Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-06-15
GrnrraI iNtsrrIIanu.


vcnturcrs who lead lives compact of subtcty
and rcckcssncss, and arc drawn TO great cities
by n love Of luxury. and by the surer field
there afforded for a campaign against society
nj large. the most subtle and dangerous Of all
would scom 20 be that arch adventures, the
modern Fast Woman. Her prototype exist
ed ages since. as long ago as when Sampson
bartorod everything for Bclilah; or, latter
when "Thars, like another Helen, fired anoth-
or Troy" You can trace her down TO later
times. through all historical fact and fiction,
finding her likeness in many comedy Of Mo-
norc In many q novel Of Fielding, or print of
VIM Hoearth But it is in the exciting and
fortune making modern American life that she
has more fully developed her operations gain
ing at pleasure the catrcc 20 our changCiul
and not over scrupulous upper circles, and
having her own wicked say about half Of our
real life tragedy and farce.
Here was the body Of murdered woman,
found floating in the Jersey City docks about
fortnight since. Her head, preserved in spir-
its, after days Of mystery, is at last identified
by men, to whom, more than 60 the passing
crowd. it must seem a dreadful sight. For
those features now foul and CHASTITY enough
20 be sure not long ago were portion of
their several daily lives no, long ago those
eyes. now "staring through muddy impurity,
looked with the semblance of love into their
own. For she was the lawful wife of ono
whom she deserted TO lead the dashng life Of
an American Fast Woman. Becoming ac-
complshcd in this life, she seized the other in
her tolls took charge Of his body, character
aud purse dobauchcd the first. becloudcd the
second, scattered rocklcssly the contents of tho
third. She shifted her abode, We arc told,
from place to place. She lived at her victims
expense, successfully at the Brandrcth House,
at ST. Denis Hotel. at a doctors in the Aston
place. at tho st. Julien Hotel, at the Laiarge
house, atmore than one private boarding house.
All this within two years. And when her pro-
wider saw through the Aimsy veil of her alice
ton for him, she still maintained the cxtrava-
gancc, playing upon his terror Of exposure as
shillfully as she had upon his yielding folly
She spent S2O,O0 Of this one mans money
in two years. During al this time She bad 9TH
or visitors. doubtless other victims. How
many she has ruined lie only knows, who has,
no last called her to account. Such was the
life, and such the end, Of ono no lern EAST
woman" Well might the man we spoke of,
when asked to identify those shaplc.s fea-
tnros, do so at his first glance, and shuddcr-
iu1lS turn away.
1t is only now and then that the career and
mrressivoly set before the public. An act of
violence is committed, a bank torger ruins his
amily and himself broker comes TO grief
and 20 the story of his wicked excuses there
is theinvarable Fast Woman accompaniment.
She does not share the criminals trial and
conviction, however, and the worlds interest
ia her soon passes away.
But she is everywhere and busily present
in American cities, and in New York most of
all. Look for moment at her method and
appearance.
The Fast Woman is by no means COM
mon harlot. In nine cases out Of ten she has
nc,cr walked the streets, nor boarded in
house Of bad reputc. Only once in while
one Of the vulgar sstcrhood rise 10y superior
shrewduess and accomplishments to the rank
of exclusives. The Fast Woman affects the
private boarding houses. But the hotel is the
place TO which she gains unquestioncd access,
where she lives most at her ease, and is ena-
hled, gin her own language to bag the most
game And it is owing, Grst Of all, to the
wretchcd conglomerate, American hotel sys-
tenn, that fast women Of late abound in such
numbers, and are so dangerous to society.
There is always a mystery hanging about
the Fast Woman S antoccdents. Ono thing is
certain, though found on oyery New York
square. she is rarely of New York birth.
Few city girls, who have the accomplishments
necessary TO render a fast womans career
successful, enter upon a Fast Woman's life.
She comes 60 us after an apprenticeship in
Boston or Philadelphia, aud she probably
went to those cities from the country long
before But no one city, not oven New
York, can dotain her long. Her genius tray
cl from spot 10 spot. A placer failing them
in HOT q, lnV
towns. From the Revere, where their last
arrangement was "payod out" they come to
the st. Nicholas to sec ''what they can make.
In the summer they go in throngs from on,
Watering place to another. Generally two OF
three unite their forces for the summer cam
pagn. Not unlrequontly one accompanies
gentee looking sporting man as his sister
while two others figure as cousins or lamil,
friends. Together they are formidable set
Mysterious as are the Fast Womans antcce
dents, her presents, except in the assumeC
summer guise referred to, are still more so
She comes to the respectable" private board
ing house almost always as "A married woman
Unfortunately her husbands business is of
nature that keeps him travelling -Ho is a col
lcctor and travelling agent for some firm, O
ho is engaged in buying -four at the West, @
he is sojourning in Europe.
Once settled down in a now place, the Fas
Woman's method is simple 1t is true tina
she alternates through life, between stages
magnifcencc and squalor. Rarely saving Ia,
oxtortionate gains, she is frequently unab
TO pay her board, buy clothing, whe
shaken off by an outraged victim. But SUI
pose her in funds, and just arrived en- ne
grounds. She has her qualities to beg
with. She is woman of passion, is han,
some, dresses with the usual good or b,
taste Of moneycd American women, sings
little, plays a little, and dances great doa
Is quiet and behaves herself-But Mcsdoml
Boarding house keeper, you can always 70
by one sign. Before she has been with yC
week, she viii be acquainted with every ms
in the house who is open to attack-bo
lawyer, broker, merchants clerk--and W
know very few if any, Of your lady inmate
The latter, with their finer female instinct
will find her out, at any rate to their sat
faction. By-and-by, perhaps, though We
quiet and eompanionloss at first, she "
have many gentleman visitors. Perhaps "
viii recollect that when she applied for boar
she referred you only to gontlemen-and hig
ly respectable gentlemen they were, too--i
information as to her means and character
Now if al these things are in combinato