Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-07-22

our h0FdtIy.-lt Is TACT That lot months
has been patent to every observing mind
that dissipation, and the Generalization that
ever follows in its wake, is swiftly and fear
fully increasing in our midst. Houses of i'll.
fame and low drinking and gambling saloons
have spread their vile meshes on every hand
to catch the unwary, and there has been
none to raise warning voice; none to enter
a protest. They have piled their helish avo-
cations BY night and by day, with none to
to modest or make afraid, but rather with
that tacit approval on the part of our citizens
which silence gives. They have been stead
lily, and not slowly, poisoning the moral
atmosphere, building up crime at the ex-
pense Of virtue, until it has come to such a
pass that our morals as community are a
disgrace to ourselves, and a by word and a
reproach throughout the adjacent country
1t is not men alone that are so rapidly tray
cling down the road that leads to degradation,
crime, and everlasting infamy It is our
youth, mere boys, from ten to eighteen years
of age, that are so swiftly gliding to certain
destruction - and to the shame of manhood
be it said, that men Of ripe years have used
their influence ard example to draw these
boys into these vorteXes of crime. There arc
parents in this town that must learn that
their children, whom they have endcavored
to so educate that they might become useful
and honorable citizens, have been led astray,
and, unseen by the parental eye, are pursu-
ing course of conduct which, if persisted
in, will wreck the fondest hopes Of father
and mother, and extort from their bleeding
hearts the bitter wish that their boy had
never been born.
Steps should have been taken to remedy
this state Of affairs some time since, and all
are perhaps equally culpablo in not sooner
attempting to stay the waves of sin and crimo
which are sweeping so fercely through cur
midst. But matters have finally reached
such stage that the better portion of the
community is at last thoroughly aroused, and
determined that henceforth there must be
different order Of things. The subject was
first agitated by a few gentlemen who learned
that their sons were in the habit Of visiting
these low holes for the purpose of carousng,
gambling, &C., and a little investigation has
proven that score of boys, belonging to the
first and most respectable families of the
place, are having their moral and social hab-
its ruined by nightly visitations to these dens
Of iniquity, which so numerousy abound in
this locality. 1t is not alone the drinking
saloons that are frcquented by these boys,
for many Of them have been frequent visitors
at the vile institution which, until within
few days, has been in operation on the is.
land. 1t is known that boys from fourteen
to eigk teen years of age have been in the
habit Of visiting this house of illfame, and
welcomed to Participate in all the beastly
orgies INDUCED in by its degraded inmates
What terrible commentary on the moral
turpitude of this people when youth Of such
tender years are allowed to riot unrebuked in
the soul and body destroying infamy of the
harlot Within few days boys have been
forcibly taken away from the island by
friends, and but few nights since, about IL
o'clock, party Of gentlemen made descent
upon a gambling hole, and found therein
party of young boys playing cards, three of
the number sons of members of the party
making the search.
AS We have remarked before, it has been
determined to submit to this no longer. The
keepers Of these places have been waited on,
and given to understand that they must re.
fuse admittance to minors under penalty of
serious consequences. The parents Of these
boys feel too deep an interest in their welfare
70 stand passive while their children are be-
ng dragged down to ruin; and il peaceable
md quiet measures will not accomplish any
hing, these inen will not hesitate moment |
% take the law into their own hands, and in !
! forcible and effectual manner squelch the
vii, let the consequences be what they may.
This can be depended upon. This matter
has been discussed to a considerable extent
IN our streets, and the saloon men have be-
'ome somewhat alarmed, -they having heard
trough some source or other that it was the
Intention to clean them out instanter. Fear
ne this summary retribution, some of them
lave removed their stocks of liquor, and are
low doubtless in all the trembling trepidation
hat is sure to haunt guilty conscience.
Last Wednesday evening there was meet
ng of our citizens for the purpose of consul
alton as to the best course to be pursued
oward these institutions. As regards the
aloons, it was thought best to pursue the
'lan alluded to in this article. As regards
he houses of prostitution, it was resolved
hat they must be abated entirely, and com.
nittee consisting Of fifteen prominent citizens
vas chosen to wait on the proprietors Of the
'laces, warn them to leave within three days
rom date Of notice, and that if found pursu.
ng their nefarious calling at the end of that
'criod, they would be forcbly ejected from
he community. When the committee visit
d the locality yesterday morning it was
ound that the institution was really broken
p, as had been previously Teported,-it
aving been closed Tuesday night. Wheth.
r this was done in anticipation of trouble, or
Thether, as the proprietors say, for the rea
on tina. they have determined to get out of
he business and keep out. is not clear. At
II events, the house is closed, the late deni-
ems cleared out, most of the furniture rcmov-
d, and the men solemnly declare that it is
lot their intention to reopen it. That they
re sincere in this latter declaration the fact
hat they offer to sell the building for four
hundred dolars,-one that could not be built
low for less than a thousand would seem
o Indicate The committee were informed
hat there are parties in Chicago that wish to
purchase the property for the purpose of
ontinuing the business heretofore carried on