The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-12-05

have been sojourning in this vas: hu-
man live for several days past, aud have
fulfilled a long deferred promise to make a
tour Of those portions Of the city in which
the worst phases Of poverty and vice are to
be witnessed The task has not been a
pleasant one To see what | have seen,
and to bear up in the face Of every variety
of degradation. required deal Of resolu-
ton; but having resolved to 60 through
with it. | did not blanch from the hour of
starting, about eight o'clock last night, un-
I'll tired and nauseated. | reached my hotel
at two o'clock this morning, too glad to en-
Joy the necessary renovation of a bath, and
a sleep, refreshing, it is true, but crowded
with dreams of the horrid sights and scenes
which have just passed before my eyes.
Having secured the friendly and neces
sayy aid of two excellent detectives at
tached to the admirable police, six Of US.
making the whole party eight III al, issued
forth upoi, our mission. Tue first place We
reached was the police station-house near
the Metropolitan. As We .nterei, one OF
those sad trials was taking place that are
only too common in New York. Two un-
fortunate girls were arraisned before the
lieutenant Of police on a charge Of disorder
Is conduct The lieutenant, who acted In
the double capacity Of clerk and Judge. first
heard the story Of tue officer who had them
in charge. watched the mans cold. s,o-
NJ eyc-his pale, faded face--and soon re-
allied that familiarity with his occupati Il
had wholly blunted his -cnsibilities lie
paid little attention to the defence Of the
painted, overdressed creatures before him,
but entered their names and ages on his
book, and then. with hard metallic voice,
directed the officer to take them below,
lock them up. and let them have no light.
"Oh, for the love of God" said one ot
the girls, tears in her eyes. as she turned
from the impossible lieutenant to the strange
spectators-" for the love Of God, no, be
lou, not doacn here-I have done moth
ing but drink little more than | ought to
have done" Her veil was up. She had
been handsome once; and sweet smile
had not wholly fled from her face Per-
haps she had left some happy home to hide
her shame perhaps some aching heart
was breaking for her Alas if she is now
sought. she will be found, probably. dorm
beio,c her fortune, like her cell, /" dark. -
and her fate Enlightened, save by the mer-
cy Of redeeming God. Her companion
was closely veied, and followed her into
the cellar prison with silent and trembling
steps.
We turned from this rather sorrowful
opening. got into our carriages and drove
to the lower wards. 1t is some fifteen
years since, under an escort furnished by
my excellent friend Motsell, | PASSED along
these narrow streets and sitting alleys.
There has been a great change for the bet
ter. The Old Brewery has given way to a
Mission House aud sort of home for chill
dIen without parents Warehouses and
granite stores are springing up in new and
crowded thoroughtares But there is yet
room Heaven knows for still greater chan
ges. More than year ago | gave you a
short experience Of high hotel life IN this
city, aud spoke of the almost exact similar
ity between the people Of that time, in the
gorgeous saloons and sweeping halls of
Of those steamboats, ashore" aud the pee.
pie who firied, fed and fattered in the
large hotels Of New York, ten years before
And if | had rot known that Death had
been busy since my last nocturnal visit to
the haunts Of lower life, gathering his hu
man harvest, could have almost sworn
that the faces and figures, the riot and rags,
the filth and profanity of last night were
the same that saddencd and startled me be.
fore The evening was 4 lovely ne
There was young moon in clear sky,
and the atmosphere was soft and cool
The close lanes were crowded with mixed
mass of men, women and chldren-not
those that swept in and surged along Broad.
way, but another race, probably as indf-
ferent to Broadway as Broadway to them.
Music was heard from almost every door
glasses were clinking; ard above the din
Of voices the tones Of the gentler sex were
heard as the octave flute is heard in the full
orchestra.
I
in the ginshOp, with stout woman as the
presiding divinity, who welcomes us with
no pleasant air, but who does not refuse
admission when she sees the protecting
{" stars y that shine benglantly at our side
Next, the ballroom Not bad copy o.
other saloons with more pretensiors. At
the extreme is balcony, or box, in which
are violin. clarionet and a fife, each with
a bloated face behind it, aud the trio are
producing drunken cotillion. The set is
being formed. The women are first in 20,
sition, each with her partner. generally in
vited BY herself The men are generally
heavily begrimmed and bewhiskered and
among them two do not look to be owe.
eighteen. Most of these" said our guide,
"are known to be burglars; and that fel-
low at full length on the side bench, is said
to have been guilty of at least three muir.
ders That woman has had five husband,
the last is at sea-and she will soon have
another F; and that young fellow, with the
light cap. who dances so gracefully, and
is dressed 50 well, is one of the most experl
pick-pockets in the country" We left ths
usual fec /; but we're informed that the girl,
could not get gin till the ball vas over
The ,igress at the bar kept them sober ol
light potatons till this part of their slavery
was performed. These frai sisters arc
mostly attached to these houses as so man,