Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-01
NEW BOOKS.

Board
House Governors of the City Of New York
BY William Sanger. Al. D. Resident pbvxiL
elan, Blackwell's Island, New York civ.
member OF the American Association for The
Advancement OF Science late one of the nbvxi
clarS of ths Marine Hospital, Quarantine New
York, dc &c New York Harper Bios.
7Vo- PIP o'o. W Nashington: Taylor Il Maury.
The necessity for such a work would be a
sad fact in civilization; yet the carefully pre-
pared statements to which DIR. Sanger has given
large space, indicate an urgency Of need that
requires the information Of such data as the
basis ot acton. We should prefer that the
statements bad worn q more official air, that
the book-maker had not so often gone ahead Of
the officer, and that philanthropic inyestiga.
lions had been conduced with less CT an eve IN
the main chance. Indeed, while sympathising
profoundly with any reformatory movement in
the direction indicated by this book, we see DO
reason why, to remove an evil from the streets.
1t Is necessary to debase our library shelves
with Its Prurient details. And as long as we
concur with an enlightened public sentiment
IN placing upon an Inder Erpursatorious
Pirates Own Books and Biographies of High
Tayrnen, We shall be compelled to object TO the
general diffusion of "a History of Prostitu-
ton"
A considerable portion of the work is cleaned
from foreign authors and staticians, and erudi-
tlon IS put under contribution to furnish from
the eciassies and Christian Fathers, what modern
Languages add to, in the pages of Duchatelet,
Acton, and if we mistake not, Paul De Kock
90 far as the book Is a statistical report il is
valuable; 1t is VIXEN it seeks to be history that
II becomes offensive. We concur most decidedly
that the Aims House Governors of New York
and all others interested, should have from an
indefatigable public officer a thorough state
ment Of all the social evil in their bailiwick;
that they should inform their judgment by the
action Of other authorities suffering under SIM
liar evils. But We find ourselves very 10th to
admit, that to do this, it is necessary that
Messrs- Harper L Brother should serve up,
neatly bound, on medium white paper, Syo,
the amours Of the world, with racy Incl.
dents Of every dissolute Court of Christen-
dom; and in the name Of philanthropy invite
every man, woman aud child that reads Eng
lish, to the feast at three dollars per head
The official statistics of this great social evil
in New York city, which ia almost the only
matter in the book now first presented to the
public, are summed up as follows
TOere six thousand public prostitutes I,
the city Of New YORK
IGe majority OF them are from fifteen to TWEEN.
tY-nve years Of aye
Education is al a very low standard with thsm
One-tith Of them are married women
SEDUCTION, destitution, ill-treatment of parents
husbands or relatives, intemperauce and bad com
Pdny, the main causes of prostitution
Women have not sufficient means OF emplov-
mtnt; inadequately Temunerated
~, ne asSoclatlonS OF many employments are
sI-seVenths Of the prostitutes drink intoxica-
uhX liquors TO greater or less extent
Parental influences induced habits Of intoxica-
e-half Of them have given birth to children.
and more than one hall Of these children are ilIe-
ultimate.
utntes Is four times greater than the ordinary
ratio among children In New York
Many OF these children are living Iu the abodes
OF vice and obsceDiiy.
Ihe majority Of these Women have been pros-
utut1s for less than four years
ne average Duration of prOstltute's life 4. |
only four wears
capital OF nrarly four millions Of dollars
tFtOOoOO) Il invested ia the business Of pfosti-
The annu-i expenditure on account of proyti |
tuition Is more than seven millions OF dollars |
Ihe'e j al average Of two thousand aba nd oned
~ ~olneH constantly maintained a. the public ex- |
pense IN the hospitals on BIackw Island
W these two thousand professional courtezans
only about three-eight were natives of the Inred
9dlGs NT~ % OK CIV aud State mad 3ol, New |
I.igland, l'2i the Middle States 500; southern
Stdtes, II; western States, II; GERMANY 80:
England, lOl, Scotland, 50, Ireland. 7C6. |
Inenas:
l. suitable hospital for the treatment of vene- |
= legally authorised medical visitation of all |
Known houses OF prostitution, with full power 10
order the Immediate removal Of any woman fouId
TO De infected, to the designated hospital
The power to detain Infected persons under
treatment until they are cured-a term of time
winch none but medical men can decide.
SELR-MADE Man. BY Chas. q Seymour. On.
SOS New \ ok Harper & Brothers Wash
lngton; Taylor Maury
1t is impossible for any man TO arrive at
eminence- however much be may at station
unless by his own efforts. The golden spoons |
which lucky stars afford fortunate mortal,
serve, after oil, only to make "spooneys - |
The vital elements Of success must be chiseled
from their stony bed with less pliabIe ipstru.
ments, and we question whether any man ever
attained superiority who was not "self- -made.n
Some, it is true, meet less obstacles than others
and not lew seem to have defed circum-
stances, and with invincible courage triumphed |
ever every adverse fortune. These have ever
been the exemplars Of American youth: on
hdelIty to such examples rests the future of
our country-and Of liberty. 1t is, therefore.
with much pleasure that we hail this coptribu
ton OF Mr.. Seymour to American literature.
An sntediluvian life would be required 10
sketch with such cOmpendious fidelity az h.
has done the sixty-two lives which he cbron-
icles, the memoirs Of all the eminence won
over every obstacle, in this Union alone. We
are glad that he has done so much in 50 small
space. The moral Of the lives that be record.
Is too glorious lesson not to suggest to n, that
the book itself, is of all recent publications.
the most admirably suited as a Christina. off,
to boy.
NOEnAL ARIrHHBIIc; A text book tbeore,io,,
and practical, ia six parts. By Silas [, Ioomis
An. ID Washington: Taylor Maury
The arrangement Of this work is eptirs,v
different from that Of most Arithmetics now in
use, and cannot but think it better. The lam
gusge in which il is written, however, is hard
lv nlain AnouRh fnr nhiIHran All ..I... Al