Red Wing sentinel., 1860-11-28

dren--not those who surged in and
swept along Broadway, but another
race, probably as Indifferent to Broad
way as Brodway to them. Music was
heard from almost every door; glasses
were clinking: above the din Of voices
the tones Of the gentle sex were heard
! in the full orchestra.
Let us enter one of these dens. First
is the gin-shop, 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'' that shine be-
nignan1ly at ou side. Next, the ball
room! Not a had copy of other sa-
looms with morc pretentions. At the
extreme end is balcony, or box, in
which are vilin, claronet and a
fife, each with bloated face behind it,
and the trio are producing sort Of
drunken cotillon. The set is being
formed. The women are first in po-
sition, each with her partner, gcner-
ally invited by herself. The men are
heavily bcgrimmed and bewhiskered :;
and among them, two who do not look
to be over eighteen. "Most Of these"
said our guide, 'sare 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 woman has had five husbands
the last il at sea---and she will have
another; aud that young fellow with
the light cap on, who dances so grace
fully, and is dressed so we'll, is one Of
most expert pickpockotsin the country.
We left the usual fee; but were in.
formed that the girls could not get
gin till after the ball was over. The
tigrcss at the bar kept them sober on
light potations till this part Of their
slaverywas performed. These frail sist-
ers arc mostly attached to these houses
as so many fixtures, paying so much a
week for their board, (at least five
dollars, which they muet earn
by the double sacrifice Of body
and soul! I heard some stories
OF the way they were treated by their
overseers--who are too often ticnds
in the shape of men--how they are
driven out when they yield to the
temptations around them--how they
are forced to submit to the most in.
human brutalities--and how, in utter
desperation, more than one finds place
in an:arly grave, willing victim to the
vice she labored to resist or to that
longing for death which is gratified by
poison or the knife. But | will not
tell nor repeat these details; for sootl
to say, if they were fit to tell, they
would not be believed, familiarly no
torious as they are here. In one OF
these dens where gin was not prohibi
ted, l saw child ofnot more than six
years, stupid with rum--its eyes hall
closed in drunkenness, and its little
: face bloated! "For Gods sake, give
me some air." said one of our party
II cannot stand this moment long
ger"
Wait, oh, delicate and squeam
ish friend! You will cry for "air" pre-
, sently with sincere zeal. We ar<
as yet only III the vestibule of these
, mysteries. What we have to sec
E lies further OH in the night. BE pa
: tient, and do not let the gorge rise tot
soon.
, t'Stoop here, and take care of you
t Watches "This,' said our kline
, policeman, sis the resort of those VIII,
get gin at a cent glass! Euter!'
S Gracious God! and are these tn,
+; creatures? Ranged on benches, in /
narrow cave, are the victims of thi
t internal traffic. They are all worse thar
!: idiots. There is not one of them who
r has intelligence enough to contend
e for the equality Of a monky. The,
. glare at you with meaningless eye
l. they gibber through trembling ant
Y quivering lips, and try to arrest 20,
! with weak hands as you pass.
r rIthey converse with each other, it
/ like a conversation between balloons
"This," said our guide, [touchinl
p the shoulder of man who, with hand
i in his pockets,vacantly gazed upon us,
e s'is good mechanic, who can ear
t. SOOu ""SCS IL nc ClOOSeS, UuL~ ever
4 now and then he breaks out into
y frolic, and here is the place he come
3 to spend his leisure in. 81 am sorry
Ben," he said, turning to the man, st
a see you here again" The poor tello,
~ bowed his head and left the den.
j. AS it was growing late, we were ir
D vited by our escort to look at some q
) the lodging rooms in the neighbor
:. hood. With lantern in hand, whic
n served to make his "star'' visible, an
!. to show the way to ricketty stairs, "
:; descended into a deep cellar. o
;. |opening the door, there steamed II
such stencil as made us recoil a
y before blow, creating indescribabl
y Notwithstanding, it might be, il
4 fectious diseases.
v The first sight that met our eyes wa
i a baby, calmly asleep in it's cradle
y watched over by a blear eyed an,
e drunken mother, who greeted US Wi;
$ a laugh, and pointed to the inner cham
}: Der, where was a sight that only tn
c pen ofDickens or the pencil of a VII
v kie could describe.
/ The evening was not cold, but tn
: keeper of this airless hole had lit fir,
q lin a dilaDitated stove. which seemed I,