The New York herald., 1867-02-21

cRiaE IN NEW YoRE AND BROOELYs.
Fhs Extent ard OrganixasIen of Youthful
vico-Social Climbs and These Whe Csmposc
Them-A Description afsho Meeting RaOms-
The Haunts ef Thieves. Burglars and Other
Disrepstable Characters-A Heretofore Un-
written Chapter In tho History sf Crime. &c.
Youthful depSavity It the present time In this city
far greater than At any previous period for years past
Notwithstanding the sxeions Of the police 70 stay the
progress Of crime, wsli known that crirninality
among certain class Of boys and young is fearuly
the increase. Scarcely confined 70 any special sec-
ton or locality II is widespread In its influence and 1t s
unusual to witness hard working and in
dusous mechanic day laborer appealing to the police
captain Of any Of the precints his influence and
assist him in reclaiming errng child from the hauns
Of vice into which he has been drawn by the nsdious
teaching Of corrupt associates back to o
course Of righteousnesness and industry. In the
Fourth, Seventh, Eleventh, Thirteenth, SIX
seenth, Seventeenth Nineteenth and Twentieth
wards more particularly does this class OF crime make
itself more evident though the majority Of them are
more or less tainted To evil associations wicked
panionshps, the influences in and surrounding the low
groggenes; bad example, which in numerous instances
- set by parents the aurements Of corrupt entertain
meuts and to the enticcmens Of the concert saloons
ana dance houses with which the city abounds be
traced the fall Of many youths and even boys, the
avoidance OF which might have been the means Of
diverting their thoughts to other pursuits and by de-
vosing themselves to self Improvement through the
many advantages which lay within tho power Of
the humble, might have laid down the foundation
for future Of usefulness and honesty alike an
honor 70 themselves and advantage to the COM
munity Commencing with petty thefts the boy OF
eight years Of age commences ignoble career,
and descending step by step in downward course the
ultimate fate Of the thief burglar and often times tho
murderer, brings close the miserable i'll spent life
Of hundreds OF unfortunate youths.
Perhaps Of the potent agencies for the gene
ration of youthful vice and depravy the social club
system Of the corner ounger barroom loafer target
excursonst and tho whole list of individuals whose
means Of living derived from other than that
Of honest industry. From the lordy occupants Of up
town mansions 70 the barroom loafcrs whose resting
places at night the doorways coaboxes coils OF
the station houses all have their acknowledged
dexvous and the real objects which they assemble
are varied the characters Of those who compose
them II is the intention Of this article allude only
very questionable class or individuals who compose
of these so-called social clubs and to unfold
heretofore unwreY chapter in tho history Of vice in
ths city in order that the public may fully understand
the extsns and complexion Of the evil and that the
police authorities may exercise watchfulness in this
regard 3 -@N{s ,n
In justice to the social clubs proper the members Of
which respectable Il is only right 70 acknowledge
that they what thoy profess be- They estab
shsd for purposes OF social commupion chowder par
ties in the summer time, and dancing entertainments
during the winter season. As socn as ten or dozen
form the socissy, thsy name H. draw up code Of by
laws for the governmental its membem and strain
point 10 hire IN which they assemble every
night These clubs arc composed Of young mea who
work daily at some respectable calling and adopt this
mode Of passing away their spare moments in prefer
enos 10 NE Temptations Of The concert, gambling ana
Aruking saloons Many Of their rooms are Atted up
NTH taste and handsomely decorated and supplied with
fir share Of books and periodicals. Chsss checkers,
dosnoes billiards ana cards form prominent attractions
y msss Of them. the monthly hop ana the an
uuai ball and picnic axo al looked forward to
With ntsrsst and preparations In kesping with tho
wealth OF the club It's members made 70 cele-
brae these festive oocasonA These associations in
reality what they pretend, and quite numerous in
Nsw York Brooklyn, but there Others under the
sues or soc;sl clubs. which nothing better than
nurseries Of crime. from which many youth may date
~ tall m hin nrst connection with them The meeting
the OF thieves the associates OF thieves,
political strikers and other disrepuabe characters Of
which shs body principally composed Located out
known only 70 the initiated. and thus the public
aware Of the existence, N its very midst Of evil
stupendoua TO draw the vei Of secrecy from before
these hidden nests Of nquity and depravty dcscrp
zion Of few together With the members who compose
sheu is furnished from personal observation and these
may b saksn, representative types Of the whole
elass- a s.sieSas = Z e..tks sseg ss4 3 y
Ono dark dreary. piercing cold night in the latter part
Of January when each passcrby with mufed face and
hands sioved otherwise protected from the wntry
S,ust hurried ON towards his home, was chosen
which o visit those haunts Of youthful crime. From
reliable nforpasion ascorained that Of those
deus was located Manhattan street, narrow lane close
~ the East river, and within the limits Of the
EDevensh ward wnh little difficulty the lane
sisoovorcd and viewing from the entrance passage
through was anything but inviting Midway tho
sickly light OF the solitary lamp that alone umned the
strss only 10 picture the wretchcdness OF the
place stii more miserable. Heaps OF frozen ef
secaay blocked up The centre Of the street while the
unsleuncA saAswalks any thera wsrcs lined with
asa.sa carts. Old boilers and other oossruc'gns rem
nidds Of the block the basement Of frame house,
with Ahlph wooden soop Che dcn was located All was
suss ~ = II nbssiied Opening door imne edisseIy
usdsnoah Ne stoep descending two very steep steps
VIM narrow s' oos no
sst iasn did the souna q voices meet the ear Two
nocs bsosgs one o shs snsisss 70 shs door, vho 10
Sore opening, Inquired, 4 ~ nssstist. #r# eaa egst
."Who's there ~ \.
r.0sl elss shs soor--ps maj sti4y ~
ssWho's thatY F1 4n #a+A.
t~Johnny.S sk*
ssyohnny whesr LIZ.
Deps why 5ohnay Bunts
In : second afsrwsn ne hey was turned, tho bolt
poon Of the Onsida Social Clpb 1hs soon uas nilsd
Win nishy o6or leariy su6bcasnG, similar = that
hnp ssanding,upon forloFn looking nsntci piece, iit
% sks crb. brown pitcher The hand g q which was
n1ckGn or and cb1dbc nDx, which answ0rSd
Sbe purpose or match !, box. were the only
sehsS useful Or ornamental articles that oc-
epplsd plaos On she Shelf The w.lh wero of com
vlexjon sroualy Suggestive Of c0mpromioe betwecn
Shs color q oiassss candy and brown s6ap. ana
aecoratsd with exravagant daubs Of colsated Major
General On horseback EslIantiy bearing away market
basket full OF silver spoons while the prxe fhs bstwccn
Ussnan and Morssey occupied the place OF honor under
>s<ftI tIo ~lo hcfx ten of