The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-12-07

sion when she sees the protecting "stars" that
shine benignly at our side. Next, the ball
room Not bad copy of other saloons
with more pretensions. AT the extreme end
is balcony, or box, in which are violin,
a c,arionet, and a fife, each with bloated
face behind it, and the trio are producing a
sort of drunken cotllion. The set is being
formed The women are first in position
each with her partner, generally invited by
herself. The men are generally heavily be-
grimmed and bewhiskered; and among them
are two who do not look to be over eli sh,een.
"Most of these" said our guide, are known
to be burglars and that fellow, at full length
on the side bench, is supposed to have been
guilty of at least three murders. That wo-
man has had FIVE husbands-the last is at
sea-and she will soon have another; and
that young fellow, with light cap, who
dances so gracefully, and is dressed so well
is one Of the most expert pickpockets in the
country" We left the usual fee but were
informed that the girls could not get gin til
the ball was over. The tisreSs at The ban
kept them sober on light potations till this
part of their slavery was performed. These
houses as so many fixtures, paying SO much
week for their board, (at least five dollars
which they must earn by a double sacrifice
of body and soul heard some stories of
the way they are treated by their overseers
who are too often tiends in the shape of
men--hsw they are driven out when they
Yield to the temptations around them--how
they are forced to yield to the most inhuman
brutalities-and how, in utter desperation,
more than one finds peace in an early grave
willing victim to the vice she has labored
to resist, or to that longing for death which
is gratiied by poison or the knife. But
will rot repeat these details for, sooth to
say, if they were fit to tell, they would no,
be believed, famliarly notorious as they are
here. In one of these dens where gin was
not prohibited, saw child, of not more
than six years stupid with rum-its eyes halt
closed in drunkenness, and its little face
bloa,ed !. For Gods sake, give me some
air," said one Of our party. 81 cannot stand
this moment longer"
: Wait, oh, over-delicate and squeamsh
friend You will cry for "air' presently
with sincerer zeal. We are yet only in the
vestibule of these mysteries. What we have
to see lies further on in the night. Be pa
tient, and do not let thy gorge rise too soon.
"Stoop here, and take care Of your watch
es." This" sait our kind policeman, 'is
the resort of those who get gin at a cent d
glass Enter Gracious God and art
these thy creatures Ranged on benches
in a narrow cave, are the victims of this In
i,rnal traffic. There i, not one of them who
has intelligence enough to conteLd for equal
ity with monkey. They glare at you with
meaningless eyes ;the. glbber through rem
bling and quiverlng lips, and try to ares,
yol with weak hands as YOU pass. |! they
co,.,erse with each other, ii is ike a conver-
sation between baboonS.
This" said our guide, touching the shou
der of man who, with hands in his pockets
vacantly sazed at Us. "is good mechanic
who can earn good wages if he chooses, bu
every now and tLen he breaks out into
frolic,aud here is the place he comes to spen,
his leisure in. am sorry, Ben," he said
turning to the man. "to see YOU here again.
The poor fellow bowed his head and left tn,
den.
AS it was growing late. we were invited b!
our esccr, to look at some of the lodgin;
rooms in the neighborhood. With lanterl
in hand, which served to make his "star" Wis
lille, We descended into a deep cellar. On o
pening the door, there steamed up such
creating indescribable ensations-breathing
it might be, infectious disease.
The first sight that met our eyes was a ba
; by, calmly asleep in its cradle, watched ovel
!, by blcar-cyed and drunken mother. wht
greeted us with a laugh. and pointed to th,
inner chamber, whele was sight that onl.
: the pen of Dickens or the pencil of Wilkie
could describe.
The evening was not cold, but the keepe
5 of this airiess hole had lit fire in dilari
, dated stove, which seemed to increase tn
stencil that filled the place as with cloud
) Piled on benches. packed upon shelves, la
. human beinss-happily, up to this time al
men-some asleep, some glaring upon Ii
like wild beasts. and all apparently misera
, bic. The proprietor sat between the bunk>
smoking his pipe and ansv ering questions.
In another Of these catacombs (tor so the,
t may well be called, the living bodies exha!
r ing an odor as rutrid as if the bodies wer
as dead as the sensibilit;es they feebly SUI
. roundedD there was still more hi locus sight
| Here husbands and wiyes-for so let US be
lieve them to be,-lay together. a sick do
= whined IN corner keeping up an unearthl
I yell, and made us shudder before the super
$ stition that greets such sound as the fore
r runner of death and between his agonizin
r wall and the curses of men and women q
!! round me, thought for a moment that wa
: in lesser Pandemonium.
: "Gentlemen, are you satisfied ~ said ou
: kind guardian.
d "Yes, more than satisfied" said Philade
I phia friend by my side, who only stuck to II,
because should have upbraided him for hi
J. desertion.
0 Following our "star," in single file we be
S gan to ascend a building of some three c
: four stories, along dark entries, up creakin
e stairs, and through gloomy passages, unit
S we came to room at which the Office
d knocked loudly. For some moments ther
e was no answer, bat at last grutf voice erie
l. out
e "Who's there ~
l. "An officer"
5, wv hat DO you want
# 81 want to see you. I've got company fe
h YOU"
l. "They shall not come in; they have n
business with me. l tell youthat Iii not ope
j. the door,"
d The officer turned to us, and said, "He
n is an old customer who knows his legal rig h
p wish l could show you his crib but vi
h not break open the door"
it On another story We had less difficulty
L At single RAJ the door opened, and the
1t stood before us negro more hideous in h
d ugliness and more terrible in his appearan
ut than can describe. A minglinS of VIII