Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1865-04-26
EBENSBURG, Pa WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1865.

HaNc uiSiloiicTeu my idiuiiy l. am not
fit to live. l cannot endure life am
resolved not to witness my shame and the
agony of my wife"
On sheet Of paper bearing the head
ing of the officer-dated at l2 o'clock in
the morning-under the direction of the
officer he wrote" that the cord SO strain
ed-that all further business on the mat
the officer, who had power to make all
settlements" That was sufficient. No
further loan has been solicited.
This incident brings out one of the
most infamous pages of New York life.
1t has been stated that but few women
prosper in this city in an infamous life.
Those few do SO by system OF loans
above referred 10. One Of the most in
famous women in town is building pal
ace and adorning it with all that art and
taste can suggest, and is paying for it in
!" loans" from merchants, men of family
and men of position. She has been long
in New York. She is one of the most
accomplished nurses. She is called in
critical cases to Boston, Philadelphia and
Baltimore. Parties needing attention can
find her in her house the most careful and
skillful aid. 1t is a mistake to imagine
that woman who has child born 70
her out of wediock is roughly handled,
neglected or unkindly treated. Tender
ness pays too well to be neglected. This
is especially so when the subject is young,
Intelligent, brought up tenderly, comes
from good family, or is introduced by
person of substance or position. For those
able to pay no accommodation can be
finer. Elegant rooms, costly arrange
menis, food of the most delicate kind, and
the tendcrest care. No mother can watch
fler fsvorite child with gentler concern.
Bot all this has an aim. 1t is to win the
confidence Of the young creature. The
party that engages the room and atten-
dance h;s no name that the mistress of
the mansion can know. AS long rs her
price is given. and ,he bills paid promptly
in advance, what is it to her who pays the
money. So the man thinks not so the
woman. There is future to her, and
that the man will find to his cost some
day. In the hour of deep anguish and
trial, with the fear of death before her,
the bewildered child, all alone, will repay
the tender and thoughtful attention by a
fearful and full confession, under the
solemn seal OF secrecy. All which is
carefully noted down in a book till the
day of reckoning comes.
Nor is it true that efforts are male to
destroy the life of mother or child. Av-
arice aud safety demand that both be
saved. Both are a source of revenue
that.cannot be disposed of. A live child
is living witness, 1t is disposed of by
adoption. A party selected to take it in
charge-a room hired for the occasion
having 10 connection in any way with the
house i'm which the child is born. The
woman who holds it is . widow" or has
husband in the army or at sea. Those
notices OF children for adoption, in the
papers. have a connection with this one
woman. Parties apply, bear away the
child, and the room is at once abandoned.
But the child is not for a moment lost
sight Of 1t can be produced at any mo-
ment.
Cured and discharged, the young mo-
ther returns to society. The gentleman
walks in fancied security. He has no
idea that the great secret has been divulg-
ed, and that he is in the clutches of one
of her class. The woman bides her time.
She has lorg list of persons whom she
served She knows their domestic. social,
commercial and religious standing. One
woman has list Of names said to be
counted by hundreds. She knows the
merchanti!e value Of each, knows as well
what sum to call for as if each were her
banker and had funds for her on deposit.
In due time the call is made She comes
to the store in a carriage, or she sends
polite note for the party to call as she
wants to see him g on urgent business"
or what is more common, sends in the
politest terms, for {. loan and urging
her necessities and her regrets Terror,
shame, astonishment, fear, seize on the
party. The sum demanded is paid. The
call is repeated. The sum is greater each
wear. Bankruptcy, and voyages to un-
know lands or suicide, only relieve the
sufferer. The inexorablc woman has no
pity, and never says '' enough" One of
our most successful and honored men,
who had borne the highest trust the peo
pie can confide to man, became bank
rupt, a defaulter and almost an i'm
beetle, and died at last of the soften
ING of the brain, from this system
of Matchmaking. The number and
standing Of parties so implicated would
convulse, astonish and alarm our city,
1 uor, o,I dars;tfnJ as :, ~