The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-12-01

N VIC resort OF tuOse VINO ket gt0 d q c(1
q glass. Enter!" Gracious God! and q,
these thy creatures? Ranged on benche
in narrow cave, are the victim, Of III
internal traffic. They are all worse tbs
idiots. There il net one Of them Who hs
intelligence enough to contend for eaualii
With monkey. They glare at you vii
meaningless eye; they gibber through trsr
bling and quivering lips, and try to ARE,
you with weak hands ~ you pass. II the
converse with each other il 10 like . conye,
sation between balloons.
ssThie," said our guide, (touching h
shoulder Of man who, with hands in 81
pockets, yacansly gaxed upon us, I" is
good mechanic whocA earn good wages i
be chooses, but every now and then
breaks out into a frolic, and here is th
place be comes TO spend his leisure in.
am sorry, Benz" he said, turning to til
man, ssto see you here again." The boo
fellow bowed his head and left the den.
As it vas growing late, We were invite
BY oor escort to look ut some of the lodgin
rooms in the neighborhood. With lanter
in hand which served to make his ssstar'
visible, and to show the wsy to rickett
stairs, We descended intoa deep cellar. o.
opening the door, there steamed up such
stencil as made Us recoil as il before a blow
creating indescribable sensations-brea,h
ing, it might be, infectious disease.
The frst sight that met our eyes was
baby, calmly asleep in it. cradle, watche,
over by biaek-eyed and drunken mother
who greeted Us with a laugh, and pointe,
to the inner chamber, where was a sigh
that only the pen of Dickens, or the penci
of Wiikie, could describe.
The evening was not cold, but the keepe
of this airless hole had lit fire in dilapi
dated stove, which seemed to increase tn
stencil that filed the place as with a cloud
Piled on benches, packed upon shelves, la,
human beings-happily, up to this time
all men-some glaring upon Us like wilt
beasts, and all apparently miserable. Th,
proprietor sat between the hunks, smokin.
his pipe and answering questions.
In another Of these catncombs {for sc
they may well be called, the living bodie.
an odor as putrid as if the bodie,
were as dead as the sensibilities they feehl,
was still more hdeous 81 ght
Here husbands and wives-for SO let us be.
lieve them to be-lay together. A sick dog
whined in corner, keeping mp an unearthly
yell, and making US shuader before th,
superstition that greets such sound rs thu
forerunner of death; and between his ago.
niging vail and the curses of the men anc
women around me, thought for o momen,
that | was in a lesser Pandemonium.
"Gentlemen, are you satisfied" said oul
kind guardian.
"Yes, more than satisfied" said PhIla
delphia friend by my side, who only stuck to
me because should have upbraided him fol
his desertion.
Following our s'star" in single file We be.
gan to ascend building of some three Of
four stories, along dark entries, up crcakins
stairs, and through gloomy passages, unit
we came to n room at which the Office,
knocked loudly. For some moments ther.
was no answer, but presently gruF voic,
cried out:
"Who's there 20
Gan oficer.'
"What do you want 20
81 want to see you. Pve got company
for you."
"fhey shall not come in; they have nc
business with me. tell you I'll not oper
the door,"
The officer turned to Us and said "Hert
is an old customer who knows his lega
rights. wish could show you his crib
but will not break open his door"
On another story we had less difficulty
At a single rap the door opened, and there
stood before US negro, more hideousin hi
ugliness and more terrible in his appearance
than can describe. A mingllng of wha
one reads Of Fagin and Bill Sykes; a com
bination Of craft and sepsuality o brutal
lied idea of vulgar Shylock and an inhu
man bully.
"Well, Tobe," said our guide, show ar
you to- o-night, and how are your wives 2"
'.Pre,ty well, thank you, sir," be re
sponded. bowing, and pointing to corner
where, on single pallet, with an unoccu
pied space between, lay two uhite females
who had once been women, and now were
brutes.
1t was now verging upon ths small hours
and we turned our attention to the station
house of another ward. On our way th'
officer picked up little boy, with What
seemed to be cisar-box slung over hi
shouldsr-a boy no more than five year
old. He was without father or mother, bat
been. peddling his candies and begging hi
pennies since morning, and seemed to b'
glad to be captured because, all guileles
as he was, he might thus secure restin;
place for the night. Our officer Informed
US that it was no uncommon thing for chIi
dren, from ten to fourteen, to be accom-
plished as pickpockets, and to make bust
ness Of asking aims but this little fellow
VA. not of this class. We carried him Il
the station b house, and made ample compen
g, .-l, hncan.I
that wc had just seen, seemed to care for NJ
human sympathy or assistance.
The lieutenant at this station kindly threv
open the doors Of the lodging rooms, and Q
the cells for prisoners taken up during tn
night. In one Of these rooms We counte'
fourteen women-homeless and friendles
creatures, who had there sought shelter
Some were asleep, and those who wake
drew their shawls over their bare heaCs {
avoid the gaze of the visitors. One held i
her arms q child about two years old, who's
little male face and attepuated limbs indl
Gated that the sands of its life were fas
running out, and that Providence iniende
to rescue It from the fate of the poo
wretches around it.
Outside Of this small and close cell, o
benches. were stretched other women. No
q few of their countenances showed pas
beauty Of no ordinary character. The blacl
glossy hair Of one, her white teeth, and be
fuely ly-chiselled features were evidence thai
vouns a. she was, she had haunted her brie
day, % queen among her class. But sns
too, vas not long for this life.
A, the end Of the corridor was . ROOT
somewhat larger, occupied BY the men lode
ers, Here the degradation vas more appa'
emit. The bruised and bloased faces, th
.hoeles. feet, the filth, and the noisom
smell that exhaicd from their BODIES, create
4 aensation Of indescribaole nausea. Ihe