The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-24
Dostitution and Misery in Phfladelphfa.

Dostitution and Misery in Philadelphia.
Years ago, a number of Christian men aud
women formed themselves into an associa-
ton, determined to attempt to ameliorate
the condition Of the most degraded poor of
Philadelphia, which association is still in
existence. The reporter OF the Philadelphia
Inquirer having recently accompanied some
OF its member on one of their missions Of
mercy, give. the following description of
misery and restitution as observed by him :
self:
We were taken to see Mary D. a young,
handsome, and intelligent woman, who had
once been, for short time, pupil in the
Mission Sunday School. Through the exam
pie and persuasion Of her vicious mother she
went far astray. few years ago she mar
ried, and suffered much from the brutality of
her hu ashland, who, at our first visit, was ex-
plating his cruelty to her by confinement in
Moyamensing prison. She was in Il low,
dark, wIetched room, in court, back Of a
miserable alley running out of Spafford
street-a place difficult to find, and one not
indicated in the City Directory. The small
court was filthy in the extreme; seeming
scarcely fiji for the brood Of pigs which occu-
pied the ground so completely that it was
diffic ult to pass them.
Mary was lying on cot bedstead, with
only an old quilt to serve as a bed, while IN
other was thrown over her. she was suffer.
ing intensely, both physical and mental
agony, and raised her fine dark eyes, and
told In broken tones how penitent she was for
her misdeeds, and how earnestly she desired
to obtain forgiveness from her Maker; and
how, even then. she was often tempted into
ger by the violence and profanity around
her
The ladies with us were yonng and fair
each the centre of loving circles in homes
blessed with the Injuries of life; education
had enhanced their natural loneliness, and
the holy influences of Christian homes made
them worthy Of the admiration and affection
il.a ho{nv fhovn law
young and fair-perhaps as highly endowed
with Intellectual gifts-but owing to the evil
influences which had surrounded her from
childhood, she lay there dying, poor de-
graded outcast, remsmbered and cared for
only by plying strangers.
At = subsequent visit we found Der hus-
band had retur ned from prison to see his fair
young wife die. Brutal as the man was de-
graded by vice and violence, there was still
within him some of the gentler feelings Of
humanity, plainly betrayed by his emo tion in
expressing his gratitude for the kindness
shown his poor wife. She fingered but few
days longer, and passed away from earth
released, we trust, to JOY hereafter.
On leaving Mary, after the first visit, we
visited an Irish woman. She occupied an
apartment wit hseveral negroes, and was ly-
ing on the floor com planning OF illness. Va.
rious circumstances threw doubt upon her
story, and she appeared to deserve NO relief.
In Bedford street was witnessed one OF
those shocking scenes which can scarcely BE-
realized when described We We're told
that q woman was lying dead In cellar
near the Mission House, and that It's living
occupants were all intoxicated. Passing the
cellar through the widely open door, one
could discern the outline OF q dead body COW
cred with a white cloth, lying on the dirty
foor, while a drunken woman at the door
invited us to enter. The corpse had lain
thus two days while drunken orgies were
held around 1t
In another allsy, leading from Shipper
street, the father Of one Of the Mission pupils
had also lain three days unburied for want
of means 10 inter him, and from unwilling
nees 70 allow the city suthorittee TO DC It.