The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-16

Us, and We viii show you the brigands and the
assassins Of this cultivated ePoch-this golden
age-this enlightened nineteenth century. You
shall see that woman, born in poverty, defective
~ educated, allowed to riot in secret lust,
stepping, by the virtue Of q few theu-
sand dollars, into the domestic circle
where virtue chastity and modesty should alone
be permitted to enter. You shall see her at her
devotions loudest in the responses, most fervent
in the amen. You shall see her, as her money be-
gins to vanish, quartering herself upon some
wealthy victim, securing him by her woman 3
wiles-you shall see how she makes his house a
hell-you shall hear their quarrels as he resists
her growing demands upon his pHrse-you shall
ee how she gives grand parties without the re-
hottest possibility Of paying honestly for them
you shall see her finally disposing of her victim
by steel, poison, the cord or the pistol bullet
You shall see her escape punishment, and again
ut liberty to prey upon society. You shall see in
fashionable hotels and boarding houses hundreds
of men and women who have no occupation, no
fortune, no means of support, and who yet luxu.
rate on the fat of the land They are all bri-
gands, every bit as bad, and great deal more
dangerous, than their unlettered predecessors of
the so called Dark Ages.
We do not mean to cay that there are not good
men and good women who associate with brigaods
unwittingly. Ignorance is no excuse for them,
however In certain sort of soeiety-we do
net say The best because all the cliques claim to
be the best, and all the claims may be good
enough--t is considered as the one thing needful
TO have great circle of acquaintance give
TANNED parties, to which every one that the
giver has ever heard of is invited. Mrs. Plash
wishes to say that her Lal costume was @ greater
jam than similar affair given by Mrs. Blank
last year 80 Mrs. Plash drums up all her acguain-
tancee, however slight Mrs Plash met Madame
Dagger and the DemoiseNes Dagger at Sara
toga last year They seemed to be nice, quiet,
ladylike people, and cards are sent them. Now
Dagger mere is an accomplished brigand, and
the Demoieelles Dagger having no mouey, aud
being above sewing machines, are in training for
The same line Of business. Once their feet cross
the Threshold Of Mrs. Plash's first class
house, their position is safe. They have
can move the cheque books Of toe heaviest men
in Wall street. And they do it.
The male brigand is generally man Of pleas
ing address, who pirnps for gambling houses
and other disreputable places, and who takes in
young men to ruin On the most reasonable terms.
He always comes late to the party, but be is
great man to lead the German, very assdu-
Gus in attending upon the ladies, and altogether
a very handy thing 10 have in the house. He
makes it pay
The course of these brigaBds' life-their hand
,o-r.outh existence-their constant familiarity
with crime in its most subtle essence-steels
their nerves for any act, however desperate.
Let their victim once rebel, you shall hear of
mysterious disappearance, but you shall see no
stain Of blood upon the brIgand's delicate kngera
He did not do it. She did not strike the blow.
A great city always has its lower order Of muir
derers, who make away with bank president
with no more compunction than they would feel
in knocking on the head vagabond dog.
Such is the picture which is ever and anon
presented when the veil that covers our inner
life is suddenly torn away by some shocking
crime like the murder Of DR.. Burdell. We talk
about it, write about ii, preach about il for
few weeks, and then it is forgotten. But the
causes are still at work-the bricands Of society
still make their forced levies-and we still boast
Of our progress, our civilization our education
and our enlightenment. We are really worse
than the barbarians We affect TO despise. Yopr
Feejee caHnibal tells you that he is going to kill
you and eat you Your New York savage tor
lures you stealtiitg, year by year-profanes your
domestic. hearth-robs you Of your substance
deprives you Of your self-rcspcct; and, when
you are no longer valuable ruins your character
or murders you in your bed
Mark The cannibal Of the Feejee Islands is
baI baIian. He has never heard of the dispense
ton Of our Saviour; be cannot read the Bible
be is naked, dirty savage You send to him
your theologans, with raimcnt for the mind ard
the body. The savage Of Manhattan Island is
civilized, clean, wei clothed and enlightened
Let us return to first principles, and have some
missionaries for .he barbarians of New York.