed it, who would have performed its dutles with equal fidelity and who was forced by her poverty to take something less remunerative. In this Instance the first rl really acted, without intending it, the part of a robber and made life more difficult and frugality more pressing than it need have been in the home of another—a sister woman of her own age and wfth an_education similar to her own. The rich girl who not infrequently accepts work at a lower salary than CALL. -way bas held responsible, but for which the world will make it suffer. Btella Brennan's baby gurgles and coos in its waking hours and sleeps tranquilly most of the time In the matron’s room. In its innocence and helplessness it is as lovable as any baby whose advent into an ideal home brings naught but joy and happiness to its parents, and yet glad though Mrs. Brennan may be In the possession of this wee bit of humanity, her heart must for thenost part know a bitter 4anguish, particularly when the thought of herself in penitentiary surroundings gives place to musings over the con- trast between her own happy, sun- lighted childhood and the dreary future which is offered her baby. The impression this woman made on me in her prison surroundings was far more favorable, perhaps, than the one she made during her exciting trial. She seemed sweet and woman- 1y, and possessed an air of refinement distinctly separated from the other prisoners in the women's ward at Stillwater. She appeared as nearly ideal In her attitude toward her child as any woman not highly educated but warm hearted and innately re- fined could be. Mrs. Brennan came into my pres- ence without displaying any sem- blance of hesitancy or disinclination to meet a stranger; on the contrary, she seemed more than willing to talk and rather glad of the opportunity to escape, for a short time, from the monotony of the sewing-room, to which she had been assigned. At first glance the scene did not differ greatly from thdt at a parlor thimble-bee, except that absolute si- lence was maintained, and in a mo- ment one felt the atmosphere of the prison. The room was sunny and al- most pleasant if one could forget that bars cover every window and heavy doors and strong locks place restraint upon the freedom of these women and lay a depressing influence upon their thoughts, while a guard, carrying a gun upon his shoulder, paces up and down the prison wall outsidem Mrs. Brennan wore the prison uni- form for women—a blue and white checked calico dress and apron, and she held a bit of sewing In her hand and worked at it occasionally as she talked. s it e g s e R o she had spent her entire life upon a farm and had been engaging in healthful, outdoor exercise from early dawn to twilight. Her skin was clear, and had prison regulations allowed her to do her hair in an elaboratae fashion she would have been consld- ered an attractive woman by the cas- ual observer. It Mrs. Brennan had| been worrled or unhappy during her prison life her face does not indicate it in the least. There are no little wrinkles or lines of worry or thinking as might have been expected, and neither was its expression marred by sullenness or discontent. She was absolutely serene. Her eyes were bright; she smiled easily. There was not a trace of mental depression. Evidently Mrs, Brennan has accepted prison life tranquilly. Shelsbuoyed up by the hope of freedom at an early date; she insists upon her innocence and belleves her friends are working for her release. Her ealmost unconcerned demeanor Right O ) e PR prompted what might otherwise have seemed & heartless question. “Have you been very unhappy here?” £ “Of course, I have not been happy; no one could be,” she answered. “You have trled to make the best of 1t?” “Yes, I have,” she replied, “but it has been very hard." “You have tried to be cheerful for the baby’'s sake?” I asked this question rather re- luctantly, but she answered it readily. I hesitated for a moment and then asked: “And you are fond of chlldren?” | For a moment, as the tragic detalls of Stella Brennan's trial came to my mind, I regretted that I had put the question to the unfortunate woman, but apparently still laboring under the as- sumed theory that she was gullty of | the murder of three young children lhsi quletly responded: “Yes, I am very fond of children,” and even as she spoke she unconscious- 1y turned toward her infant that was .sleeping in the arms of one of the ward | attendants. The mother of this child| has not seemed, however, during her prison life to feel much deep emotion, | and although she mey give her babe | some pitying thoughts her mind is al- most wholly occupied with broodings upon her own unfortunate situation. It is doubtful If the mother can have g full conception of the misery her daughter may know when it is old enough to understand that it is shunned