New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-14
SHADOWS OF OUR SOCIAL SYSTEM
vu-rHE STRANGERS WELCOME.


II was the first time had been in prison for years
Accompanied by tried friend of the prisoner, we
looked into cell after cell of the Tombsi talked with
girls sprighty and sometimes wel-ookiDg IN spite oil
the evil ingrained in coanest linesments with old
women, haggard, hideOus, and yet with something wo-
manly as basis for all this ugliness; and still as we
passed on my heart kept repeating with ts muiiied
beat, Sisters in humanity Sisters In humanity
Then we visited the new-comers-fve day prison.
ers. Drunkenness, vsgrancyi II was pteous col
lection Of perhaps 20 sitting closely together upon
benches drawn around the stove. Black eyes, bruised
faces a model arts. in silk dress and gay hat
soualor filth, wrinkled and hardy crime-this was
the motley group. Sisters in humanity, again wins
pered conscience; but the human in me recoiled Can
these be women-immortal women One Is tempted
here TO believe in the humiliation of the wicked, and
10 pray that il be true. taught that the soul
cannot from its very nature, choose misery Tor Its
own sake. What then did these women choose
Thew have found misery drained !! to the dregs, and
cbewed these as sweet or bitter morse, t they them
selves are now sick with loathing
In the midst Of these was young creature, stout,
fresh sunny-a wild Irish girl not FIVE days str anger
in our great City. She had come here expecting 10
meet friends but only to learn that they were Ia Bos-
ton. not in New-York and to find herself pennyless
in this great Babylon of the New World. Her only
resort was to apply to the Commissioners OF Emigra-
ton. This was in the Spring. Funds were low, pa
tiepce lower; the girls voice was doubtless high,
shiil imperative must needs be when her case
grew more and more desperate day after day. They
were oyerrun with applicants. Wards Island was
like swarm of bees, and still there was but little
prospect of their swarmng for at least month yet.
As another night drew on, the girl, shelteress and
desoate, not willing to find home with iniamy,
again presented herself TO the Commissioners and
perhaps lot gently, it may be ssucily as they
averred-demanded protection and home. 1T was
Justly due her by virtue of the bounty money which
she had paid.
She was repulsed. Human nature was weary and
knew not or ca ed not for her story. She would not
be repused She would not go away. Then 1t was
that She was arrested and committed to the Tombs
as a vagrant.
This was the strangers reception in our midst. This
WAS the Justice of the Emigration Society acting
through its agents. There was this young girl, as
green as green Ireland Itself to take her first lessons n
American virtue, home made and imported. Five days
opoer here and she would lie ready for the Fourth
Ward dance-houses or at least might prefer them to
recommment But Heaven be praised for the evi-
dence that humanity is not all vile even in the most
degraded No lees than three of these women, who
asked no favor for themselves ready to tell her
story and TO plead that she might be liberated.
"Sho was put here only because she would not go
away when they told her to, said one with an inn
FASHIONED gesture that showed she had yet deep
sense of Justice to be outraged
"And why did you not 90 away" we asked.
"Because hadn't onny where to CO." said the poor
girl, looking up with dimmed eyes.
In gratitude to the Prison Matron let me state that
as soon as she knew Of this she placed the girl in
the apartment of the witnesses. The matter was the
neIt morning investigated and the prisoner released.
oh God knows how poverty and crime are placed
everywhere hand in hand in our midst how the two
are confused and COMPOUNDED, and melted together,
even in our public institutions till il il enough TO turn
philanthropy itself misanthropic! The weak, the
helpless the ignorant, the innocent even the idotic-
all these are ever the victims of insstiate vice.
The young GIRL standing beside the snare from which
society allows escape, is lured in, pushed in head
long. How many have been thus recklessy thrust
into the very presence Of the spoier! Is there then
10 difference between crime and poverty You viii
find plenty Of people in the negative by that
most effectua of all answers-a practical estimate.
ANTOINETTE L. BROWN.