Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-18
salOons-Rouses of Prostitution.

6ALOOnu-IAOu1Ch
The police ofthis city, under the direction
of the Captain, have for the past week been
engaged in ascertaining the number of
saloons, or drinking houses and houses OF
prostitution in the city of Columbus. They
are subjects which are not very pleasant to
dwell, upon, yet the ''local," as q faithful
chronicler of the times and circumstances
which surround him, must, however dis
tasteful, inform the public of matters which
come to his knowledge, especially If it af7
fects the welfare OF society or the good
name of the city.
According to the returns made to the
Captain of the Police, there are within the
limits of the corporation of Columbus, no
less than two hundred and thirty-seven sa-
looms. At q small number ofthem. especially
in the Hotels, and where an eating establish
ment is connected with them, no man who is
intoxicated can obtain liquor, and they are
kept In a decent manner-but a great major
ity of them are perfect sinkholes of iniqui-
ty, where strychnine whisky is dealt out to
the deluded followers of Bachus. We
don't intend to preach sermonnpon tenn
perance, or point out a remedy for exist
ing evils, but merely make a plain state
ment of facts as they exist, leaving every
one to make their own comments.
However humiliating it may appear, new
ertheless 1t is fact, that there are in the
city of Columbus fifty-six houses of pros
titution. 1t is but reasonable to suppose
that there are, on an average, at least three
IL not more inmates In each house, who
have bartered away their virtue, their hap
piness, their all--for what9 Shame, sor-
row, misery, pollution and death Yet,
with all their sins and follies, they are not
wholly to blame. In our humble opinion
they are ''more sinned against than sim
ming" ..o..s -. oo< +.
A great number Of the inmates Of these
houses were seduced from the paths Of vir-
tue by the false protestations of those who
whispered love and marriage in the ears Of
their victims. There are histories in vows
of love and promises OF marriage that none
hut poets can tell as they ought to be told.
They dream OF happiness, and picture a
fairy structure OF future hope, joy and
domestic felicity which none but those who
have experienced it can comprehend--but
moment often, alas! too often-comes
when all these dreams, fond illusions, rap
turous sensations are dispelled, and the
fancy palace is leveled to the ground for
ever. The cold breath OF despair comes
over the heart; and this caused by mans
heartless violation of vows made in the
flush Of passion, leaving wreck which
can never, be repaired, We write in no
sentimental strain. We express only
every day facts, which cannot be denied
| What followsp They are turned out from
home and the society of their friends to
buffet with the waves OF adversely in acold
! and heartless world. They aredenied the
society of the virtuous and the good, and
in despair they seek the haunts Of vice and
immortality, and drown their conscienses
by leading a life of open shame. The world
10 wrong-society Is wrong in discardine
| the weak, errlng victim Of misplaced con-
fdence. Better, far better initiate the ex-
i ample of the meek and lowly' Savior Of
mankind, forgive them, and tell them to
ego and sin no more,v They are suscepti.
BILE Of being reclaimed-it has been tested
| In this as well as other cities, and 1t is &
| pitv--it is shame that there are not more
a ut;tutiohs like that Of the aSisters Of The