New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-09-21
NETWORK IN SLICES.
slice XIV. The INTELLIGENCE OFFICE

meeting. Win women IN OlLdll-l not llhh- lt-r-
il they had originally made for somebody else
and perseveringly out Of season. II IN the
midst Of Summer with the sweiering air full Of fiery
dust and the sidewalk blis,ering your feet through
YOUR boot.oles an intoersble glare Of crimson and
scarlet shawls ribbons and faded bonnet flowers with
sutry sense Of yellow calico past all endurance is
sure to issue from Of these places and stream clear
across the street Perhaps you may have wondered
for moment. what was going on inside these dark
and suaocatnr places, and hszarded speculation Is
TO who and what were al the women packed in there
SO closely.
But in New York we have not much time tor looking
after what does not and still less for think
ing about IT, If you were to enter one Of these dans
where intelligence" il peddled half dollar dose
you would be struck with the diversity yet similarity
OF faces congregsied there Anxiety blended with sto
ldty hope aud disappointment ssgacity and uncouth
ness-these 20 TO make up the face Of the female i'm
migrant The unnatural and degrading position she
occupes-forccd 10 beg and pay for the chance
being selected for somebody's domestic slsye-sent all
over the City often on fools errsDd and often 70 en-
dure the vulgar insolence Of some sister woman who
happens have house and husband. only 20 be told
At last in grating and harsh terms that she won't do
or her references are not satisfactory or j don't
ike your looks and go back depending and heart
broken to her seat on the pine bench Of the In
tegence Office, until some other Mrs Arrogance sends
Tor seryant-such day after day is the fate OF the
poor immigrant girl. Who wonder that she thus
10 time becomes hardened and Indifferent and that
when at last she does get place and hnds herself
treated and spoken to rather dog than human be-
ing her stock Of patience aud endura &c gives out and
she determines 10 repay brutality with audacity de-
gradson with III humor and oppression with hypocr
syf We hear loud complaints al hand- Of the un
fsithfulness and dleness Of servants. but we have
never vet known woman who treated those under her
management Ike human beings having hearts and al
feclon and aspirations and sensbilites who ever
robbed by her servants, deceived by them. or her
household or children neglected On the contrary.
little common humanity shown these poor homeless
riendless very lttler0uses At once the
strongest and most uncomfortable sentiment in the fe
male heart-gratitudc-a they love you and all that
belongs TO you with deep and selfsacrfcng affection
II we but knew how far little kindness and good
heartedness goes in alleviang the unhappness Of the
children OF want and poverty might all be at least
rich in our charities
II you step in from the streetor rather down, for 70
is quite likely that going down cellar to pursue
our invcsiigations-you will perched up behind
sort of desk or magistcra tribune small bald headed
man. with piercing black eyes large, habby under lip
and sixty years who appears TO be porting constantly
over a thin, dogearcd memorandum book, something
of the form and general appearance OF the ledger a.
grocery and provision store any corner. If you
look closely however you viii perceive that the
little is every now and then glosting over his ie
male congregation with the eye of dlenGHfe satyr
letting his glance fall for moment here and there as it
encounters some unusually young and wholesome face
or some swelling and elastic form.
But here comes csstomer-a portly and comely
looking matron, who has driven up in her carriage
you can see it is not cab for the driver although it
is melting midsummer, al long drab cloth surtout
buttoned tightly to his chin and the shoulders covered
with six capes The lady herself is highly rougcd and
white baled, and oyer-dressed decided vulgariiy
But that is nothing-we have quite as stylish
in the front sofas Of the Atorpac Opera and
there no doubt that customer belongs to the Up
per Ten Thousand-ss shall probably ascertain by
listening their conversation The keeper of the den
bows low as she sails up his desk, although twinkle
and eer in his malicious eyes belle this testimonial OF
respect The lady speaks
Have you any help you can recommend today
Teddy
Eyes madam, have a couple OF delicate craythers
there Just come over But they both Catholics, and
you know how obstinate they are
Never mind Send them round this afternoon-No
st you know Mind and impress them with
the idea that they must look well to their reierence,
I'm very particular, you know. Which are theyi'
Them in the corner there. Cstharne and jimmy
come here, my darlings. Yere in luck to-day. Here's
lady who will take both Of you trial and if ye
bring good charaehers and suit her well ye may have
easy work and good pay as long as liver ye like"
"Yes-I want two steady, faithful, trustworthy girls
and for such sm willing to pay the very highest
ces Call at FIVE this afternoon and bring your refer
ences."
Is necessary to trace this infamous transaction any
farther in detail Eager 10 procure work and delight,
ed at the chance thus offered the unsuspecting girls 90
10 the house designated, which need not say is
place of assignaon and prostitution, kept by the fine
lady with the carriage Here, after proper prepare
ton during which they bewdered and excited by
the glowing promises and prospects held out by their
eloquent mistress, they introduced to two respect
able elderly gentlemen-one rich stock broker from
Waust and the other heavy importer in south St
both Of course pillars Of Society exemplary hus
bands and fathers and whose morality is untanshed
as their credit lfthe poor girls, however, hesitate and
struggle fer their vrtue-thc only thing left them in
the wide dreary word-a little elixir OF peculiar ma
ture creates temporary insanity, during which their
ruin is completed and they made hends against their
wil-sen, out as ministers of death to make awful war
upon that sex by whom they fell But they must be
careful Ii they should happen TO be caught in row
or with geniemans purse in their hngers, they viii
be punished with all the rgor of the law But the res
pectable stock aud heavy importer they will not
be punishedi Oh no-quite the contrary. They are
ornaments OF society and supposed to have made
hundred thousand dollars piece by the last steamer
And the woman the mistress of this horrible place
what will they do with her Oh nothing She pays
her rent regularly, and has money in the bank The
magistrates too her friends and she could tell
great many disssreeabe secrets if she were TO be OF
Tended. 1t is the poor girls alone who suffer.
Wise City Fathers We tell you plainly that m any OF
these intelligence Offices moral fences, thous
and times dangerous, more pestterou to Society
than all the ship fever imported and destroying by
hundreds the souls and bodies Of honest and innocent
young women whose only desire is for work and bread
and who are ured into these internal dens by the lying
promises OF their inhuman keepers. Look to IT, and
see you can discover any OF these hidden causes OF
the deep damning and wide-spreading licenuoasness
that is converting your beautiful City into moral
bolis Gorncrrah deserving only 10 be consumed by