MATHIAS IS GUARDIAN
OF MANY SMALL DOES.
PROBATION OFFICER HAS AN-
OTHER ADDED TO HIS FAMILY.
Girl Who Played Piano for a Ghost
Show Is Also in the Juvenile
Court Because She's
So Nervous.
It would take Dr. E. L Mathias several hours to figure how many miniature John Does and Mary Roes he is the guardian of. And he won't figure the total, but merely tells reports to "cut it out."
Every time a woman brings a foundling into the children's court Judge H. L. McCune, after making some disposition of the child, either leaving it with the foster mother or sending it to the county nursery, appoints Dr Mathias guardian. He got another one yesterday.
An attendant at the McKenzie nursery at 1607 East Ninth street brought the baby into court. It slept serenely, while Judge McCune looked it over and remarked judicially:
"Very pretty baby. Where did you get it?"
"She was left at the nursery along with this letter," replied the attendant, handing the judge a note.
"Andrew, eh? A miss, did you say it was? All right" -- turning to the clerk -- "change the young lady's name from Doe to Andrews. Make her a ward of the court. Dr. Mathias is appointed the guardian. The nursery may keep the -- Miss Andrews as long as the attendants are kind to her."
Then Dr. Mathias did a gallant thing. He gave the baby Christian names in honor of the women of the court: "Helen Agnes Andrews" -- Helen for Mrs. Helen Smith, and Agnes for Mrs. Agnes O'Dell.
"I wonder if that means that Mrs. O'Dell and I will have to buy the Doe baby its clothes," Mrs. Smith whispered.
Mrs. O'Dell followed the nurse and child to the door and gave the baby a farewell pat.
"What color are its eyes?" she asked. "I ought to know, now that she's named after me."
"They're blue yet," replied the nurse.
SHE PLAYED PIANO IN THE GHOST SHOW.
It looked like a story when a girl's mother said she ran away from home rather than take music lessons, and once had climbed on the roof of the house to hide from the music teacher. The reporters had the name and address written down, when "Mother" O'Dell, probation officer, sent this note:
"Ina is a good girl. You must not print her name or address."
There is a touch of sadness in the girl's story, too. Her father left home recently, and as there were five littler ones for her mother to support, Ina remembered her music lessons and went to work as a piano player at the ghost show at Fairmount park. She didn't come home one night, and her mother had her brought into court. She is 16 years old.
"She's a good girl, only she gets nervous," said the mother.
"I'd get nervous myself if I played a piano in a ghost show. Stay away from the park, my girl, and we'll get you a better place to work."
