The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-05


the usual amount of statistical and tabular in
formation. It useful document to put away
for reference. Very few persons in the city
have any idea that 1000 persons are housed.
ted, warmed, and clothed every day in the year
at the institutions on Black wells Island. Seven
thousand persons are Q small town full aud
there they are, clean, well nursed and cared
for, wholesomely engaged, and freed from de-
moralizing surroundings in the shape Of dirt
and sloth-thsnks to the muniacence of the
city. Most Of these seven thousand arrive lie
Ultimately on the island, from the prisons, the
brothels, the taverns of New York. But Others
are immigrants whom the Commissioners Of
Emigration are unable to support; some luna
tics. The Ten Governors are the grand re-
source Of all the needy even the poor who are
not lodged on the island gratefully receive from
them fuel and aims to an aggregate annual
amount of $4,000.
The two most interesting papers in the
pamphlet before us are the report OF Dr. Sanger,
of the Blackwell's Island Hospital, and Dr..
Ranney, of the Lunatic Asylum. The latter
reports slight increase in the number OF
patierts-there being 573 in the Asylum
Low, against 555 this time last year. He
otjects-and very properly, too-to the adj
mission into the Asylum of convicts who have
escaped punishment for homicide by pleading
insanity their influence, he says, on the other
patients is decidedly bad. He announces that
during the past year 200 patients have been
discharged cured, being about forty per cent of
the whole-a result extremely gratifying. In
abiding to the occupation Of the patients, he
mentions the moot courts which have been
got up We give the passage as a rare fash
OF burner in an official report
The minor offences alone were tried by this Supreme
Court OF Biackweps Island The Judge, noted for be
Eevcien and wealth. and preerrng pay the damages
the law gave decisions (unike III city courts
satifsctory to both parties. In fact he conscious
that his phisnt hropc spi. he Of many
bsrrassnens TO himself and stated as reason foe oeing
seEt Lee, That he just carrying nto effect fave
rte project Of establishing bank, with ,ita of FIVE
Dupoyec millions of dollars in each of the large cities
70 accomn ocate young who, ~ishIcg engage in
business were unable TO give security for the money
lsy The INTEREST," These trials having never been given
10 he law reporters TIE decisions future
rists as matter OF reference.
DR.. Sangers report, which is drawn with I'M
usual clearness and brevity, deals with stern
facts. There is happily slight decrease in
the patronage of the Penitentiary Hospital in
1855. Only 2,l5s unhappy creatures were ad-
mitted during the twelve months Of these,
as usual, nearly II per cent were foreigners,
and OF these nearly IS per cent were Irish.
Her Majesty the Queen contributes IS per cent
OF the total foreign inmates Of the hospital
Sir Archibald Alison, who argues that educa-
ton tends to degrade the morals of people,
would not find O. confirmation of his theory in
the table showing that Sc per cent Of the pa
tients were uneducated, leaving only ii per
cent for those who could read and write well.
Nor will it appear that the Liquor law has done
us much good when it is seen that So per cent
of more or less intensity. Drunkenness first,
then idleness, lead to the penitentiary. Of the
whole number committed 81 per cent had not
worked within year of their committal.
Of these the bulk were " unfortunate fe-
males.' 1t is indeed greatly and deeply to be
deplored that in this Christian nation we
should suffer this sore called prostitution to 60
On, running from year to year in our midst; that
we should all see it, all know of it, yet by COM
mon consent pretend not to see it, not know it,
avoid to speak Of it; that, instead of trying to
learn all we can about it, with view to seek
some remedy or palliative for it's growth, we
should blindly and resolutely taboo the Ebjec
doggedly keep ourselves in ignorance of its his
tory and present characteristics; and 60 walking
to church Sunday after Sunday, with our wives
and daughters, choking down this great,
staring, crushing fact in our own breasts, while
our sons are being ruined, and two thousand
young women are being sold to the devil every
year in this New York alone.
THE Holy WEEK.-The religious world will
be in a fever Of excitement during the next ten
days Anniversary week was duly inaugu-
rated yesterday by sermons at several of the
city churches, reports of which are given else
where. The several missionary, Bible and be-
nevolent associations are in much better case,
financially, than they were at this time last
year. There has not been q very heavy call
for home charities, and as there lie always about
60 much money to be given away, the societies
have received much more than usual. In the
list, which is given elsewhere, there are mes
toned several institutions which are really de-
serving the attention of those who have sur
plus Of this worlds goods and hearts to feel for
others woes. Again, there are many that are
gotten up for the glorifcation and support of
cliques, and which do no real good to any one
except set of lazy officials, who expend all
the funds in salaries and incidental expenses,
leaving the poor heather as shirtless, shoeless
and bibleless as ever.
II is question in our minds-a nd we may
I've too selfsk--vhether or not it would not be
better for or rich men 70 expend their money
i, proTi1ing dwellings, educational facilities
baths, Weaknesses, parks and free libraries
for ne poor 81 CIR own Gig, than TO throw
Il away II travelling expenses fo- young theo-
logical Students, who desire 70 hear their Mas
ter's Cross IN foreign parts. Madam" as John