because its mother committed a horri- ble murder and its birthplace was s prison hospital. Still when we continued to discu the bables she suddenly cried out: I always wanted a baby, and I would have looked forward to it happily, but I did not want it born here.” Poor creature! At last her motherly instinct had asserted itself, and she was almost overcome with emotion. “I am innocent,” she protested as the | tears welled in her eyes. “It was hard to have my baby born in prison. They tried to get me out, and I hops they will, but it will be tee late to save the baby from disgrace.” One comfort this woman has had— | she was permittéd to make her baby's clothes. This work has helped to make her cheerful. She gave the impression that she had sewed contentedly upon them; at least that gloomy despair was mnot woven into the garments with every stitch. She had some bright thoughts about her baby, and she was feminine enough to take some pride and pleasure in making the layette herself. Mrs. Brennan was eager to bring the small garments out for inspection and admiration; but since prison regula~ tlons would not permit of it, she Ge= scribed those of which she was most proud. Chief among these was a christening robe. It is as beautiful as fine needle- work could make it, and she hopes her baby will be baptized in it. She said she had puszzled over names for the baby, but had not®een able to decide upon any. The trivial problem evidently fllled her mind at times to the exclusion of bitter thoughts. ‘When I thoughtlessly asked her whether she had planned anything for the baby's future she relapsed into gloomy thoughts, from which she emerged only when we resumed the discussion of the infant clothes. She reveled in a description of & patchwork quilt."It is made of an enor- mous number of small pleces, and Mra, Brennan was as enthusiastic over it as any other mother in the land might de. Asked whether she would like to keep her baby with her in prison, Mrs. Bren- nan replied; “It would be a comfort to me, and I think I am to be allowed to have it here for a few months, Then she could afford to take if she did not|ig plenty to do In this world for every- possess private means cheapens the market and adds terribly to the bur- dens of the poor. In not a few cases women of wealth plume themselves on the austerity of théir ecomony. They give lavishly in charity, but they grudge the money they pay to those who help them. They will engage as secretary or companion the daughter of a relative or of a wealthy neighbor who has a desire to earn pin money|In the lower rounds of her ladder and will fancy that they are doing a|should hold steadfastly to this they are .gratifying|The probability is, however, that after double good; body who has a will and a wish to work. The girl who has large wealth should aim to become an employer, to put herself where she mey engage and pay others and carry on large business interests without detriment to the good of society. If she has capital she is at liberty to use it as a man does, pro- vided she has a man's firmness, con- centration and power of djscernment. o end. Cousin Helen or Niece Mary by letting |three or four years of business or pro- her work for them, and they are sav- ing something for fund or their charities because they pay her what would not be a living | marry. wage to an equally well-equipped girl who was poor. If a rich girl decides that she must thelr * missionary | monotony, drop the whole thing, fessional life she will of the 80 abroad, travel or settle down and The difference between the rich man’'s son and the rich man's daughter in the matter of business is that with the former it is regarded as tire and’ will work, let her enter the lists|a serious occupation and with the lat- as any one else would and ask for and |ter it is usually a fad or caprice. earn the same wages, no more and no Settlement work affords endless op- less. She does well to exhibit the|portunities to rich girls who honestly same qualities of steadiness, resolution | wish to work. They may teach what and pluck that are expected in her|they have learned; they may gather brother and exacted from other earning women. 