Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-06-30
Life in New York.

INV DIRK, June ~, lS4s.
have lately spent some leisure hours in be-
coming acquainted with Life in New York for,
although for some ycars a denizcu Of this great
city, have known little Of it except what ap-
pears on the surface and in tic ordinary walks
of business. To learn any Thing Of the different
states, varieties and modes Of human existence
here, one must leave the beaten track, and enter
the by-wuys, alleys, and dark cellars OF the city,
the miserable and wretthcd retreats OF poverty
and vice | stepped the other morning into the
Court Of the Police Justice at the Tombs," to
see the street g'oanings Of the night. There
were some twenty, OF all ages, colors and sexes,
huddled together on one side OF the room some
with battered and some with bloaied faces, some
in rags and some in toticred fncry, some bore
in their countenances evidence of hardened vii
lainy, some, shame aud modification from a
nights debauch.
On the opposite side Of the room, seated upon
a platform, and protected by railing from the
too near approach Of the prisoners, were the
magistrate aud his officials. One after another,
the prisoners were brought forward, and after
few questions, and hearing the statements of the
watch, were generally sent of, some to Black
wells Island, some to the House of Correction
or other places Of punishment. One little eiil
Of u or IA was picked up in the street, late at
night, wandering about, and partially intoxicated
She stated TO the MAGISTRATE that she had no pa
rents or friends; that her parents died about a
year previously and that she had been living
with wretch who had forced her into The street
to entce men into the house; and, being taken
sick, and unable to serve her mistress, she had
been turned into the street She was bright
looking child, and her features naturally hand
some, but her dress was ragged and filthy in the
extreme. The magistrate heard her story with
perfect indifference, and evidently regarded her
as an outcast from society. She was sent to
BlaekwelPs Island, to mnge with the multitude
Of abandoned females confined there.
young man, respectfully dressed, was charg-
ed with striking the officer who sought TO arrest
him, in some disreputabe place, the night pre.
vious- lie was let of with fine and sharp
reprimand.
While observing these proceedings violent
screaming was heard outside, and presently the
door opened, and two young women, struggling
and screaming with oil their might were dragged
in by main force by two police officers. They
presented pitiablc and disgusting scene. They
resisted the officers with all their strength; they
screeched murder" and begged and cursed al
ternately, all the while in tears, and exhibiting
the utmost distress Let me gol DO let me
gol want to go home! have MT done any
thing Won't you let me go home? o. that
ever should come TO this What shall do f?
Kill me I'll die first, but | won't go there
o, what will become of me? Let me go o,
do let me gol Don't take NE there l had
rather you would Kill me, than take me there |
o, what shall do? What shall do?" These
were some of the mildest EXPLANATIONS heard, as
they were dragged into the courtroom, and in
tones of distress and anguish such as never
heard. But their cries and tears were alike un-
needed, and their struggles impotent They
dropped on some benches, covered their faces
with their hands, and sobbed violently. They
both appeared to be under twenty Year, Of age,