3 « s e Tt should not be forgotten that there ~|about them classes in music, or art; they may go in a friendly way to the sick and the poor, and in every department without money and with- my mother will take it. In a Ifttle while I expect to be free, and I am go- ing to care for it myself.” She spoke with noticeabls confidence. I could not doubt that she really be- | lleves she will soon be free. While Mrs. Brennan talked she sewed quite steadlly and her needlework brought her hands into prominence. They are beautiful. No soclety woman has softer, whiter or more prettily formed hands. They are one evidence of the refine- ment she unmistakably possesses, and although she had been several mouths in prison, they apparently had been carefully cared for. The well shaped nails seemed to have received much at- tention. Mrs. Bremnan is childishly proud of her hands. From talking of her baby the eo: versation drifted to Mrs. Brennan' childhood. She lingered over a review of her life on & farm In central In- diana, where she was born. ~ Hers was evidently a merry, sunlighted girlhood, unclouded by any premonition of the dark hour fate held in store for her— the hour when she would become the mother of a child in prison. Memory brought back the sweetness cf the childhocd days which she en- joyed with all the abandonment of = healthy child surrounded by the whole= some influences of country life. Those were care-free, happy days, when Stella,swith her brothers and sis- ters, went to the little country school. Her parents were respected in the com- munity and were bringing up thelr sons and daughters to make good men and women of them. Surrounded by the best of home influences, her childhood flowered into early womanhood before anything occurred to destroy the even tenor of her life. When she was 16 her school life was abruptly brought to a close by an acel- dent. One day in the yard at home she fell, striking her head at the base of the brain on the sharp edges of a box. She was i1l during the winter fol- lowing. and the family physician stated she would never be able to attend school again. Later, when she recovered her health, the young girl did office work for a liv- ing. Her brothers and sisters also se- cured good positions, and today they command respect in their several situa- tions, while Stella is brought low—an assoclate of the most degraded pris- oners. But it is the doubtful future of Stellay Brennan's baby in which I am con-, cerned; that wee bit of humanity thaty | has made its first plaintive cry within, the shadow of those frowning prisom walls. It's future has offered an abune dance of material for speculative thought. Science has given us its respectad opinion that the results of prenatal influence are overwhelmingly conclu- sive. Murderous tendencies, declare the wise men, will follow murdesous thoughts. The mental attitude, and ‘the moral and intellectual atmosphers in which a mother spends the months be- fore her child s born exert effects,pos-, itively assert the scientists. A frightful murder, a publie trial, at- tended with most trying conditions and followed by imprisonment are the sum of events which have exerted pzenatal influences upon the child of Stella' Brennan. What will be the fate of this chila, thriving from the breast of a woman Jwho has passed through such am awful, ordeal? The physicians tell us that the child may be bright, beautiful and attractive and yet its very soul will be.scourged by the sins of Its parent. Stella Brown and her heartbroken mother, who hopes soon to take the infant beyond the confines of Still- water Penitentiary and devote her re- maining days to its welfarxe, belleve' that the authorities of the pgison might have shown some compassipn for this bapy and saved it from ths stigma of prison birth, but the kind-hearted war- dent replies that he is bouad by strin- gent laws and that he would have vio-! lated his @uties had he parmitted the convicted mother to leavey the prisem, even for a short time. 3 i And it was the law of tha land—a law that is supposed to be righteous and Is righteous, that furnishes the picture in Stillwater’s prison—that awful plecture of strange motherhood defubly suffering| behind barred windo ‘eautiously, as she explains, dispelling Ner serrow and tears for the sake of an innocent baby, born to her in an evil hbur. out price they may ido good. Those who have never igvestigated the sub- Ject imagine that segtlement work is mainly sentimental. Never was there a greater mistake. It affords scope for the energy of the most practical and most sensible young woman whoever she may be. To & sympathetic and womanly girl it offers.an inviting fleld of usefulness. No rule is without {ts exception. ‘Where a woman has commanding abil- ity and positive genlus she has g right to use it for the bemefit of the world whether sheé be rich or poor. A great artist, a great poet, a great novelist is not to be shut out from the expres- slon of her God-given talents because she has wealth. But If being rich and being only mediocre she finds pleasure in painting menu cards or illustrating children’s stories or writing short ar- ticles for the papers or doing any other thing for which she is pald and by doing which she shuts the door on some. one who needs the money more than she does, she is in the wrong. Even though she give this money away, she is acting a selfisi part. Only superlative endowment may Jjustify a rich woman In doing for money some- thing a poorer sister could de ss-well